Victims Rights Act 2002

Question 1

What is the vision of victim support?

Answer 1

We are dedicated to professionally and sustainably serving victims

Question 2

What are 3 promises victim support make to communities?

Answer 2

Available 24/7

Make a positive difference

Promise to get people the help they need

Question 3

What year is the victims Rights Act?

Answer 3

2002

Question 4

What is the golden rule of dealing with victims?

Answer 4

Treat victims as you would expect to be treated yourself.

Question 5

What is Section 7?

Answer 5

Courtesy and compassion

Question 6

What is Section 8?

Answer 6

Access to service

Question 7

What is Section 11?

Answer 7

Inform victims of Services available

Question 8

What is section 12?

Answer 8

Supplying information

Question 9

What is section 51?

Answer 9

Return of property

Question 10

Explain the definition of a victim?

Answer 10

A person against whom an offence has been committed by another person

Question 11

What is the purpose of the Victims Rights Act 2002?

Answer 11

The act is designed to look after the interests of victims and see that all their needs are met. As an investigator, you are responsible for seeing that obligations to the victim under the Act are carried out to the best of your ability.

Question 12

What is PTSD?

Answer 12

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Question 13

Define Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Answer 13

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a serious psychological disorder in which the victim repeatedly re-experiences the events surrounding the offence.

PTSD is also fairly common amongst returning war veterans.

Question 14

What are the most common emotional characteristics for a victim in the IMPACT STAGE?

Answer 14

Numbness
Disorientation
Immobilisation
Feelings of unreality
Child like dependence

Question 15

What are the strongest emotions for a victim in the RECOIL STAGE?

Answer 15

Anger or rage
Fear or terror
Fristration
Confussion
Guilt or self-blame
Violation
Great shifts in mood

Question 16

What are PTSD symptoms?

Answer 16

Startled response (jumpiness)
Disturbed sleep
Guilt
Concentration problems
Memory problems
Flashbacks
Emotional distress
Inability to re-enter normal activity

Question 17

Interviewing vicims; what not to do?

Answer 17

Judge the victims conduct or feelings
Ask questions that indicate the victim is to blame
Tell victims 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 they welcome this
Force victims to tell details of the event if they are reluctant to do so
Over power the interview
Take silence as a negative attitude
Turn what the interviewee is saying into your own words or ‘police-speak’

Question 18

Interviewing victims; what to do?

Answer 18

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 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 future contact with criminal justice system.
As well as listening, onserve the victims non-verbal communication.
Use open questions.