Victim's Right to Information

If you are a victim of a crime, you have a right to information about the person who harmed you.

• Information about an offender confined to a federal institution, may be provided by the Correctional Service of Canada.
• Information about an offender confined to a provincial correctional centre may be obtained from the British Columbia Corrections Branch through the Victim Safety Unit.
• The National Parole Board may provide information for provincial and federal offenders on parole matters.

This information is not available to you automatically. You must request it in writing from the Correctional Service of Canada, the National Parole Board, or other agencies. The Victim Safety Unit (see below) can assist you in applying to the appropriate body.

The Information You Can Receive

When you make a request for information you may receive:

• the offender’s name
• the offence and the court which convicted the offender
• the date the sentence began and length of sentence
• the offender’s eligibility and review dates for temporary absences, day paroles and full parole.

The Corrections and Conditional Release Act stipulates that the Correctional Service of Canada or National Parole Board must use discretion in releasing other information about the offender. If they find that the interest of the victim receiving certain information outweighs the offender’s right to privacy, the victim may receive the following information:

• the offender’s age
• the location, name and security level of the penitentiary where the sentence is being served
• the date, if any, on which the offender is to be released on unescorted or escorted temporary absences, work release, parole or statutory release
• the date of any National Parole Board hearings
• any conditions attached to the offender’s temporary absence, work release, parole or statutory release
• the offender’s destination when released on any temporary absence, work release, parole or statutory release and whether the offender will be in your area while travelling to that destination
• whether or not the offender is in custody and, if not, why not
• whether or not the offender has appealed a National Parole Board decision and the result of that appeal.

Additional Information You Can Collect

In addition, anyone demonstrating an interest in a specific case may request a decision from the National Parole Board’s Decision Registry, including the reasons for decisions related to an offender’s parole, return to prison, and the decisions made by the National Parole Board’s Appeal Division. The National Parole Board may exempt information in these written decisions that could reveal a confidential source of information, jeopardize a person's safety, or hinder an offender's return to society as a law-abiding citizen.

Personal information about a victim is never given to the offender. However, any information about the crime that is provided by you and considered in a decision about sentencing or parole must be shared with the offender.

Register for Victim Notification- The Victim Safety Unit

To register for the victim notification service and other general information, call the Victim Safety Unit at 604-660-0316 in the Lower Mainland or 1-877-315-8822 toll-free from anywhere in Canada. Or download and fill out the form below.

Download the Victim Safety Unit Notification Application Form here..

Fill out the application and return it to the address enclosed on the form. Following the registration of your application, you will be notified if the offender is moved to another institution or when the offender is released from jail for any reason. This service is provided by the Victim Safety Unit and VictimLink BC, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Important Reading

For information on victim rights and access to information, read the Government of Canada publication Victims of Crime: Staying informed

Learn More About

• Services for Victims
• The National Parole Board