The United States Parole Commission's Victim Witness Program encourages crime victims to exercise their right to participate in the parole and supervised release processes of their offender by notifying crime victims of hearing and release dates, facilitating victim participation in the hearing and release processes, advocating on behalf of crime victims, and providing referrals to supportive services.

There are over 9,000 local, state and national organizations that provide assistance and support to victims of crime. Information on services available in your area can be located by contacting the Commission's Supervisory Victims Coordinator or by visiting website of the Office of Victims of Crime.

Crime Victims Rights Act 18 U.S.C. § 3771 accords rights to victims throughout the parole and supervised release processes. These rights are:

The right to be reasonably protected from the accused.

The right to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any public court proceeding, or any parole proceeding, involving the crime or of any release or escape of the accused.

The right not to be excluded from any such public court proceeding, unless the court, after receiving clear and convincing evidence, determines that testimony by the victim would be materially altered if the victim heard other testimony at that proceeding.

The right to be reasonably heard at any public proceeding in the district court involving release, plea, sentencing, or any parole proceeding.

The reasonable right to confer with the attorney for the Government in the case.

The right to full and timely restitution as provided in law.

The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay.

The right to be treated with fairness and with respect for the victim's dignity and privacy.

We will make our best efforts to ensure you are accorded the rights described. You can seek the advice of an attorney with respect to these rights.

If you are a victim of a crime in a case under jurisdiction of the United States Parole Commission, and you believe that you have not received all the rights and services listed above, please contact the Victim Witness Assistance Unit at (202) 346-7008. We will work with you to see that you receive your rights. If you believe that an employee of the United States Parole Commission failed to provide you with one or more of the federal victims' rights listed above, you may file an administrative complaint, as provided under 28 CFR section 45.10.

Administrative complaints are submitted to the Victims' Rights Point of Contact, Elizabeth Thomas. Complaints should be submitted on the form below. The form can be filled out on your computer using an Adobe Reader. Please print your completed form before closing the document or you may lose your information. Mail the completed form to the address listed on the form. You can also fax the form to the Victims' Rights Point of Contact at (202) 346-7030.

You will receive a written acknowledgment of the complaint from the Victims' Rights Point of Contact. Any questions about the status of a pending complaint or the complaint process in general should be addressed to the Victims' Rights Point of Contact at (202) 346-7000.

Complaint Form: Alleging Failure of Department of Justice Employee to Provide Rights to a Crime Victim Under The Crime Victims' Rights Act of 2004

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