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<p> </p><p> </p><p>The Probation Victim Contact Scheme provides valuable support to
victims of offenders who receive a sentence of imprisonment of 12 months or more or
a hospital order for a violent or sexual offence. The Scheme enables victims to be
informed of key stages of an offender's sentence, such as if they are transferred
to open prison conditions. Victims will also be informed of the prospective date of
release. The point at which this information is provided to a victim varies on a case
by case basis.</p><p> </p><p>Where the offender is serving a determinate sentence,
the release date is fixed. Victims will be informed of the expected month of release
very early following sentence and will be updated should this date change - for example,
if the offender receives added days.</p><p> </p><p>Where the offender is subject to
discretionary release by the Parole Board, the victim will be informed early in the
sentence of the month in which the offender will become eligible for consideration
for release, and be informed of the Parole Board's decision, including if this is
to release the offender.</p><p> </p><p>Victims also have a statutory right to make
representations about licence conditions on release, to re-assure and protect them,
and to be informed which conditions have been included on the licence as a result
of their request. These will typically be exclusion zones to reduce the risks of unexpected
contact, and a no contact condition.</p>
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