ACCOUNTABILITY LETTER PROGRAM
"HOW DOES IT WORK?"
ACCOUNTABILITY LETTER BANK
Victims/Survivors determine if they would like to accept a letter of accountability from the offender who has harmed them or their loved ones.
The offender must participate in a class that will assist in writing a letter.
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An offender must acknowledge the crime.
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An offender must acknowledge the harm done to the victim/survivor.
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The offender must express remorse for the harm done.
The program is confidential. The offender will not know if a letter has been requested or sent to a victim/survivor. The letter is not a method of obtaining future contact, such as special or approved visiting into a correctional institution.
If a victim/survivor wishes to receive a letter, the Crime Victims Services Bureau will send the letter to the victim/survivor. The offender will not have access to victim/survivor addresses or be able to contact victims/survivors directly.
All accountability letters written by offenders are held in the accountability letter bank until a victim/survivor requests to see them.
Victims/Survivors who wish to receive a letter from an offender may contact the Crime Victims Services Bureau at (225) 342-1056, or submit an Accountability Letter Notification Request Form.
An accountability letter is one tool that an offender can use to show the victim/survivor that they understand the harm caused and accept responsibility.
Participation in the program is voluntary and will not affect the offender’s release date or conditions of incarceration, and cannot be used to assist in the parole, pardon, or appeal process.
Offenders are prohibited from communicating with a victim or survivor of the offense, either by electronic communications, in writing, or orally, unless it is an approved program of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
An accountability letter will never be used to ask for forgiveness or to make excuses for the crime and the harm caused.