The Department of Justice has initiated a public consultation aimed at enhancing how victims of crime engage with the parole process in Northern Ireland.

The consultation follows feedback from victims who have expressed a desire to be heard at every stage of the justice system, particularly when decisions regarding an offender's release are being made. Currently, when an individual becomes eligible for release on licence, the Parole Commissioners are responsible for assessing whether they should remain in custody. Justice Minister Naomi Long said: "Whilst significant progress has been made in recent years to improve support for victims, we must continue to listen, learn and act on what matters to those directly impacted by crime. Victims have told us that they want to be heard, not only at the point of sentencing but throughout the offender's journey, including in decisions about release. This consultation is an important step, as we work to strengthen victim engagement in the parole process and ensure victims' voices and experiences can help shape how justice is delivered. I would encourage everyone, especially victims, their families, support organisations and practitioners to engage with this consultation and share your views and the reasons for them."

The consultation outlines several proposed measures to improve transparency and participation:

• Introducing a presumption that victims will be allowed to attend the initial part of a hearing to deliver their representations directly to the Parole Commissioners.

• Granting the Department of Justice explicit powers to apply for observers, including victims, to attend oral hearings.

• Enabling hearings to be held in public if the Parole Commissioners deem it to be in the interest of justice.

• Requiring Parole Commissioners to provide a summary of the reasons for a decision to a victim within two weeks of a request.

• Establishing a statutory requirement for the Department of Justice to submit representations from victims to the Parole Commissioners.

The 13-week consultation period is now open and will run until 22 May 2026. Interested parties can access the consultation documents and provide feedback via the Department of Justice website or through NI Direct's Citizen Space.