Victim's right to participation within federal corrections and parole

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You have a right to:

The federal corrections and parole system is administered by the Correctional Service of Canada and the Parole Board of Canada. You can participate in this system when the offender receives a sentence of two years or more (including life sentences).

You can also participate in the parole process for offenders serving a shorter sentence in any of the territories and provinces (except Quebec, Ontario and Alberta - check victim services in the province or territory where the offender is serving their sentence to get information about their parole services).

Submit a victim statement

Victim statements are different from the victim impact statement provided during the offender’s trial. Victim statements allow you to share the impact/harm caused by the offender as well as any safety concerns you may have.

You submitted a victim impact statement at the trial. Do you need to do it again?

How is your victim statement used?

What should you write in your victim statement?

Tell the Correctional Service of Canada and the Parole Board of Canada:

You can also ask them to:

It is not easy to write about painful experiences. The Victim Statement Checklist may help you get started.

You only need to submit your statement once. Once it is received, it will be considered every time a decision about releasing the offender into the community is made. Situations change as time goes by, you can submit an updated statement to the Correctional Service of Canada and/or the Parole Board of Canada at any time in the offender’s sentence.

Do you need to be registered to submit a victim statement?

Does the offender know you submitted a victim statement?

More information:

Attend a parole hearing

Who can attend a parole hearing?

Anyone can request to attend a Parole Board of Canada hearing as an observer. You do not have to register as a victim.

Registered victims

As a registered victim you can:

More information

Other ways you can participate

Get involved as a member of a Regional Victim Advisory Committee. As a member you will meet with other victims and victim advocates to:

To get involved, call 1-866-806-2275 or email victims-victimes@csc-scc.gc.ca.

Make a complaint if your right has not been met

If you feel your rights as a victim have been denied, you can submit a complaint. Information about how to do this is available at Making a Complaint under the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights.

National Office for Victims

You can visit the National Office for Victims for additional information and publications that explain the federal corrections and parole system.

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