Victims rights Flashcards
Describe who is a victim
(i)A person against whom an offence has been commited by another person
(ii)A person, who, through, or by means of, an offence committed by another person, suffers physical injury or loss of, or damage to property
A parent or legal guardian of a young person who falls within (i) and (ii)
A member of the immediate family or a person who, as a result of an offence committed by another person, dies or or is incapable, unless that family member/person is the one charged/ convicted
What are the provisions of section 7 of the victims rights act 2002
Treat victims with courtesy, compassion and respect for their personal dignity
What are the provisions of section 8 of the victims rights act 2002
Victims and their families should have access to welfare, health, counselling, medical and legal assistance responsive to their needs
What are the provisions of section 11 of the victims rights act 2002
inform victims of the services that can provide assistance if they require it
What are the provisions of section 12 of the victims rights act 2002
Inform the victims of progress, charges and action taken, date and place of proceedings, role of the victim as witness and outcome of proceedings.
What are the provisions of section 51 of the victims rights act 2002
Victims property held for evidential purposes must be returned as soon as practicable when no longer required as evidence
State the golden rule when dealing with victims
Treat victims as you would expect to be treated yourself
Define PTSD
a serious psychological disorder in which the victim repeatedly revisits the events surrounding the offence.
What are the do’s and dont’s when dealing with victims?
Do; make the setting for interviews comfortable and private, introduce yourself, hold interview as soon as possible after incident, keep questions simple, ask questions one at a time, ask victim to state in their own words what happened, help prepare the victim for future contact.
Dont; Judge, ask questions that infer blame on the victim, Tell the victim that all is well, say you know how they feel, touch or hold victims, force victims to tell details which they are reluctant to tell, overpower the interview, turn what the interviewee is saying into police speak
What are some of the common emotional reactions experiences during the impact and recoil stages of victimisation.
Impact; Numbness, disorientation, immobilisation, feelings of unreality and childlike dependance.
Recoil; Anger or rage, fear or terror, frustration, confusion, guilt or self blame, violation, great shifts in mood.
Explain the purpose of NIA case victim contacts
this has been designd to ensure police meet the requirements of the victims rights act 2002.
