The Victims’ Rights Act 2002 provides for the Department of Corrections to notify registered victims of specified events.
Probation officers must notify the CPPS VNR coordinator immediately if any of the events in the table below occur during the offender’s sentence.
Probation officers should not contact registered victims and must not record any victim details in casenotes or on offender files. All victim-related enquiries should be referred to the VNR coordinator in the first instance.
Note: This table only relates to those offenders whose victims are registered on the victim notification register.
| The probation officer must tell the VNR coordinator as soon as possible if… | so the VNR coordinator can make… |
|---|---|
| the offender leaves a home detention residence (other than in accordance with conditions) | immediate telephone notification, followed by written notification within 72 hours (unless the offender returns before it is practicable to give notice). |
| the offender dies while on home detention | telephone notification as soon as the offender’s next of kin is informed, followed by written notification within 72 hours. |
| the offender finishes their sentence of home detention | written notification at least 2 weeks before the sentence end date. |
| the NZPB makes an interim recall order resulting in prison detention | written notification within 72 hours of order made. |
| the NZPB makes, or refuses to make, a final recall order | written notification within 72 hours of order made. |
| a decision is made to quash an interim or final recall order (decisions made on a review or appeal) | written notification within 72 hours of order made |
| the offender is convicted under s71(1) of the Parole Act 2002 for breaching a NZPB imposed prison release condition(s) | written notification within 72 hours of conviction. |
| the offender is convicted for failing to comply with the conditions of an extended supervision order | written notification within 72 hours of conviction. |
| the offender’s extended supervision order expires | written notification at least 2 weeks before the expiry date. |
| the offender dies while subject to an extended supervision order | telephone notification as soon as the offender’s next of kin is informed, followed by written notification within 72 hours of the phone call. If victims cannot be contacted by phone, written notification as soon as the offender’s next of kin is informed. |
| the offender transfers to another CPPS area/DHB mental health facility | arrangements to transfer notification responsibilities for the offender. |
Victim notification (VNR) is supported by IOMS VNR, which provides contact details for victims and letter templates for notification services.
The Victim Notification Operating Manual for CPPS Coordinators:
Note: The information contained in this manual is maintained by the victim information manager, Systems & Infrastructure, Department of Corrections Head Office.
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