Victims Rights Act 2002

Question 1

Under section 4, what does Victim mean?

Answer 1

• A person against whom an offence is committed by another person
• A person who suffers physical injury or loss of, or damage to property as a result of an offence committed by another person
• A parent or legal guardian of a CYP who falls in the above categories unless that parent nor guardian is charged with the offence concerned
• A member of immediate family of a person who dies as a result of an offence

Question 2

Section 7 and 8 also includes in the meaning of Victim:

Answer 2

• A person who suffers any form of emotional harm as a result of an offence committed by another person
• A parent or legal guardian of a CYP who falls under the above unless they are charged with the offence concerned
• A person who has experienced domestic violence
• as CYP residing with a person who has experienced domestic violence

Question 3

What is Immediate Family in regards to Victims Rights?

Answer 3

A member of the victims family who is in a close relationship with the victim at the time of the offence

I.e. Spouse/partner, child/stepchild, sibling/stepsibling, parent/stepparent, granparent

Question 4

What is Section 7?

Answer 4

Any person who deals with a victim should:

• Treat the victim with courtesy and compassion
• Respect the victims dignity and privacy

Question 5

What is section 8?

Answer 5

A victim or a member of a victims family who has welfare, health, counseling, medical, or legal needs arising from the offence should have access to services that are responsive to those needs

Question 6

What is section 11?

Answer 6

Information about programmes, remedies and services

• A victim must, as soon as practicable after the victim comes into contact with an agency, be given information by the personnel of the agency about programmes, remedies, or services available to the victim through the agency

Question 7

What is section 12?

Answer 7

A victim kust as soon as practicable be informed about the:

• Progress of the investigation
• Charges filed or action taken
• Date and place of proceedings
• Role of the victim as a witness
• Outcome of proceedings