Crime victims' rights recognised

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 27, 1 December 1987, Page 4

Crime victims' rights recognised

At last the people affected by crime - the victims - have been recognised. O n 1 November this year a new Act came into force to protect the victim's rights. A Victim Support Team was formed in Taihape in October in readiness for the new Act and consists of representatives from the police, REAP, Probation Service, Social Welfare, the Public Health Nurse and professional counsellors whose job it is to co-ordi-nate resources and information for victims of crime. In the Waimarino the contact for this team i s Judy Doyle of REAP. After February next year the new Citizens1 Advice Bureau will handle enquiries. The main points of the Victims of Offences Act 1987 are: Treatment of victims - Members of the police,

prosecutors, judicial officers, counsel, officials and other persons dealing with victims should treat them with courtesy, compassion and respect for their personal dignity and privacy. Access to services - Victims and, where needed, their families should have access to welfare, health, counselling, medical and legal assistance responsive to their needs. Early information for victims - (1) Members of the police, officers of the court, and health and social services personnel should inform victims at the earliest practicable opportunity of the services and remedies available to them. (2) Victims should also be told of available protection against unlawful intimidation. Information about proceedings - The prosecuting authority or officers of the court, as the case may require, should make available to a victim information about the progress of the investigation of the offence, the charges laid or the reasons for not laying charges, the role of the victim as a witness in the prosecution of the offence, the date and place of the hearing of the proceedings, and the outcome of the proceedings, including any proceedings on appeal. Return of property - Law enforcement agencies and the courts should return the property of a person (other than the defendant) that is held for evidentiary purposes as promptly as possible so as to minimise the inconvenience to that person. Victim impact statements - (1) Appropriate administrative arrangements should be made to ensure that a sentencing judge is informed about any physical or emotional harm, or any loss of or damage to property, suffered by the victim through or by means of the offence, and any other effects of the offence on the victim. (2) Any such information

should be conveyed to the judge either by the prosecutor orally or by means of a written statement about the victim. Residential address of victim - A victim's residential address should not be disclosed in court unless to exclude it would be eontrary to the interests of justice. Victim's views on bail in certain cases - On an application for bail in respect of a charge of sexual violation or other serious assault or injury, the prosecutor should convey to the judicial officer any fears held by the victim about the release on bail of the alleged offender. Notification 9of release or escape of offender in certain cases - (1) The victim of an offence of sexual violation or other serious assault or injury should be given the opportunity to request notification of the offender's impending release, or escape, from penal custody. (2) Where, in any such case,. the victim makes such a request, then so long as the victim has supplied a current address and telephone number to the Secretary for Justice, the victim should b e promptly notified of the offender's impending release, or escape, from penal custody. Further information on this new innovative Act is available from the courthouse.