After court
What happens?
If an offender is sentenced to prison for the crime against you, they are likely to be released at some point. Even if they have been sentenced to life imprisonment, or preventive detention, they must still be considered for parole.
If an offender has been sentenced to two years or less in prison, they must be released by law after they have served half the sentence in prison. In some cases there will be release conditions that were set when the person was sentenced.
Parole
If the offender was sentenced to more than two years in prison, they must be considered for parole after they have served one third of their sentence, unless there is a set non-parole period. Parole means that an offender is allowed back into the community to finish their sentence under certain conditions.
Time served in custody before conviction and sentencing is counted as part of an offender’s sentence, so in some cases a parole hearing could be soon after the sentencing. For more information on parole visit www.paroleboard.govt.nz.
You can make a submission to the Parole Board giving your views and any safety concerns about the offender being released on parole.
You can get help to write your submission, and may be eligible for assistance with travel costs to a Parole Board hearing. If you decide to make your submission in person, the Parole Board will hold a special hearing to meet with you. You will speak to the same Board members who will be seeing the offender, but the hearing you attend will not be in a prison and will not include the offender.
If you are registered with the victim notification system, you will be notified before the offender’s parole hearing so that you have time to make a submission. You will also be notified about events relating to the offender’s detention. Your details will be kept private.
What support can you get?
Writing your submission
You can get help to write your submission to the Parole Board from Victim Support or support agency you may be working with.
Financial support
You may be eligible for financial assistance to attend a parole hearing or videoconference.
You and a support person can receive up to $1,500 each towards travel costs for hearings from 1 November 2009 (up to $500 before 1 November 2009). Contact Victim Support to find out how to apply.
Personal support
You can arrange with the Parole Board to have support people with you at the hearing, and get personal support beforehand and at the hearing from Victim Support, or support agency you may be working with. Contact Victim Support or call the Victims of Crime Information Line to find out about support agencies that can help.
Victim notification system
You can apply to join the victim notification system at any time. Talk to Victim Support or any specialist agency you may be working with about how to apply.
