FL05 Dealing with Victims Flashcards
The Victims Rights Act 2002 was designed to …
- to look after the interests of victims and to see their needs are met.
What is Section 7 of Victims Rights Act 2002?
- Courtesy and Compassion:
- Members of the police, prosecutors, judicial officers, counsel, court officials and others dealing with victims should treat them with: Courtesy, compassion and respect for their personal dignity and privacy.
What is Section 8 of Victims Rights Act 2002?
Access to Services: Victims and, where needed, their families should have access to welfare, health, counselling, medical and legal assistance responsive to their needs.
What is Section 11 of the Victims Rights Act 2002?
Inform victims of services available: Members of police, officers of the court and health and social services personnel should inform victims at the earliest opportunity of the programmes, services and remedies available to them.
What is Section 12 of the Victims Rights Act 2002?
Supplying Information:
The prosecuting authority must advise the victim of the:
- progress of the investigation.
- charges filed or action taken.
- date and place of the proceedings.
- role of the victim as a witness
- outcome of proceedings
What is Section 51 of the Victims Rights Act 2002?
Return of Property: A persons property (other than the property of the defendant) held for evidential purposes must be returned as soon as practicable when it is no longer required as evidence.
What is the ‘Golden Rule’ when dealing with victims
Treat victims as you would expect to be treated yourself
What is the purpose of the NIA Case Victim Contacts file?
The NIA Case Victims file is designed to ensure that police staff meet the requirements of the Victims Rights Act 2002
What are the two stages of emotional reaction?
The Impact stage - immediately after the offence The Recoil stage - once victims have begun to adapt to what has happened.
What are the emotional characteristics of the ‘Impact’ stage?
numbness
disorientation
immobilisation
feelings of unreality
childlike dependance
What are the emotional characteristics of the ‘Recoil’ stage?
- anger or rage
- fear or terror
- frustration
- confusion
- guilt or self-blame
- violation
- great shifts in mood
Define Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
is a serious psychological disorder in which the victim re-experiences the events surrounding the offence.
What are the symptoms of PTSD?
- startled response (jumpiness)
- disturbed sleep
- guilt
- memory problems
- concentration problems
- flashbacks
- emotional distress
- inability to re-enter normal activity
What are some of the ‘do’s’ when interviewing victims?
- make the setting for the interview as safe, comfortable and private as possible
- introduce yourself and say why you are there
- hold the interview as soon as possible after the offence
- keep the questions as simple as possible
- ask the questions one at a time, to avoid further confusion
- ask the victim to state in their own words what happened
- allow the victim to “save face” if they make a mistake
- help prepare the victim for the contact with the criminal justice system
- as well as listening, observe the victim’s non-verbal communication
- use open questions
What are some of the ‘dont’s’ when interviewing victims?
- judge the victims conduct or feelings
- ask questions that indicate the victim is to blame
- tell the victim that “all is right” or “all is well”. To the victim all is not well.
- say you know how they feel - you don’t
- touch or hold victims unless they show signs that they welcome this
- force victims to tell details of the offence if they are reluctant to do so
- overpower the interview
- take silence as a negative interview
