Are victims notified of a parole hearing?
Yes. Louisiana law requires that a victim, or the spouse or next of kin of a deceased victim, be notified when the offender is scheduled for a parole hearing unless the victim, or the spouse or next of kin of a deceased victim, advises the board in writing that such notification is not desired. Louisiana law further requires that the notification be in writing, that it be sent no less than thirty days prior to the hearing date, and that the notice advise the victim, or the spouse or next of kin of a deceased victim, of their rights with regard to the hearing. These rights include the right to testify at the hearing, directly, or in rebuttal to testimony or evidence offered by or on behalf of the offender, or both. [Source: 15: 574.2.C.(9)].
