Information victims can receive
Registered victims receive information from Corrections when an offender:
on home detention:
- is absent from their home detention residence without approval
- returns to their home detention residence or is apprehended
- is convicted for breaching conditions of home detention or post detention conditions
- applies to have a sentence of home detention cancelled and substituted with another sentence
- hears the outcome of an application to have a sentence of home detention cancelled and substituted with another sentence
- is released from home detention
- is released from post detention conditions
- dies while on home detention or post detention conditions
in prison:
- escapes from prison
- is recaptured and returned to prison after escaping from prison
- has an unescorted temporary release from prison, including release-to-work
- fails to return from a temporary release
- is recaptured and returned to prison after failing to return from a temporary release
- applies to have a prison sentence cancelled and substituted with home detention
- hears the outcome of an application to have a prison sentence cancelled and substituted with home detention
- is released from prison
- dies in prison
on parole or release conditions:
- is convicted for breaching parole or release conditions
- dies while on parole or release conditions
- sentence ends
- whereabouts become unknown
Registered victims are also notified:
- if the Department applies to Court to impose an Extended Supervision Order
- of the date of the hearing and any adjournments
- of the outcome of an application for an Extended Supervision Order
- if an offender is convicted for breaching conditions of extended supervision
- of an application for cancellation of an Extended Supervision Order
- of the outcome of an application for cancellation of an Extended Supervision Order
- of an appeal under section 107R
- of the expiry of an extended supervision order
- if an offender dies while on extended supervision
- whereabouts become unknown
Parole information
The New Zealand Parole Board is responsible for notifying victims about all parole information.
The New Zealand Parole Board is responsible for:
- considering offenders who are eligible for release on parole (if sentenced for more than two years' imprisonment)
- setting conditions for offenders who are due to be released (if sentenced for more than two years' imprisonment)
- setting special conditions for offenders who are subject to extended supervision orders
The New Zealand Parole Board Administrative Support Services notify registered victims:
- of New Zealand Parole Board hearings
- of opportunities for making submissions to the New Zealand Parole Board
- of the results of hearings including release dates and parole or release conditions that relate to the victim(s)
- of the setting of special conditions of extended supervision
- of any decision to make an interim recall order
- of any decision to make or refuse a final recall order
- of any decision to cancel an interim or final recall order
Victims are entitled to request the following information about the offender to assist them with their parole submission:
- a list of any programmes that the offender has attended since commencing his or her sentence, and a list of any programmes that the offender has completed
- a statement of the offender’s current security classification
- a list of any convictions received by the offender since commencing his or her sentence
If the offender is not released on parole, and this information has previously been requested, it will be sent automatically prior to any future parole hearings.
How victims receive information
Victims receive most information by mail or email (if requested).
In urgent situations victims or their appointed representative will be called. Urgent situations include if the offender escapes from prison or leaves their home detention residence in breach of the conditions of home detention.
Anniversary of the offence and the victim’s birthday
To avoid additional distress, Corrections and the New Zealand Parole Board will try to avoid sending letters seven days either side of the anniversary of the offence or the birthday of the victim, and avoid events such as Parole Board hearings, temporary release or release to work approvals on those dates.
Offenders under an extended supervison order
Corrections can apply for an extended supervision order (ESO) for high-risk offenders convicted of sexual offences against children and/or adults, and violent offences.
If the Courts grants an order extended supervision order, the Parole Board can, on application from Corrections, impose special conditions. An offender can be monitored for a period of up to 10 years; this period starts at the end of any parole or release conditions.
The victim registration would remain active until the end of the order.
Corrections notifies registered victims of:
- the application to the court for an extended supervision order (including any dates and times of hearings, their right to make a submission and the outcome of the application)
- any conviction of the offender for failure to comply with the conditions of the order
- any application to cancel or extend an ESO
- the expiry of an ESO
- the death of an offender on an ESO
- any situation where the whereabouts on an offender on an ESO becomes unknown.