Multi-Site Survey of Victims of Crime and Criminal Justice Professionals across Canada: Summary of Probation Officer, Corrections, and Parole Board Respondents
Appendix C: Self-Administered Questionnaire for Survey of Correctional Service of Canada Personnel
1. Please identify your position.
1 Institutional victim liaison coordinator
- 2 District parole office victim liaison coordinator
- 3 Community correctional victim liaison coordinator
- 66 Other (specify):
We understand that not all respondents will have experience in the areas covered by some of the questions. Please answer all questions that you can.
2. What role do you believe victims should have in the following stages of the criminal justice process?
Offender's eligibility for conditional release
- Please describe role
- 00 Victims should not have any role
Conditional release decisions
- Please describe role
- 00 Victims should not have any role
3. Do you generally provide the following information about the offender to victims when they request it? (Please answer for your position within CSC)
Date when offender's sentence began
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
- IF NO - Who, if anyone, typically provides this information to victims?
Length of the sentence
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
- IF NO - Who, if anyone, typically provides this information to victims?
Location where offender is incarcerated
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
- IF NO - Who, if anyone, typically provides this information to victims?
Dates of temporary absences or work releases
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
- IF NO - Who, if anyone, typically provides this information to victims?
Location of offender during temporary absences or work releases
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
- IF NO - Who, if anyone, typically provides this information to victims?
Offender's eligibility for conditional release
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
- IF NO - Who, if anyone, typically provides this information to victims?
Hearing dates for conditional release
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
- IF NO - Who, if anyone, typically provides this information to victims?
Release dates
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
- IF NO - Who, if anyone, typically provides this information to victims?
Conditions imposed on release
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
- IF NO - Who, if anyone, typically provides this information to victims?
Reasons for a release decision
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
- IF NO - Who, if anyone, typically provides this information to victims?
Destination of offender on release
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
- IF NO - Who, if anyone, typically provides this information to victims?
Whether the offender has appealed a Parole Board decision
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
- IF NO - Who, if anyone, typically provides this information to victims?
Copy of decision by appeal division
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
- IF NO - Who, if anyone, typically provides this information to victims?
Travel permits granted to offender
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
- IF NO - Who, if anyone, typically provides this information to victims?
Changes to offender's custodial status (including suspension or revocation of release)
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
- IF NO - Who, if anyone, typically provides this information to victims?
4. Are there any difficulties with providing victims any of the information listed in Question 3?
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
4a. If yes, please explain.
5. Do you usually inform victims of the following? (Please check one and answer for your position within CSC)
The right to request certain kinds of information about the offender
- 1 Yes, inform all victims
- 2 Yes, inform victims who have contacted CSC
- 3 No
The ability to provide new or additional information to the Parole Board that the victim considers relevant
- 1 Yes, inform all victims
- 2 Yes, inform victims who have contacted CSC
- 3 No
That any information they provide will be shared with the offender
- 1 Yes, inform all victims
- 2 Yes, inform victims who have contacted CSC
- 3 No
The opportunity to attend Parole Board hearings as observers (including the need to make an application)
- 1 Yes, inform all victims
- 2 Yes, inform victims who have contacted CSC
- 3 No
The opportunity to present a statement at the parole hearing in person or via audiotape or videotape (including the need to make an application)
- 1 Yes, inform all victims
- 2 Yes, inform victims who have contacted CSC
- 3 No
6. Do most victims of crime participate in the correctional or parole process by doing the following? (Check one)
Requesting information about the offender
- 1 Yes, in most cases
- 2 Yes, only in serious cases
- 3 No
- 8 Don't know
Providing new or additional information for use in conditional release decisions
- 1 Yes, in most cases
- 2 Yes, only in serious cases
- 3 No
- 8 Don't know
Attending Parole Board hearings as observers
- 1 Yes, in most cases
- 2 Yes, only in serious cases
- 3 No
- 8 Don't know
Presenting a statement in person or via audiotape or videotape for use in conditional release decisions
- 1 Yes, in most cases
- 2 Yes, only in serious cases
- 3 No
- 8 Don't know
7. Do you think that there are any obstacles to victims' participation in the correctional or parole process?
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
-
7a. If yes, what are the obstacles? (Please check all that apply)
- 1 Victims are not aware of the ways they can participate
- 2 Victims do not know when an application is required (e.g., for attending hearings or presenting a statement)
- 3 Support services for victims during the correctional or parole process are insufficient
- 4 Victims are unaware of support services available
- 5 There is a lack of funding to assist victims who want to attend parole hearings
- 66 Other (please describe):
-
8. What services, if any, does CSC provide for victims? (Please answer for your position within CSC)
Assistance with making requests for information about the offender (e.g., provide forms and/or information on how to submit requests)
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't Know
Victim notification once the victim has requested information
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't Know
Information about victim statements
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't Know
Assistance in preparing victim statements
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't Know
Assistance with making requests to attend Parole Board hearings as observers
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't Know
Accompaniment to parole hearings
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't Know
Ensure that Parole Board members are aware of victims' concerns
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't Know
Other (please specify):
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't Know
9. Are you aware of other victim service organizations that assist victims once the offender has been sentenced?
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
9a. If yes, what services do these organizations provide?
Assistance with making requests for information about the offender (e.g., provide forms and/or information on how to submit requests)
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't Know
Victim notification once the victim has requested information
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't Know
Information about victim statements
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't Know
Assistance in preparing victim statements
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't Know
Assistance with making requests to attend Parole Board hearings as observers
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't Know
Accompaniment to parole hearings
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't Know
Ensure that Parole Board members are aware of victims' concerns
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't Know
Other (please specify):
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't Know
10. Do you refer victims to other available victim services?
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
11. Do other organizations or agencies refer victims to you?
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
11a. If yes, what organizations refer victims to you? (Please check all that apply)
- 1 Police-based victim services
- 2 Crown-based victim services
- 3Community-based victim services
- 4Crown
- 5 Police
- 66 Other (please describe):
12. After an offender is sentenced, do you think there is a service gap in connecting victims to services available in corrections/parole?
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
12a. If yes, what can be done to improve the situation?
13. Do you review parole officers' reports to the Parole Board to ensure that relevant victim concerns are included?
- 1 Yes
- 2 No
- 8 Don't know
14. In their reports to the Parole Board (assessments for decision), do parole officers generally recommend that special conditions be imposed on the offender?(Please check all that apply)
- 1 Yes, generally recommend special conditions to protect specific victim (e.g., no contact order)
- 2 Yes, usually recommend other special conditions
- 3 No
- 8 Don't know
-
14a. If no, please explain.
15. 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 at:
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