Victim Information

Victim Participation

If you are a victim or victim representative and have questions, need help, or wish to participate in a scheduled Board hearing either in person, by telephone, or online, please contact our Board of Pardons victim coordinator at 801-261-6464 at least three business days prior to the scheduled hearing to make appropriate arrangements. This is especially important if you want to participate in a hearing online.

The Utah Office of Substance Use and Mental Health’s (SUMH) victim advocate provides a trauma-informed voice to support and assist victims of crime who are involved with the Utah Board of Pardon and Parole. The victim advocate can provide support and assistance with writing victim impact statements, attending hearings, safety planning, protective orders, crime victims compensation applications, and referrals to crisis intervention services. You can find more information about the SUMH victim advocate here or contact Lora Flanigan at 385-479-4815 or [email protected].

Testimony

Victims may attend hearings; they are not required to testify. Victims who wish to give testimony are encouraged to notify the Board victim coordinator. You can look up scheduled hearings on the Board’s website or can contact the victim coordinator for assistance. There are multiple ways to participate in a hearing.

Here are ways to participate:

  • In person: Contact victim coordinator at least three days prior to the scheduled hearing.
  • Online: Contact victim coordinator at least three days prior to the scheduled hearing to obtain correct hearing access code.
  • By victim impact statement: Written victim impact statements may be submitted to [email protected] or 448 E Winchester St. #300 Murray, Utah 84107
    • Under legal obligation, information provided must be disclosed to the incarcerated individual. Contact information will be removed prior to disclosure.

Family may testify if the victim is deceased, incapacitated, or otherwise not available because of the offense. The Board requests that testimony be limited to no more than two victim representatives.

If a victim does not wish to give testimony, a designee may be appointed to speak on their behalf.

Testimony at hearings shall be limited to five minutes in length per victim or designee. It is recommended that the remarks be written and brought to the hearing and left for the Board file.

The Department of Corrections sets security procedures and dress code standards for in person hearings, which can be found on their website http://corrections.utah.gov.

Media use of any victim images must be approved by the victim and the Board administrator prior to the hearing.

Upon advance request, an interpreter can be provided for the victim.

Please arrive at least thirty (30) minutes prior to the hearing.