Information for victims of crime

The Sentence Administration Board (SAB) recognise that victims of crime play a central role in the criminal justice process.

We will be respectful and take into account your personal situation, needs, concerns, rights and dignity.

If we know that you have asked for protection from an offender, we will tell you if they are being released.

Support for victims of crime

You can get support and find a range of services through Victim Support ACT.

Victims Support ACT:

• can help you with your submission to us
• will contact you on our behalf about parole applications and decisions or breaches of Intensive Correction Orders.

If you are on the ACT Victims Register, please keep your contact details up to date. This makes it easier for Victim Support ACT to contact you.

Victim involvement in the parole process

We understand navigating the criminal justice system can be difficult for victims of crime.

Victim Support ACT handles all contact with you on our behalf. You will have a single point of contact to help make the process more manageable and less stressful.

When we receive an application for parole, Victim Support ACT will contact you to:

• tell you the offender has applied for parole
• ask for your views about the offender's application
• ask if you want to make a submission to the parole inquiry.

We must consider any submissions made by victims when deciding whether to grant parole.

• We will also consider a wide range of other issues.
• We must decide if we need to make parole conditions that support and protect victims of the offender.

If parole is granted, Victim Support ACT will tell you:

• their release date
• information about their parole obligations
• in some instance where the offender will live on parole.

You can read more about the parole process.

Your submission to the Sentence Administration Board

If you made a victim impact statement for the original sentencing, this will be available to us. If you have nothing further to add, you do not need to make a new submission.

If you want to make a submission to us, you can consider:

• it is voluntary, it is your choice if you want to or not
• you will get support through Victim Support ACT to make it
• it can be in writing or spoken, or both
• any issues or concerns you have about granting parole to the offender
• any conditions you think could deal with your concerns.

If you meet with us we will ask you questions about:

• the likely effect on you and your family if the offender is released
• any concerns that you have about being protected from the offender.

You can ask your submission to remain confidential. If this is not possible, we will tell you and give you the choice to withdraw it.

We make a written transcript of the hearing. You can ask for a copy of this written transcript.

Hearings before the Sentence Administration Board are usually closed to the public, and victims cannot attend the hearing. Read more about hearings and inquiries.

What we cannot do

We cannot change the sentence imposed by a court or conduct a re-trial of the offender.

We cannot hear new evidence about the crime.

We cannot refuse to release an offender because someone thinks their sentence was lenient.

We cannot make orders to return money to victims.

Victims of crime and Intensive Correction Orders

If an offender breaches their Intensive Correction Order, Victim Support ACT will tell you if:

• the decision about the ICO is likely to affect victim safety
• if you have expressed concern about your safety and protection needs.

You can read more about the intensive correction orders.