Victim Information

The victim in the case and members of the victim’s family or support system may attend BOPP hearings.

If you are a victim and would like to attend a BOPP hearing, please contact the BOPP VSA General Mailbox or a VSA above for information and assistance.

• The person who is the crime victim in the case,

• The legal representative of such person, or

• A member of a deceased victim's immediate family or a person designated by a deceased victim to make certain decisions on that victim’s behalf (CGS 54-126a(a)).

Preparing and giving a statement can be difficult, especially for a person going through trauma. VSAs work directly with victims to help them prepare a statement and deliver it at a BOPP hearing. They apply their experience, training, and compassion for victims to help make the process smoother and more supportive.

A statement previously provided for court proceedings or other hearings may be used.

To understand your rights, this process, and options available to you, please contact a BOPP VSA.

Please email victim statements to the BOPP VSA General Mailbox.

• Whether the inmate should be released and the reason or reasons for the victim’s support or objection.

• Any conditions the BOPP should impose on any such release, such as the offender having no contact with the victim.

• Whether an offender should be granted a pardon and the reason or reasons for the victim’s support or objection to such a pardon.

• In what ways does the crime continue to affect you and your family?

• Providing specifics can help the Board members better understand your perspective.

• For the parent of a child victim, you can include how the offense has affected your child’s emotional, physical, social, or academic well-being.

• Have you or your family members received medical services, counseling, or other forms of treatment because of the crime?

• Have the offender or the offender’s family or friends attempted to make, or made contact, with you?

• If so, how did you feel about the contact?
• What, if any, problems or resolutions resulted?

• Do you have specific fears or safety concerns about the offender returning to the community or, for pardon cases, receiving the legal erasure of the offender’s state criminal record?

• Is there any additional information that you feel would be helpful to the BOPP in making its decision?

Under the state constitution, victims have the right to be notified of court proceedings and information about the arrest, conviction, sentence, imprisonment and release of the defendant or offender.

Victims use information received from victim notification to exercise their rights, seek services and advocacy, and develop safety plans.

For information about victim notification, victim services advocates are available at the OVS Helpline at (800) 822-8428 or ovs@jud.ct.gov.

OVS Victim Notification

OVS Victim Notification is a free, confidential way for victims to get information about changes in the status of a convicted inmate. Examples of changes in status include when an offender applies for early release or post-conviction hearings such as parole, a commutation, or a pardon. OVS victim notification covers many other events in the process of a criminal case.

To register, please fill out and submit the Confidential Request for the Notification of Status of Inmate.

Additional victim notification support from VINE

VINE victim notification provides free, automated, confidential alerts on certain parole and release proceedings as well as many other events in a case.

Victims may register by visiting the VINE website or calling (877) 846-9428. Both operate 24/7. Victims who have registered for VINE for offender’s court case will need to re-register for updates on inmate custody under the inmate ID number.

When registering, victims select how to receive notifications: text message, email, cell phone app, automated phone call, or TTY for the deaf or hearing-impaired population. VINE’s notifications are provided in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or Polish.

Although information on this website focuses on notification services available for BOPP matters, victim notification is available for the status of the criminal court case; when an order of protection is issued, changed, or ends; and changes to an inmate's custody status with the Department of Correction.

The OVS Victim Compensation Program may be able to help pay for certain crime-related expenses not covered by insurance or other financial sources. The program is available to crime victims, their family members, and other people who, because of a crime, have a financial loss from a physical injury, homicide, or emotional injury.

There are eligibility, documentation, and application requirements associated with the program. Victim Compensation staff can explain more about the program and help with the application and process. To speak with someone, please contact (888) 286-7347 or email the OVS Victim Compensation Program.

The BOPP is committed to accommodating the needs of members of the public, including crime victims participating in virtual hearings, who have disabilities. If you have a disability and would like accommodation, please contact the CT Board of Pardons and Paroles and the BOPP VSA General Mailbox.