Victims Rights Act 2002

Question 1

Define a victim

Answer 1

(a) Under the Act, a victim means:
(i) A person against whom an offence is committed 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.
(iii) A parent or legal guardian of a child, or of a young person who falls within (i) or (ii) – unless that parent or guardian is the person charged/convicted.
(iv) A member of the immediate family of a person who, as a result of an offence committed by another person, dies or is incapable, unless that family member is the person charged/convicted.

Question 2

Can a person who has attempted suicide be referred to victims rights?

Answer 2

No

Question 3

What does Section 7 of the Victims Rights Act 2002 refer to?

Answer 3

Treatment - Courtesy, compassion and respect.

Question 4

What does Section 8 of the Victims Rights Act 2002 refer to?

Answer 4

Access to services - victim or family of victim should have access to medical, counselling, legal, welfare.

Question 5

What does Section 11 of the Victims Rights Act 2002 refer to?

Answer 5

Informing of services available - Rape crisis, Victims Support (as soon as possible).

Question 6

What does Section 12 of the Victims Rights Act 2002 refer to?

Answer 6

Supplying Information - on the judicial proceedings and the victims part in it too.

Question 7

What does Section 29 of the Victims Rights Act 2002 refer to?

Answer 7

Specified offence defined
In this Act, a specified offence is—
(a)
an offence of a sexual nature specified in—
(i)
Part 7 of the Crimes Act 1961, excluding the offences in sections 143 and 144; or
(ii)
sections 216H to 216J of the Crimes Act 1961; or
(b)
an offence of serious assault that does not come within paragraph (a); or
(c)
an offence that has resulted in serious injury to a person, in the death of a person, or in a person becoming incapable; or
(d)
an offence of another kind, and that has led to the victim having ongoing fears, on reasonable grounds,—
(i)
for his or her physical safety or security; or
(ii)
for the physical safety or security of 1 or more members of his or her immediate family.

Question 8

What does Section 51 of the Victims Rights Act 2002 refer to?

Answer 8

The return of property held as evidence - returning the property as soon as possible after it is no longer needed for the judicial proceedings and any appeals.

Question 9

Where is contact with a victim recorded?

Answer 9

The Victim Contact Node in NIA.