Multi-Site Survey of Victims of Crime and Criminal Justice Professionals across Canada: Summary of Probation Officer, Corrections, and Parole Board Respondents
Appendix A: Self-Administered Questionnaire for Survey of Probation Officers
1. Who, if anyone, provides victims with the following information: (Check all that apply)
The offender's release on probation (date and location)
- 1 Police
- 2 Probation officers
- Other (Specify)
- 3 No one to
my knowledge - 8 Don't know
The conditions of probation
- 1 Police
- 2 Probation officers
- Other (Specify)
- 3 No one to
my knowledge - 8 Don't know
Any breaches of a condition of probation
- 1 Police
- 2 Probation officers
- Other (Specify)
- 3 No one to
my knowledge - 8 Don't know
Proceedings for failure to comply with probation order
(date and location)- 1 Police
- 2 Probation officers
- Other (Specify)
- 3 No one to
my knowledge - 8 Don't know
Outcome of failure to comply proceedings
- 1 Police
- 2 Probation officers
- Other (Specify)
- 3 No one to
my knowledge - 8 Don't know
2. Do probation officers provide any other services to victims?
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
If yes, please describe the services
3. Do provincial regulations require that you include recommendations on conditions in pre-sentence reports?
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
4 .In pre-sentence reports, do you generally recommend that conditions for victim safety be placed on the offender?
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
5. In preparing pre-sentence reports, do you usually speak to victims?
- 1 Yes, to all victims
- 2 Yes, to victims who know their offender
- 3 No
- 8 Don't know
6. How do probation officers ensure that conditions of probation are followed?
7. Is restitution usually ordered as a condition of probation in appropriate cases?
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
- If no, please explain:
8. If restitution is a condition of probation, please indicate whether you do any of the following:
Remind the offender of the obligation to pay restitution
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
Monitor the offender's payment of restitution
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
Collect restitution payments
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
Submit restitution payments directly to the victim or to someone acting on the victim's behalf
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
Notify the court of failure to pay restitution
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
9. Is restitution enforcement a concern or problem?
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
- Please explain:
Questions 10 and 11 ask about victim impact statements. Please indicate "don't know" if you do not have sufficient personal experience to answer these questions.
10. Do victims generally submit a victim impact statement for use in sentencing? (Check one)
- 1 Yes
- 2 Yes, in serious cases
- 3 No
- 8 Don't know
11. In cases where no victim impact statement is submitted, do judges generally ask whether the victim is aware of the opportunity to prepare and submit a victim impact statement?
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
Restorative justice considers the wrong done to a person as well as the wrong done to the community. Restorative justice programs involve the victim(s) or a representative, the offender(s), and community representatives. The offender is required to accept responsibility for the crime and take steps to repair the harm he or she has caused.
12a. Have you ever participated in any restorative justice processes such as a healing circle, etc.?
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
12b. If yes to Question 12a, please describe your involvement. (Please check all that apply)
- 1 Make recommendations on outcome, including conditions on offender
- 2 Monitor offender's compliance with conditions
- 3 Other (please specify):
- 4 Other (please specify):
- 5 Other (please specify):
12c. If no to Question 12a, why have you not participated in a restorative justice approach? (Check all that apply)
- 1 Restorative justice approaches are not available
- 2 Restorative justice approaches do not protect the victim adequately
- 3 Restorative justice approaches do not act as a deterrent
- 66 Other (Specify):
13. Do you have any other comments?
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Please return the questionnaire by faxing it back to us toll-free
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