C.10.02 Notification to Victim Coordinators and Parole Board

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The purpose of these procedures is to ensure that the Department of Corrections meets its responsibility of notifying registered victims of specified events as required by the Victims' Right Act 2002 and the Parole Act 2002.

C.10.02.01 Notification to victim coordinators and the New Zealand Parole Board

  1. Unit PCOs must immediately advise the VNR coordinator if any of the following events occur. The VNR Coordinator will then contact the victim:
    1. immediately, by phone, of a VNR prisoner’s escape, and in writing within 72 hours
    2. in writing, at least 4 weeks prior to the date of release of VNR prisoners who are not eligible for parole
    3. in writing, at least 10 days prior to the VNR prisoner being released under early Christmas release provisions
    4. in writing, at least 10 days prior to the VNR prisoners' temporary release and release to work.
      However, if the temporary release relates to a Whare Oranga Ake programme, and is scheduled to occur within the 10 day notification period, staff must take all reasonable steps to notify the registered victim before the prisoner is temporarily released.
      Victims are not advised of VNR prisoners temporary releases where they are in the company of the Police for the whole period of the temporary release.
    5. If a VNR offender has died in custody, by telephone, and only after the VNR prisoner’s next of kin has been informed followed by written notification within 72 hours of the phone call. If the victims cannot be contacted by phone, notification is in writing as soon as the VNR prisoner’s next of kin is informed.
  2. Access to VNR records is restricted to approved staff. Any emergency after-hours access made by on-call staff must be recorded on the coversheet and in victim notes in IOMS VNR.
  3. Upon receipt of a request from the victim for information pursuant to [s44 of the Parole Act 2002] the victim's information manager requests information from the principal case manager.
  4. The principal case manager requests the information from the appropriate case manager.
  5. The case manager completes the IOMS [C.05.02.Form.01 Prisoner information for victims], and forwards the completed form to the principal case manager who:
    1. checks the form is completed correctly, and
    2. emails the completed form to the VNR coordinator at the prison where the prisoner is located, within 2 working days of the request being received.
  6. The information is to be provided to the victim within 3 working days of the request being received.