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Serious offenders are managed in custody by the Serious Offenders Review Council (SORC). More information can be found on the SORC website.
A key role of SORC is to provide advice to the Parole Authority whether it is appropriate for an inmate to be released on parole.
As required by law, unless there are “exceptional circumstances” the Authority must not make a parole order for a Serious Offender unless the SORC advises it is appropriate to do so [s.197(2)(a) and 135(3) of the Act].
In other words, unless there are “exceptional circumstances”, the Authority must accept the advice of the Serious Offender's Review Council..
As with all inmates, the process for Serious Offenders begins 60 days before their eligible date for parole.
The Authority is required to consider all relevant and available material about the inmate, including a report from the Serious Offenders Review Council (SORC) advising whether parole is appropriate.
At a meeting to decide parole, the Parole Authority then forms either an intention to grant parole or an intention to refuse parole.
The inmate is provided with the reasons for the parole decision and may be given the opportunity to apply for a review.
If that is refused, the Serious Offender may be reconsidered on their anniversary date the following year.
If the Authority forms an intention to grant parole, the matter is listed for a public hearing in court.
This allows for the State or any registered victim or their families to make submissions in court about the release of the inmate.
These submissions are taken into consideration before any final decision on parole.
The Authority must give notice of its intention to grant parole to any registered victim/s and this task is completed by the Victims Register.
If parole is granted the serious offender is released two weeks after the hearing to allow time for any appeal to be lodged.
The release of all inmates from custody is managed by CSNSW.
If you are a Registered Victim of a Serious Offender, you can choose to make either a written or verbal submission. to the Parole Authority and request conditions for parole.
Victims of Serious Offenders can attend public review hearings and, if they wish, address their submission directly to the Authority panel members in the courtroom.
Victims can choose to sit in the courtroom where they can see the offender via AVL on a screen but remain out of sight of the offender.
If you need becoming a Registered Victim or help writing a submission you can contact the Victims Register for assistance on:
Phone: (02) 8688 6833
Email: victims.register@dcj.nsw.gov.au
06 May 2025