When someone is convicted of a crime, they are sometimes sentenced to spend time in custody. Adults are placed in prison or the Central Mental Hospital. Juveniles are placed at the Oberstown Children Detention Campus.
When an offender is put in prison, a children’s detention centre or the Central Mental Hospital, the victim has the right to ask for, and to be told:
A victim must opt-in to receive these notifications.
If the offender is in prison, victims can register for notifications with the Irish Prison Victim Liaison Service.
If the offender is a patient at the Central Mental Hospital, victims should contact the hospital to register for notifications. The hospital can be contacted at 01 215 7400.
If the offender is being held in Oberstown Children Detention Campus , victims can contact the facility at 01 852 6384 to register for notifications.
The Probation Service is the lead State agency for assessing and managing offenders (people convicted of an offence) in the community.
There are two types of assessment reports:
A judge can ask for one, or both, of these reports and will adjourn the case for the report to be prepared. Generally speaking, assessment reports will be completed within eight weeks for adults, and within four weeks for young people.
More information about these reports, as well as the other functions of the Probation Service can be found here.
The Probation RJ and Victim Services serves as the central point of contact for all victims of crime where the offender is known to the Probation Service. They can be contacted at VSU@probation.ie or 01 817 3600.
Parole is a form of early release from prison under certain conditions. Offenders can apply for parole if they have served at least 10-and-a-half years of a life sentence, but cannot be granted parole unless they have served at least 12 years of the sentence. If an offender is released on parole, they must follow all the conditions of the parole order. The conditions apply for the remaining time of the sentence. Offenders can be sent back to prison if they reoffend or break any of the conditions of the parole order.
The Parole Board reviews parole applications from prisoners serving life sentences. It is an independent statutory body and the Board members are appointed by the Minister for Justice.
If you have been a victim of a serious crime and as a result of that crime a person is serving a life sentence, you have a right to a voice in the parole process. You can register with the Parole Board to be notified if the offender applies for parole. It is possible to make a submission to the Parole Board in person or in writing regarding the application. You can avail of free legal representation to assist with this. It is important to note that victim submissions are included in the information provided to the parole applicant as part of their parole review. If the person serving the sentence has not yet applied for parole or has not yet served the minimum time that allows them to apply, you can still register and we they contact you if and when they apply.
The registration form can be downloaded here or one can be posted to you by contacting the Parole Board at vlo@paroleboard.gov.ie or at 01 474 8770 or 01 474 8767.
If you are in immediate danger or there is an emergency, you should dial the Garda emergency number at 999 or 112.
LEARN MOREThe first Garda you speak to will take down your information (such as name, address, date of birth and phone number) and the basic details of what happened.
LEARN MOREWhen an investigation is completed, a decision is made whether to prosecute someone for the crime. The decision to prosecute is sometimes called “file charges”.
LEARN MOREThe Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decides whether or not to charge people for committing serious crimes and what the charges should be. The DPP is also responsible for prosecuting indictable offenses.
LEARN MOREWhen the Gardaí or the DPP decide to prosecute, the case then goes to court. Most of the time, the investigating Garda will be the person who informs you about court dates and other developments.
LEARN MOREWhen someone pleads guilty or is found guilty in court, all victims have a right to submit a victim impact statement (sometimes called a “personal statement”) before the judge decides on a sentence. Providing a victim impact statement is a right but not a requirement.
LEARN MOREWhen someone is convicted of a crime, they are sometimes sentenced to spend time in custody. Adults are placed in prison or the Central Mental Hospital. Juveniles are placed at the Oberstown Children Detention Campus.
LEARN MOREIs a term to describe a variety of practices that seek to provide opportunities for perpetrators to repair the harm they have done. The process generally requires the person to admit responsibility for the crime.
The Crime Victims Helpline is a listening and support service for victims of crime in Ireland. We provide time and space for victims to talk about their experiences. We also answer questions about the criminal justice system and help victims understand their rights.
If you or a friend or family member has been impacted by crime, there are a number of organization in Ireland who can help.