Victims Rights

Rights Granted to Victims of a Crime in the State of Georgia

You Have The Right To Be Notified Of:

• Arrest of the accused. 
  
  
• Availability of victim service programs. 
  
  
• Availability of compensation for victim's of violent crime. 
  
  
• Any court hearings where release of the accused will be considered. 
  
  
• Release of the accused. 
  
  
• Court proceedings during prosecution of the case. 
  
  
• Motion for new trial or appeal dates. 
  
  
• Change of status of the defendant, if you request this in writing.
  

You Have The Right To:

• Express your opinion on the release of the accused pending court proceedings. 
  
  
• Express your views on the outcome of the case prior to plea negotiations or sentencing of the accused. 
  
  
• Complete a Victim Impact Statement.
  

Notification To Victims Of Crime

The Office of Victim Services will notify registered victims when any of the following occurs:

• The inmate is released from prison having completed the court ordered incarceration. 
  
  
• The inmate has been approved for transfer to a work release transition center. 
  
  
• Removal from transition center to be returned to prison 
  
  
• Escape of an inmate from custody. 
  
  
• Recapture of an escapee. 
  
  
• The release from prison after completing the confinement portion of the sentence to begin a court ordered probation period. 
  
  
• A scheduled parole release from prison. 
  
  
• An offender's parole is revoked and the parolee is returned to the custody of the Department of Corrections. 
  
  
• Transfer to the custody of another authority outside of the Georgia Department of Corrections. 
  
  
• The death of the inmate while in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections
  

Services to Victims of Crime

• A toll free number is available for crime victims to contact the Office of Victim Services 
  
  
• Registration of crime victims for notification of the release of their offender from the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections. 
  
  
• Notification of an inmate's release or escape from the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections. 
  
  
• Advocacy on behalf of victims concerning their particular needs in the correctional process, including but not limited to: situations involving harassment by inmates, compliance with court mandated conditions, unwanted contact, etc.
  
  
• General information regarding the status of offenders in the custody of or under the supervision of the department of corrections.
  
  
• Referrals for crime victims to other state, federal and community based services. 
  
  
• Notification of execution dates along with preparation and orientation for the survivors of homicide victims who choose to be present at an execution.
  

Victim Information and Notification Every Day

V.I.P. is an automated information and notification system used by the Georgia Department of Corrections to provide registered victim's or their families with access to information about their offender 24 hours a day, everyday. 

V.I.P. Hotline: 1-800-593-9474. 

V.I.P. also functions as a notification system. Through computer generated telephone calls, victims who have registered with the Georgia Department of Corrections will automatically receive notification of the release of their offender from custody. 

The information and notification services of the V.I.P. system are available in both English and Spanish. 

How to Register with V.I.P.
The V.I.P. Hotline may be used to obtain updates on the following inmate information:

• The current location of incarceration. 
  
  
• The parole status/eligibility.
  
  
• Maximum or scheduled release date. 
  
  
• The system will advise you if the offender is not in custody 
  
  
• Notification Calls
  

Registered victims will automatically begin receiving computer-generated telephone notification calls when any of the following occurs:

• The inmate is released from prison having served the court ordered term of incarceration. 
  
  
• Release from prison after completing the confinement portion of the sentence to begin a court ordered probation period. 
  
  
• Upon being paroled from prison. 
  
  
• The escape and recapture of an inmate. 
  
  
• The death of the inmate while in the custody of corrections. 
  
  
• Notification calls will be placed to the registered phone number every hour. The calls will continue for a 24-hour period or until the victim enters the assigned PIN, confirming the notification process has been completed.
  

More information regarding the rights of victims' of crime from the State Board Of Pardons & Paroles.