Apology Letter Bank
Apology Letters often seek to communicate acknowledgement of fault, injury, responsibility, insult and/ or pain caused. It is offered by an offender to victims and relates to a specific incident. The letter will not offer excuses or request forgiveness or pardon.
Guidelines
- The Department of Correction attempts to make sure that apology letters are never sent directly to victims, victim’s families or victim advocates.
- Only the victim may initiate the apology letter process.
- Victim shall determine: If and when the apology letter will be accepted.
- Victim shall determine: Whether or not the offender is informed that the victim requested, received and/or has read the apology letter.
- All apology letters will be reviewed by designated letter screeners.
- Involvement in the Apology Letter Process will not affect offender’s release date or other conditions of incarceration.
Procedures
- Victims will be provided the opportunity to complete an Apology Letter Notification Form. This form will instruct Victims' Voices Heard to notify them when an apology letter has been received in their name.
- If a completed apology letter has been deposited in the Apology Letter Bank addressed to a victim who has requested to be notified, Victims Voices Heard will contact the victim to verify their interest in receiving the letter.
- Future contact between the victim/s and the offender should be made via the Program Coordinator of Victims' Voices Heard.
- Victims may, at the time of engaging with the apology letter process or at a subsequent time, request other restorative services provided by Victims' Voices Heard such as Victim Offender Dialogue which gives victims the opportunity to meet face to face with the offender.
If a victim is interested in receiving an apology letter from the offender in their case, they should complete an Apology Letter Notification Form or call Victims' Voices Heard at (302) 697-7005
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