Crime victims were invited to meet with Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles Member Joyette Holmes in Ringgold Thursday. The parole board conducts Victim Impact Sessions giving victims the opportunity to describe the impact of the crime and express their views on possible parole for the offender.
“As a board, we want to hear from victims prior to making a parole decision,” says Ms. Holmes. The Georgia Office of Victim Services coordinates the victim impact sessions with the District Attorney’s office.
Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney Clayton Fuller requested the meetings take place. “Violent offenders should not get second chances when their victims never got theirs,” said District Attorney Fuller. “That’s why my office made sure these survivors had the opportunity to speak directly to the Parole Board. We’re committed to putting victims first—always. Justice doesn’t end at
conviction; it demands that we fight to keep dangerous criminals exactly where they belong—behind bars.”
District Attorney Fuller’s office covers four counties: Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade and Walker. He thanked the Parole Board for their work on behalf of the victims of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit. “I want to thank Ms. Holmes and the Parole Board for being here to hear directly from the victims. Their presence shows respect for those who’ve suffered and a commitment to public safety.”
Victims meet personally with a Georgia Parole Board member and information from the meeting is included in the case file the board maintains on the parole eligible offender. That information is then available for the entire parole board to consider when deciding parole. Ms. Holmes says the victims she met with showed great courage.
“This is hard for these victims, in many instances to relive the crime as they tell us that information. We have the circumstances of these crimes but hearing it directly from the victim and the impact that
resulted from the crime has an impact on the board,” said Ms. Holmes.
Ms. Holmes discussed the crimes of five different cases in individual meetings with the victims of those crimes. The victims were able to ask questions about the parole decision-making process during the session.
Victims registered with the Georgia Office of Victim Services receive post-conviction services to include notifications regarding pending parole decisions and final decisions made by the board. Crime victims may register at victimservices@pap.ga.gov to receive post-conviction services including parole notifications.