Victim Statements
We encourage victims to provide a Victim Statement to express the continuing impact of the crime on their lives. This information is considered in decision-making throughout the course of the offender's sentence such as decisions related to the offender’s security level, about whether the offender should be released, evaluations of the offender's programming needs and overall risk of re-offending.
Note that these are distinct from Victim Impact Statements that you may have submitted as part of sentencing.
You may submit information to us at any time. You can include information about the impact that the crime continues to have on you, express your views about the possible conditional release of this offender, and ask the Correctional Service of Canada to consider your area of residence when making release plans. You can also request that the offender be prevented from communicating with you or your family (known as a no-contact condition) or from going to any specified place (known as a “geographic” condition), as these types of conditions are not automatically imposed.
Note: If you choose to submit information (such as a Victim Statement), the law requires that we provide the offender with a copy of it as they are entitled to see all information that will be used in the decision-making process. However, no personal information about you, other than your name, is shared with the offender.
How to prepare a victim statement for the Correctional Service of Canada
- Describe the ongoing impact that the offence has on your life.
- Ask that the offender have no contact with you- while incarcerated or released.
- Tell us of any safety concerns you have.
- Tell us if the offender’s location matters to you. If so you can ask that the offender not be permitted to go to specific places.
Tips
- Submit your victim statement as soon as possible after you register. The statement will be considered in the decisions about the offender’s location and release.
- Tell us what is most important for us to know – at any time during the offender’s sentence.
- Statements must be shared with the offender – your personal information is not.
Victims can also choose to present a Victim Statement at a Parole Board of Canada hearing. Learn more about the role of victims.
For a printable version of these instructions, please see:
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