The State Board of Pardons and Paroles is engaging crime victims through Victim Impact Sessions. Victim Impact Sessions (VIS) allow victims whose offender is within twelve (12) to eighteen (18) months of parole consideration to discuss their case in a meeting with a Board Member, a Georgia Office of Victim Services' staff member, and a senior hearing examiner with the Board's Clemency Division. By focusing on cases due to be reviewed by the Board during the next twelve to eighteen months, the Board is receiving timely information from both the victim and the district attorney.
Rita Rocker is the Deputy Executive Director of the agency and also serves as Director of the Georgia Office of Victim Services (GOVS).
"These sessions are proving valuable to the Board as we receive case information and the crime victims are being heard," says Rocker.
Shelly Hall agrees. She's the victim advocate for the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit.
"It was an honor to host this great group and they are welcome back ANYTIME!"
The district attorney and victim's office of a judicial circuit hosts the VIS as in Hall's case in Columbus in November.
In 2022, Victim Impact Sessions were conducted in Gainesville, Brunswick, Canton, Forsyth, Ellijay, Savannah and Columbus, Georgia.
In October, a Victim Impact Session was hosted by the Appalachian Judicial Circuit at the Gilmer County Courthouse in Ellijay and the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit hosted a Victim Impact Session in Canton in Cherokee County.
Parole Board Member David Herring met with crime victims at both Victim Impact Sessions.
“It is important that we have these personal meetings with crime victims. The victims now have a better understanding of the parole decision making process and they have had this opportunity to describe the impact of the crime including how it has affected them over time,” says Herring. “As a Board Member, it is important to hear firsthand from these crime victims,” he added.
Victim Impact sessions
Engaging an important stakeholder
Fall 2022/Winter 2023
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