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The Parole Board decides if prisoners who are eligible for parole can be released. It also makes recommendations on whether it鈥檚 safe for prisoners to be:

• transferred to an open prison
• given a temporary release under supervision (known as being 鈥榦n licence鈥� or probation)

Victims

You can make a 鈥榲ictim personal statement鈥� to be presented at the Parole Board hearing if you鈥檙e a victim of the prisoner.

This is sometimes known as an 鈥榠mpact statement鈥�.

You can use your statement to explain how the crime has affected you - from the time it was committed until now.

This includes the effect the crime has had on you and your family:

• physically
• mentally
• emotionally
• financially

Relatives of victims

You can make a victim personal statement if you鈥檙e a close relative of a victim who:

• has died
• is aged under 18
• cannot make a statement themselves - for example, because of mental incapacity or illness

Close relatives include spouses and partners, parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings and dependants. Other family members, guardians and carers of victims may also be allowed to make a statement.

When more than one relative wants to make a statement, the Parole Board may ask for 1 or 2 statements to represent them all.

When to make your victim personal statement

If you choose to join the Victim Contact Scheme, your Victim Liaison Officer will tell you when a prisoner is being considered for parole.

They鈥檒l tell you when to write your victim personal statement. They鈥檒l also send it to the Parole Board for you at least 28 days before the hearing.

If you did not join the Victim Contact Scheme, you can contact your local probation office about:

• giving a statement
• joining the scheme if you want to be told when a prisoner is being considered for release or transfer

The Parole Board has more information about making a victim personal statement and joining the Victim Contact Scheme.

The Parole Board panel makes a decision based on whether a prisoner is a risk to the public.

The panel can use your victim personal statement to help it:

• understand the impact of the crime
• decide what questions to ask the prisoner, to find out about their understanding of how their crimes have affected victims
• decide what the prisoner can and cannot do (known as 鈥榣icence conditions鈥�) if they鈥檙e released

The Parole Board will make its decision by:

• privately reviewing a file of information and reports about the prisoner
• holding a hearing, if the board needs more information

You can ask to attend the hearing to read out your statement if you want, or have it read out for you. The Parole Board decides if you can attend.

Your victim personal statement is your opportunity to explain how a crime has affected you and your family - for example, physically, emotionally, financially or in any other way.

Your statement should take less than 10 minutes to read out.

You can usually choose how your statement is presented at an oral hearing.

You must always submit a written version of your statement.

What to include

You need to include how the:

• crime affected you at the time
• crime has affected you since it happened
• prisoner鈥檚 release or move to an open prison would affect you, your family, friends or community

Do not include:

• whether you think the prisoner should be released
• long descriptions of the original crime
• any threats or critical comments to or about the prisoner or the Parole Board

Tell your Victim Liaison Officer if you think you have other information that will help the Parole Board make a decision.

Young victims and children

If you do not want to or cannot make a written victim personal statement, you can tell your Victim Liaison Officer about how:

• you and your family were hurt
• the crime makes you feel now
• you think you would feel if the prisoner was released

Your Victim Liaison Officer will write this down and give it to the Parole Board.

Your parent or guardian can also make a statement if they want to.

The prisoner鈥檚 access to your victim personal statement

Prisoners usually have full access to all victim personal statements presented at their hearing.

Speak to your Victim Liaison Officer if you do not want the prisoner to have access to your statement.

You鈥檒l need to make a good case that it will:

• put you or your family at risk
• have a negative effect on you in some other way

Statements are only withheld from prisoners under exceptional circumstances.

You鈥檒l usually have a choice of how your victim personal statement is presented at the hearing.

You can ask:

• for the Parole Board panel to read your statement themselves
• to attend the hearing and read out your statement in person
• to attend the hearing and choose someone else to read out your statement
• to choose someone to go the hearing instead of you and read out your statement

At some hearings you may be able to read out your statement via a live video link or make a recording for the panel.

Requests by victims to attend hearings are usually granted, but it鈥檚 not a legal right and you can be refused.

You can usually bring your Victim Liaison Officer or a family member or friend if you come to the hearing.

You鈥檒l be asked to read out your victim personal statement (unless someone else is reading it for you).

You will not be able to add anything to your written statement at the hearing and will not usually be asked questions.

After you鈥檝e made your statement you鈥檒l be asked to leave and the hearing will continue.

Your Victim Liaison Officer will tell you the outcome.

Read the guide on getting parole for detailed information on what happens at a parole hearing.

Prisoners at parole hearings

Prisoners are usually not present while their victims read their statements. The prisoner鈥檚 legal representative is usually there.

You can ask that the prisoner is present while you read your statement, but they鈥檒l need to agree to this and the Parole Board has to allow it.