After court
If an offender has been sentenced to prison, they are likely to be released at some point, either on parole or when their sentence ends. Even if they have been sentenced to life imprisonment or preventive detention, they must still be considered for parole.
You can get help to write your submission to the Parole Board. Contact Victim Support on 0800 VICTIM (842 846) or other support agency you may be working with.
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. 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 a person’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.
Not all offenders will be granted parole. The Parole Board must be satisfied that the offender does not pose an undue risk to the safety of the community before they will approve their release on parole.
If you are a victim of certain types of crimes, you can register your details on the victim notification system at any time. This means that you will be notified if the offender is being considered for parole, and about other events relating to their detention. Your details will be kept private. Call the Victims of Crime Information Line on 0800 650 654 to find out more.
Make sure that your contact details are up-to-date on the system so it can work for you. You can contact the police, Department of Corrections or your support agency to check your details.
You may be able to get financial support to attend the Parole Board hearing.
You can make a submission, either in writing or in person and, in some cases, by videoconference, to the Parole Board outlining your views on parole and any safety concerns you have. Any person can make a submission, but you will only be notified in advance of the hearing if you are registered with the victim notification system.
You can get help to write your submission and may be eligible for assistance with travel costs to attend a Parole Board hearing or videoconference. 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.
You can also arrange with the Parole Board to have support people with you at the hearing.
Call Victim Support on 0800 VICTIM (842 846) to find out more.
