If you are a victim attending a parole hearing for the first time, you should probably ask someone to accompany you. A Victim Liaison Officer from your local CSC office would be available to go with you and explain the process to you. You could ask that person where you will be seated in the room with respect to the offender and tell the person your preference (e.g. behind the offender or across from the offender). 

Things to expect:

• The offender is brought into the room first and is seated.

• The observers are brought in and are usually seated behind the offender.

• Someone is usually sitting between the offender and the victim.

• The Victim Liaison Officer is able to brief you before, during and after the hearing.

Mennonite Central Committee Canada. (2011). Getting through the maze: A guidebook for survivors of homicide.