LaGrange - Coweta Judicial Circuit Victim Impact Sessions were held in LaGrange as Georgia Parole Board Chair Joyette Holmes met with victims this week.

“The Board’s decision-making involves a tremendous amount of information. These sessions ensure the Board Members are fully informed about the impact of the crime on the victims,” stated Chair Holmes.

In each Victim Impact Session, the victim or victims meet with a Georgia Parole Board Member to provide victim impact information regarding the case. Each case representing a parole eligible offender will be considered by the Board according to the statutory eligibility for the particular offender.

The District Attorney for the Coweta Circuit is John Herbert “Herb” Cranford Jr.

“Throughout the post-conviction process, our office will work to protect the victim. These meetings provide the parole board with important victim information for consideration at the time the offender is parole eligible,” stated District Attorney Cranford.

Victim Impact Sessions are a collaborative effort involving the District Attorney, the Georgia Office of Victim Services, and the Georgia Parole Board. Information provided by victims at the sessions is then added to the offender case files available to all five board members.

Georgia Office of Victim Services (GOVS) Director Keir Chapple says his office works closely with the victim-witness assistance programs operated by the District Attorney to help register crime victims. 

“By registering with our office, crime victims are guaranteed updates on an offender’s parole status or pending release, ensuring they always have the opportunity to share their perspective directly with the parole board,” says Chapple.

Decisions by the parole board include the Board Members reviewing the case file maintained on the parole eligible offender and considering all information in the file to include the offender’s progress toward rehabilitation. 

Contact [email protected].

Learn more about registering as a crime victim with the state of Georgia. Contact the Georgia Office of Victim Services.

Learn more about the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles.