The Restorative Justice Unit facilitates voluntary adult and young people pre- and post-sentence restorative justice processes.
The Victim Engagement Unit manages the post-sentence protective conditions process.
The Victim Liaison Unit manages the Victim Notification Register to keep victims informed of an offender’s progress through the criminal justice system.
The Victim Engagement Unit’s protective conditions process occurs post-sentence but only when an offender is or will be subject to a supervised order after release from prison, or is serving a supervised community-based sentence, such as an Intensive Supervision Order (ISO), or a Community Based Order (CBO).
The Victim Liaison Unit can also advise victims about an offender's sentence, movement or release from custody through the Victim Notification Register (VNR). Victims can apply to go on the VNR if they are the victim of the current offence, have a current FVRO or have been the victim of previous domestic violence offences.
Restorative Justice
Show moreRestorative Justice is an approach to justice that focuses on repairing the harm caused by wrongdoing. It involves bringing together the people affected by a crime - such as the person harmed and the person responsible - to discuss the impact of the crime and to explore ways the person responsible can make amends. The goal is to promote healing and accountability wherever possible. Visit the Restorative Justice webpage.
Note: The Restorative Justice Unit rather than the former Victim-offender Mediation Unit now operates reparative mediation in the Office. Our publications are being progressively rebranded to reflect this change.
Protective conditions process
Show moreThis process gives victims the opportunity to relay to the relevant authorities any concerns they may have about future contact with the offender.
Offenders currently serving a sentence for an offence against an identifiable victim are referred to the Victim Engagement Unit. The VEU makes recommendations about what protective conditions (if any) should be imposed on the offender’s supervised order to protect the victim from unwanted contact. Any conditions imposed will only be in place for the duration of the supervised order.
The parties are interviewed separately, so they will not meet during the above process.
A standard protective condition prohibits an offender having any contact with the victim. This means an offender cannot contact a victim by any means, including:
- Telephone calls and text messages
- Internet, including social media and any messenger services
- Face to face
- Through a third party.
Alternative protective conditions that may be recommended:
- Exclusion zones, such as suburb/town, workplace, local shops
- Additional people to be included, such as family members
- Restricted contact, for example, by telephone only and for a specific purpose.
How are protective conditions imposed?
- A releasing authority imposes them on an offender’s supervised release order on release from prison (adult) or detention (young person)
- A Community Corrections Officer or Youth Justice Officer issues a direction to an offender or young person on a community supervision order.
A victim may also request that no protective conditions be imposed on their behalf. A request can be made to change the imposed conditions at a later date if the parties’ circumstances change.
What happens if protective conditions are breached?
- Alleged breaches should be reported to the VEU, with any available evidence
- The VEU may advise the relevant releasing and supervising authorities
Those authorities may choose to return an offender to custody if they are on a supervised release order, or to court for those on community supervision orders.
Note: that the Restorative Justice Unit rather than the former Victim-offender Mediation Unit now operates reparative mediation in the Office. Our publications are being progressively rebranded to reflect this change, but the information remains correct.
Victim Notification Register
Show moreVictims of crime may apply to go on the VNR to receive information about the perpetrator of the crime against them, for as long as that person is under the supervision of the Department of Justice- Corrective Services division.
Victims can apply to go on the VNR if:
- they are the victim of the current offence
- they have a current Family Violence Restraining Order
- they have been the victim of previous domestic violence offences
- they are an immediate family member of a deceased victim
- they are the parent or guardian of a child victim.
The offender must be under the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice, either in custody or on a community based order. The service is also available to those victims where the accused is on a Custody Order under the Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Accused) Act 1996 (which in September 2024 will become the Criminal Law (Mental Impairment) Act 2023 )and subject to reviews by the Mentally Impaired Accused Review Board.
The information may include details about the offender's sentence, any escapes from custody and recapture, impending release dates and the results of any appeals against the sentence.
Victims are notified in writing of any changes to the offender's circumstances, usually within 5 days of that change occurring.
More information and details on whether you are eligible to join this information service can be found in Victim Notification Register (PDF 207KB) .
To register for this service:
- fill in the online application form
- refer to the form in the Victim Notification Register - Application Form (PDF, 121KB) and mail or email it to the address shown
- call the registrar on 1800 214 615 or 1800 818 988 (country WA only) for an application form.
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