The Victims Register is a service that provides information to eligible victims (or their nominee) about an offender who is serving a sentence in prison.
What law relates to the Victims Register?
You can find the law that sets out how the Victims Register operates in section 30A of the Corrections Act 1986.
Who can apply to go on the register?
The Victims Register can only provide information about an offender who is serving a sentence in prison for a violent offence against a person.
If this is so, you are eligible to apply to go on the register if you are:
- a primary victim who was harmed by the offence
- a family member of:
- a person who died because of the offence
- a victim who is under 18 years of age
- a victim who has a mental impairment
- a person with a strong connection to the offence, such as a witness for the prosecution
- a victim of family violence from the offender.
If you apply to go on the register as a victim of family violence, the offender’s sentence in prison does not need to be a violent offence against a person and does not need to be an offence against the victim of family violence.
What information may be provided?
Information that must be provided to a registered victim includes:
- the release of an offender on parole
- any decision not to release an offender on parole.
Information that may be provided includes:
- the length of the offender’s sentence
- the date and circumstances in which an offender is likely to be released
- the details of any escape by the offender from legal custody
- if the offender dies
- if the offender receives an award of damages of $10,000 or more that is held in the Prisoner Compensation Quarantine Fund
- once the sentence has finished, information about a detention or supervision order the offender is made subject to under the Serious Offenders Act 2018.
You will also be notified:
- when the offender applies for parole. The Victims Register will invite you to make a written submission to the Adult Parole Board for consideration.
- if an application for a supervision or detention order is made against the offender. The Victims Register will invite you to make a written submission to the Court and the Post Sentence Authority.
- in certain circumstances, where an offender has been approved
- to participate in a Community Team Sports program.
The Community Team Sports Program
Prisoners that meet strict criteria may be approved to participate in team sports in the community. Consideration is given to the safety and welfare of a registered victim before a permit is issued. Guidelines are in place to notify you if a Community Team Sports permit is approved for the offender. You can indicate a preference regarding notification in the application form.
The Prisoner Compensation Quarantine Fund (PCQF)
If an offender is awarded damages of $10,000 or more it will be held in the PCQF for at least one year. Victims may be able to make a claim against this money during this time. You can indicate a preference regarding notification in the application form.
Information provided to you must remain confidential
The information provided by the Victims Register must not be shared publicly, either by a registered victim or their nominee.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- sharing the information with any media outlet such as television newspaper, radio, internet, book or other form of communication
- distributing the information in leaflets or brochures in letterboxes
- announcing the information at a meeting.
Sharing this information publicly may result in:
- your registration being cancelled
- other penalties as described in s30I of the Corrections Act 1986.
You (or your nominee) may share relevant confidential information to an authorised person, for example a psychologist or lawyer.
The information provided about an offender is limited by law
Information that the Victims Register can share with you is limited by law.
The Victims Register can only share information during the period the offender is:
- in prison
- released on parole
- subject to a supervision or detention order under the Serious Offenders Act 2018.
The Victims Register is unable to give you certain information including:
- the prison which the offender is in
- where the offender will live when they are released
- details of any programs the offender participate in
- details of any assessments about the offender
- details of other crimes that the offender may have committed.
How long does my registration remain current?
In general, your registration will remain current until either:
- the sentence of imprisonment and parole finishes, or
- when a supervision or detention order finishes.
It may end earlier if:
- you request to be removed in writing
- the offender dies
- the offender is transferred interstate
- the offender is deported overseas
- you are registered on behalf of a child victim who reaches the age of 18 years and has the legal capacity to apply in their own right
- he Victims Register is unable to contact you after making reasonable efforts.
How do I apply to be put on the Victims Register?
To apply for registration, you must:
- complete the online Victims Register application form (External link), or
- print, complete and sign the printable Victims Register application form.
Please note you must use the printable form if you wish to use a nominee.
If you use the printable form and are registering for multiple offenders, an application form must be printed and completed for each offender. If you are using the online form this is not required.
If you use the printable form, completed applications should be:
- emailed to VictimsRegister@justice.vic.gov.au (External link), or
- posted to The Victims Register, GPO Box 4349, Melbourne Vic 3001.
Privacy notice
Your information is stored securely by the Victims Register in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014.
The Victims Register collects the information provided on the application form to:
- establish your eligibility to go on the register
- provide certain information about the status of one or more offenders against whom you have registered.
When you apply for the Victims Register you provide your personal information voluntarily. You do not have to apply.
Offenders are not informed when a person is placed on the Victims Register.
In certain circumstances, your information may be provided to Corrections Victoria, the Adult Parole Board, the Post Sentence Authority or a ‘law enforcement agency’ as defined in the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 so that those agencies can fulfil their obligations towards you as a victim.
When decisions are made about an offender’s sentence, authorities will do a risk assessment and consider the impact on the registered victim. This may happen when an offender:
- applies for a permit
- applies for parole or transfer interstate
- is placed on a supervision or detention order.
As part of this process the Victims Register may be contacted about geographical areas that may be relevant. At no time during this process will your name or address be shared.
What happens after I submit my application?
Your application and the supporting documentation will be assessed against several criteria. It is important for you to provide the required documentation when you lodge your application.
The Victims Register may seek further information or clarification from the Office of Public Prosecutions, a Victorian Court or Victoria Police.
Once your application has been processed, you will be advised of the outcome.
If you are registered, from then on you will receive correspondence in accordance with the services provided by the Victims Register.
If you are not eligible for registration, you will be notified.
The Victims Register seeks to provide information in a timely manner, so it is important to keep your personal information up to date. Please let us know of any changes to ensure you are kept informed.