Victim Support ACT (VSACT) has experienced a substantial increase in demand since assuming responsibility for the ACT adult offenders register in December 2022.The number of registered victims has grown from 149 to 504, representing a 238 per cent increase.

VSACT also manages the youth justice register, with 42 registered victims, and the affected persons register, with 17 people, bringing the total number of registered victims receiving updates to 563.

Commissioner Juliette Ford said a team of four staff members keeps victims informed about offender management while allowing individuals to choose how much information they wish to receive.

The growth in registrations comes as scrutiny continues over ACT Corrective Services' transitional release program following the case of double murderer Scott McDougall.

Victims' families were distressed after discovering that changes to McDougall's prison security classification had not been communicated to them because of a systemic information-sharing gap between ACT Corrective Services and VSACT that existed after the register's transfer.

McDougall's application for the transitional release program was ultimately rejected, but the case prompted criticism from victims' families, police and the broader community.

ACT Corrective Services has since committed to reviewing the transitional release program policy and consulting victims during the process, with consultation planned for July and August 2026.

Commissioner Ford, appointed in February 2026, said she had not previously been briefed on the communication gap and welcomed the opportunity to recommend improvements during the policy review.

Victims' advocates, including Julie Tattersall's sister Amy Butterworth, have called for changes to prevent violent life-sentenced offenders from becoming eligible for community-based transition programs and to ensure victims receive timely information about decisions affecting offender management.