The Parole Board. Working with others to protect the public.
Victims and families
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You should be reassured that the Parole Board will still seek to gather information from other sources, such as your Victim Liaison Officer (VLO), to help them make decisions about risk that relate to victim safety and wellbeing even if you choose not to take part for whatever reason.
Even if you do not feel able to participate in the scheme, the Parole Board and the criminal justice system will still ensure that your interests are considered during their decision making. You can still put forward your views about any licence conditions or other restrictions which you think are necessary to protect you or your family. These will be put forward to the Parole Board through your VLO.
Victim Personal Statements (VPS) provide an opportunity for victims to have a voice in criminal justice processes. They enable you to tell the court or the Parole Board how the offence has affected you or your family. You may already have made a Victim Personal Statement at the time when the offence was committed or of the trial. You may wish to update that statement to reflect your current feelings and views or to make one if you have not previously done so.
You can make a VPS if you have been the victim of a sexual or violent offence and the offender has been imprisoned for 12 months or more, or detained in hospital with restrictions on his or her release, and you can get help from a victim liaison officer. A family member, such as a spouse or parent may make the statement if the victim is deceased, incapacitated or is a young person under the age of 18.
The Parole Board recognises as a victim someone who was harmed or has suffered physical or emotional damage as a result of the offence or offences.
A victim under 18 years of age will not normally be allowed to attend a hearing in person. They may choose to have the written statement placed before the panel or read on their behalf. Or they may request to read the statement via Live-Link or record it on audio/video tape or DVD.
The National Probation Service operates the probation victim contact scheme and a victim liaison officer (VLO) will provide you with information about how the Parole Board considers and makes decisions about offenders cases. The officer will explain how you can put your views to the Board in a VPS the process and help you set down your views on the VPS form.
The victim can choose to have the written statement placed before the panel for the panel members to read for themselves. The victim may also request to be present and have the statement read on their behalf; request to be present and read it in person; or request to read the statement via Live-Link or record it on audio/video tape or DVD and played to the panel if facilities are available. Normally, a request to attend in person will be granted.
The statement or any recording must be sent by the Ministry of Justice to the Parole Board at least 28 days before the date fixed for the panel hearing.
You should include your views on:
Those preparing a personal statement should bear in mind that the Parole Board's primary role is to protect the public by risk assessing prisoners to decide whether or not they can be safely released into the community. Victim personal statements should therefore contain information that helps the Board assess the current risk the offender presents.
The VPS will be submitted to the Parole Board in paper format. If the Parole Board holds an oral hearing, you can request to have the VPS presented by a public protection advocate or you can apply to present it yourself. Advocates attend hearings to present evidence about the offender to the Parole Board. Your Victim Liaison Officer will be able to discuss the options with you. They will be able to provide you with a leaflet about oral hearings and explain what happens at a hearing. This will help you decide which option you wish to choose for the presentation of your VPS at an oral hearing. The Parole Board will consider your VPS in the same way whether it is presented in writing or orally.
It should be clearly understood by victims that normally the VPS will be disclosed to to the prisoner and their legal representative. If the victim wishes to object to such disclosure written notification with reasons should be provided via the VLO when the statement is sent and they will make the appropriate non-disclosure application to the Parole Board. The application will be decided by the panel chair.
You may be given the opportunity to withdraw your statement or for your views to be presented in a different way, but not always. Your VLO will be able to advise you on this.
Grenadier House, 99-105 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 2DX
Telephone 0845 251 2220