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The Rights of Victims - Coggle Diagram
The Rights of Victims
Rights relating to trials
If the defendant is convicted, you may be able to read your Victim Personal Statement to the court.
After the trial ends, your Witness Care Officer must tell you the verdict within 24 hours, what sentence the offender gets, if found guilty, and if the offender appeals.
If you have to give evidence, a Witness Care Officer will support you before and during the trial.
You can claim compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) if the crime was violent. The court may also order the defendant to pay you compensation for injuries or damage to property.
The CPS must tell you where and when the trial will be.
If you choose, you may also be able to meet the offender through a restorative justice scheme. This aims to repair the harm caused by the offence.
Rights when reporting the crime
They must tell you what will happen next and how often they will update you on their investigation.
They must assess what support you need and ask a victim support organisation to contact you.
Police must give you written confirmation, a crime reference number and contact details for the officer dealing with your case.
They must ask if you want to write a Victim Personal Statement about how the crime has affected you. You may be able to read it out in court later.
Rights during the investigation
If the police or CPS decide to drop the charge, they must tell you. You can ask for a review if you disagree with their decision.
The right to privacy
The police must give you updates and tell you when a suspect is arrested or charged, set free or released on bail, or given a caution.
Rights of vulnerable victims
Entitled to receive information more quickly, to be given specialist advice and - if they are a close relative of the victim - to be assigned a Family Liaison Officer.
The right to special help if they have to give evidence as a witness.
You are entitled to extra support if you are a vulnerable victim, or if you are the victim of a serious crime (e.g. wounding, attempted murder, domestic abuse, sexual offences, kidnapping, hate crime, human trafficking or terrorism).