Victim and Witness Notification Program.
The Department of Corrections (DOC) is required to send written notice to certain persons regarding the parole, release, community custody, work release placement, furlough, or escape of a specific inmate convicted of a violent offense, a sex offense, a domestic violence court order violation, or a felony harassment offense. Except in the event of escape or emergency furloughs, the notice must be sent at the earliest possible date and no later than 30 days before release.
The persons to whom the notice must be sent include:
If an inmate convicted of a violent offense, sex offense, domestic violence court order violation, or felony harassment escapes from a correctional facility, the DOC must immediately notify the chief of police of the city and sheriff of the county in which the inmate resided immediately before the inmate's arrest and conviction. If previously requested, the DOC must also notify the witnesses and the victim of the crime for which the inmate was convicted. If the inmate is recaptured, the DOC must send notice to such persons as soon as possible but no later than two working days after the DOC learns of the recapture.
Felony Resentencing.
The prosecutor of the county in which an offender was sentenced for a felony offense may petition the sentencing court to resentence the offender if the original sentence no longer advances the interests of justice. The court may grant or deny the petition. If the court grants the petition, the court must resentence the defendant in the same matter as if the offender had not previously been sentenced but the sentence may not be greater than the initial sentence.
The prosecuting attorney must make reasonable efforts to notify victims and survivors of victims of the petition for resentencing and the date of the resentencing hearing. The prosecuting attorney must provide victims and survivors of victims access to available victim advocates and other related services. The court must provide an opportunity for victims and survivors of victims of any crimes for which the offender has been convicted to present a statement personally or by representation.
The DOC is required to send written notice to certain persons regarding the parole, release, community custody, work release placement, furlough, or escape of a specific inmate convicted of the following additional crimes:
Victim and witness notification requirements do not apply when an offender is released due to a court order pursuant to felony resentencing proceedings.