Multi-Site Survey of Victims of Crime and Criminal Justice Professionals across Canada: Summary of Probation Officer, Corrections, and Parole Board Respondents Policy Centre for Victim Issues Research and Statistics Division rr05vic-1-sum8e 2005 The views expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Justice Canada. [...] The PCVI implements the Victims of Crime Initiative which, through the Victims Fund, legislative reform, research, consultations and communication activities, works to increase the confidence of victims in the criminal justice system and responds to the needs of victims of crime as they relate to the Department of Justice. [...] Probation was asked who provides victims with information related to the offender's release on probation; the results are shown in Table 6. A majority of survey respondents reported that probation officers inform victims about the date and location of the offender's release on probation (58%) and about conditions of probation (69%). [...] The 1999 amendments to the Criminal Code allow victims to read their statements aloud during sentencing, require the judge to ask before sentencing whether the victim has been informed of the opportunity to complete a VIS and permit the judge to adjourn the sentencing, to give the victim time to prepare the statement. [...] The main barriers cited by NPB and CSC respondents are the lack of funding to assist victims who want to attend parole board hearings, and the lack of victim awareness of ways in which they can participate in the parole process and of the support services available.