Victim & Witnesses Flashcards
What is a victim?
A person who has suffered harm including, physical, mental or emotional harm or economic loss which was directly caused by criminal conduct
What is a witness?
One who sees, knows or vouches for something. One who gives testimony under oath or affirmation in person, by oral or written deposition or by affidavit
What are the importance of victims and witnesses?
Allows the criminal justice system to succeed
Narrows the justices gap
Helps avoid ineffective trials
Government initiated changes
What is a witness care unit?
Provide single point of contact for victims and witnesses
Keeps witnesses informed about their case
Conduct a needs assessment and arrange tailored support for witnesses
Provide a dedicated witness care officer
What are the impacts of crime and ASB on victims/people?
Suffer short term and long term effects
They may have friends, partner and children who may also be affected by the crime
They may have a strong reaction to crime even if other do not think of the crime as very serious
What are the short term impacts of crime?
Nervousness, anxiousness and sleeplessness
Powerlessness, vulnerability and self blame
Fear of a repeat attack
Vulnerability to a repeat attack
What are the needs of victims and witnesses?
Reassurance
Emotional vent
Explanation and advice
Regain control
A single point of contact
Quality of service
Updates
Medical needs
What is the importance of making records?
Increases individuals confidence that they are being taken seriously
Any agreements made with the individual can be checked
Potential complaints
Continuity of evidence
Exclusion of evidence
Victim person statements
What is a victim personal statement?
Enables victims to say how the crime has affected them physically, emotionally, psychologically, financially or in any other ways
Main aims of the victims code of practice
To inform and protect victims of crime and their families
To ensure they receive appropriate support
To put victims at the heart of the CJS
What are the categories of victims and witnesses?
Vulnerable
Intimidated
Repeat victimisation
Define section 16 Youth justice and criminal evidence act 1999
VULNERABLE WITNESS
children under 18 years of age, people whose quality of evidence is likely to be diminished because they: suffer from a mental disorder or have a significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning or have a physical disability or are suffering from a physical disorder
Define section 17 youth justice and criminal evidence act 1999
INTIMIDATED WITNESS
Witnesses in criminal proceedings (other than the accused) whose quality of evidence is likely to be diminished by reason of fear or distress in connection with testifying in proceedings
What is repeat victimisation?
A victim of the same type of crime more than once in the last year
What is poly-victimisation?
This refers to having experienced multiple victimisations such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, bullying and exposure to family violence. The definition emphasises different kinds of victimisation rather than multiple episodes of the same kind of victimisation
