Parole Board information campaign

The Parole Board is running an information campaign over three weeks in November 2023. This campaign aims to alert victims of serious crimes of their right to have a say in the parole process and the need for them to get in contact with the Board to exercise that right.

The campaign will consist of 30 second advertisement spots on national and local radio stations.

The victims who have the right to have a voice in the parole process are victims of serious crimes – or their next of kin, where the victim has died - where, as a result of that crime, a person is serving a life sentence.

The purpose of the information campaign is to highlight to victims that they have a voice in the parole process. The steps involved in that process are:

Registering with the Parole Board by completing the registration form available at the Parole Board website
The Parole Board will then contact victims to ask them if they wish to make a submission in relation to the person who has applied to the Board to have their sentence reviewed
The Parole Board will guide victims through the process of making such a submission
Submissions can be made in person or in writing and the Parole Board is committed to doing its best to facilitate victims in making their submissions at a time, place and format that suits the victim concerned
Victims can avail of free legal aid to assist in making their submission
It’s important for victims to be aware that victim submissions are provided to the parole applicant as part of the parole review process
If they wish, victims can be made aware of the outcome once the Board has made its decision on the parole application

The Parole Board is an independent statutory body set up under the Parole Act 2019.

Media queries on the campaign should be directed to press@paroleboard.gov.ie