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What the Victim Notification Scheme is
In some criminal cases, victims have a right to receive information about the release of an offender. They may also have a right to be told when the offender is being considered for release and to make written representations (written comments) about the release of the offender.
The process that allows you to be told about an offender's release and to make representations is known as the Victim Notification Scheme, or VNS. The VNS is in two parts, the first part allows you to receive information about an offender's release. The second part allows you to make written representations (comments) to the Parole Board in advance of an offender being considered for release on parole and to make representations to the Scottish Prison Service ( SPS) about an offender being released on Home Detention Curfew ( HDC), if the offender is granted parole at the half way stage in their sentence (more information about HDC can be found on page 9).
A form is enclosed with the letter accompanying this guidance that gives you the choice of signing up to either part 1 or part 2, or to both parts of the scheme.
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