Victims of Crime - Staying Informed
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Victims of crime have a right to certain information, under Canadian law, about
the person who harmed them while that person is under the jurisdiction of the
Correctional Service of Canada or the National Parole Board. This information
is not provided automatically – a written request must be made to either
agency via a process commonly referred to as registering.
This booklet is a guide to what victims are entitled to know, how to obtain
that information, the role victims can play in providing information that may
affect decisions about offenders and other services offered at the federal level.
Are You A Victim Of Crime?
You are considered a victim of crime if:
- You have been harmed (suffered loss or have been physically or emotionally
hurt) as a result of someone committing a criminal offence, even if the person
who harmed you has not been prosecuted or convicted for the offence against
you; or
- You have been harmed as a result of someone committing a criminal offence
and you have made a complaint to the police or Crown Attorney; or
- You are a spouse, conjugal partner, relative of, or person responsible
for a victim who has died or is not able to act for himself or herself (e.g.,
the victim is ill or a child).
How Can You Receive Information?
Information about an offender is not provided automatically. You, or someone
you have authorized in writing to act on your behalf, as your representative,
is required to contact either the Correctional Service of Canada or the National
Parole Board to request information. This written request is commonly referred
to as "registering."
If the offender is incarcerated in a provincial institution, with the exception
of Ontario and Quebec, the request should be directed to the National Parole
Board. You will be kept informed until the end of the offender's sentence or
until you ask to no longer be notified. If the offender is incarcerated in a
provincial institution in Ontario you can call 1-888-579-2888. If the offender is incarcerated in a provincial institution in Quebec, you can
call 1-866-909-8913.
How Can You Register?
To find out how to register for the victim notification service and to obtain
other general information, please call either the Correctional Service of Canada
at 1-866-806-2275 or the National Parole Board at 1-866-789-INFO
(4636). You can call these toll-free information lines from anywhere
in Canada and the United States.
What Information Are You Entitled To Receive?
Upon request and as a registered victim, you will be provided
with the following:
- the offender's name;
- the offence and the court which convicted the offender;
- the date the sentence starts and length of sentence; and
- the offender's eligibility and review dates for temporary absences, day
parole and full parole.
In addition, upon request, you may be provided the following
information at the discretion of the Commissioner of the Correctional Service
of Canada or the Chairperson of the National Parole Board, when your interest
in the information clearly outweighs any invasion of the offender's privacy
that could result from the release of this information:
- the offender's age;
- the location of the penitentiary where the sentence is being served;
- the date, if any, on which the offender is to be released on unescorted
or escorted temporary absences, work release, parole or statutory release;
- the date of any National Parole Board hearing;
- any conditions attached to the offender's temporary absence, work release,
parole or statutory release;
- the offender's destination when released on any temporary absence, work
release, parole or statutory release, and whether the offender will be in
your vicinity while travelling to that destination; and
- whether the offender is in custody and, if not, why not.
You may also request National Parole Board decisions from their Decision Registry.
This may include the reasons for decisions related to conditional release, return
to prison, detention, and the decisions and reasons of the Appeal Division of
the National Parole Board. The Board may exempt information in these written
decisions that could reveal a confidential source of information, jeopardize
a person's safety or hinder an offender's return to society as a law-abiding
citizen.
You Have A Voice In The Corrections And Parole Processes
The Correctional Service of Canada and the National Parole Board welcome any
information you may have about safety concerns and the effect that the offence
has had on you, your family or the community. You may choose to provide a victim
statement, detailing information about the physical, emotional or financial
impact the offence has had on you or any other information that you think is
relevant. You can also request that the Correctional Service of Canada or the
National Parole Board consider imposing special conditions on the offender's
release. You can provide information to either agency at any time.
As a victim, you may also make an oral statement to the National Parole Board
at the offender's parole hearing. Even if you do not wish to present a statement,
you may still apply to observe a parole hearing. You have the choice to read
a written statement at the hearing or to record it on audio or video for presentation
should you not be able to attend the hearing or if you prefer this option. The
National Parole Board will require a written copy of your statement 30 days
prior to the hearing if it does not require translation and 45 days prior if
it does.
You may also apply to the Department of Justice's Victims Fund for financial
assistance to attend National Parole Board hearings of the offender who harmed
you. You must register as a victim in order to obtain this assistance. The Victims
Fund also provides financial assistance for a support person to attend or support
a registered victim at National Parole Board hearings.
Will The Information You Provide Be Shared With The Offender?
Personal information about you, such as your address, telephone and facsimile
numbers, is not shared with the offender. However, the law requires the Correctional
Service of Canada and the National Parole Board to disclose to the offender
any information that will be considered during the decision-making process,
including information provided by a victim, or a summary of that information.
How Does The Correctional Service Of Canada Use The Information You Provide?
If you have filed a Victim Impact Statement at sentencing, the Correctional
Service of Canada is required, by law, to obtain a copy. In the absence of a
Victim Impact Statement, a community parole officer may complete a community
assessment to obtain information from you to assist the Correctional Service
of Canada in assessing the offender's level of risk. Victim information is used
as follows:
- in making decisions on the institutional security level required to protect
society;
- in making a recommendation to the National Parole Board as to whether the
offender should be granted a conditional release, such as parole, and what
additional special conditions to impose on the release;
- in making decisions as to whether the offender should be released on a
temporary absence or a work release; and,
- in evaluating the offender's overall risk of re-offending and need for
programs.
How Does The National Parole Board Use The Information You Provide?
The information you provide to the National Parole Board is a valued aid in
understanding the seriousness of the offence committed and assessing whether
the offender recognizes the harm he or she has done. This information will help
the Board assess whether:
- the offender is likely to re-offend if released on conditional release;
- additional conditions might be necessary to manage a particular risk to
society that the offender might present, especially if the offender will be
living near you or is a member of your family. The National Parole Board may,
for example, impose a special condition for the offender not to contact you.
Federal Service For Victims
Public Safety Canada
National Office for Victims
Established in 2005, the National Office for Victims is part of Public Safety
Canada and is a central resource offering information and support on federal
corrections issues. As part of its mandate, the office:
- operates a toll-free line, 1-866-525-0554, which victims
may call from anywhere in Canada or the United States;
- provides referrals to the Correctional Service of Canada and the National
Parole Board for specific enquiries;
- ensures that a victim's perspective is included in national policy development;
and
- develops information products for dissemination to victims, victim service
providers and the general public.
For more information, please visit the National Office for Victims website
at www.publicsafety.gc.ca/nov.
Correctional Service of Canada
In addition to registering victims, the Correctional Service of Canada's Victim
Services Program has dedicated Regional Victim Services Managers and Victim
Services Officers who are responsible for managing information, victim notification
and other services to victims of offenders under federal jurisdiction.
For more information, please call the Correctional Service of Canada, toll-free
at 1-866-806-2275 or visit their website at www.csc-scc.gc.ca.
The Correctional Service of Canada also offers victim-offender mediation. The
mediation process is entirely voluntary. To find out more, please contact the
Correctional Service of Canada's Restorative Justice Unit at 613-947-7309.
National Parole Board
The National Parole Board has a team of Regional Communications Officers in
each region to provide information and services to victims. Through these Officers,
registered victims can obtain a copy of National Parole Board decisions, present
victim impact statements at National Parole Board hearings and attend hearings
as observers. Regional Communications Officers are also available to attend
National Parole Board hearings with victims.
For more information, please contact the National Parole Board by calling,
toll-free, 1-866-789-INFO (4636) or visit the website at www.npb-cnlc.gc.ca.
Department Of Justice
Policy Centre for Victim Issues
The Policy Centre for Victim Issues at the Department of Justice provides a
victim's lens for criminal law reform and policy development. The Policy Centre
for Victim Issues works closely with other federal departments to ensure a consistent
approach to improving the experience of victims in the criminal justice system.
The Policy Centre for Victim Issues has a broad mandate that includes:
- conducting research;
- raising awareness about the needs and concerns of victims;
- developing public information materials;
- consulting with stakeholders to identify areas of concern and options for
law and policy reform;
- administering the Victims Fund which supports victims through funding to
provinces and territories; and
- funding victim services organizations and providing limited financial assistance
directly to victims so they may travel to the National Parole Board hearings
of the offender who harmed them.
For more information about financial assistance to attend National Parole Board
Hearings, please contact the Policy Centre for Victims Issues by calling, toll-free, 1-866-544-1007 or visit the website at www.justice.gc.ca.
Federal Ombudsman For Victims Of Crime
The Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime is a new, independent
resource for victims in Canada. The Office was created in 2007 to ensure the
federal government meets its responsibilities to victims of crime.
Victims of crime can contact the Office to learn more about their rights under
federal law and the programs and services available to them, or to make a complaint
about any federal agency or federal legislation that has an impact on victims.
In addition to its direct work with victims, the Office also works to ensure
that policy makers and other criminal justice personnel are aware of victims'
needs and concerns. The Ombudsman can also identify and review emerging and
systemic issues that may negatively impact victims and make recommendations
to the federal government in this regard.
For more information, please contact the Office of the Federal Ombudsman for
Victims of Crime by calling, toll-free, 1-866-481-8429 or visit
the website at www.victimsfirst.gc.ca.