State Board of Pardons and Paroles Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Report
The Georgia Office of Victim Services serves registered crime victims in cases involving a state inmate or an offender who is on parole or probation. The Georgia Office of Victim Services keeps victims of crime informed about the offender’s case and parole status. The office is supported by three state agencies which are the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Department of Corrections and the Department of Community Supervision.
The office handles victim information by direct contact with victims as well as electronically. In FY15, 4,731 direct phone calls from victims were handled by staff, 5,370 correspondences from victims were made a part of offender records, 8,791 correspondences were sent to victims in response to concerns and 2,393 victim impact statements and notifications were filed with the office.
Victim Information Program or V.I.P.
V.I.P. is a 24-hour automated information system providing victims of crime and/or their families, with access to information about their offender. By completing a victim impact statement or crime victim notification form, victims can be registered with V.I.P. The forms are available on-line at www.pap.georgia.gov or by calling 404-651-6668.
How V.I.P. Assists Crime Victims
Upon registering, victims are issued a PIN (Personal Identification Number). When accessing the system (800-593-9474), victims can learn the status of the offender. Also through V.I.P., registered victims receive information on releases after the inmate completes the court ordered term of incarceration (end of sentence), or if the inmate is placed on parole or probation supervision.
For FY15, there were 1,768 new V.I.P. registrants, 8,615 phone calls were logged into the system made by victims and others and the system made 287 calls to victims of crime.
Fiscal Year 2015 Victims Visitors’ Days The Parole Board visited two Georgia communities during the fiscal year, meeting with victims of crime. The agency’s Victims Visitors’ Days are conducted to give crime victims the opportunity to discuss directly with the Board, the crime, the offender and their impact on the victim or victims. At these events, victims of crimes receive parole status updates on the offenders involved in the crimes against them or their loved ones. Victims share their emotions and their wishes regarding parole for the offender.
The Victims Visitors’ Day program began in 2006. Through FY15, 22 separate events have been conducted and the Parole Board has met with more than 2,400 victims.
According to exit surveys, 98% of victims participating in the two Victims Visitors’ Days in FY15 stated that all of their questions were answered to their satisfaction.
FY15 Victims Visitors’ Days
Columbus, Georgia - January 7, 2015
A Victims Visitors’ Day was conducted in conjunction with the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit's Victim Witness Assistance Program. One hundred sixty-eight victims and family members of victims were able to meet with board staff including Board Members. It was the Board's second Victims Visitors' Day in Columbus, holding the initial event in 2009.
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