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Promoting the rights of victims and witnesses
29/06/2005
Supporting victims through the criminal justice process
is the focus of debate at the International Society for the
Reform of Criminal Law conference in Edinburgh today.
Judges and lawyers from 40 countries will share what
they have learned from their own systems, and discuss ideas
for improving the experience of victims and witnesses
attending court.
Sue Moody, Director of the Crown Office and Procruator
Fiscal Service's Victim Information and Advice service
(VIA), will speak about the Scottish approach to the
promotion of victims' rights.
VIA was established in June 2002, to provide a dedicated
service to victims and vulnerable witnesses as cases are
investigated and prepared for court. The service operates
across Scotland, so victims in every local area can benefit
from their support.
Ms Moody said:
"Coming to court can often seem a very daunting prospect
for victims of particular types of crime such as domestic
abuse and sexual offences, and also for children and
vulnerable witnesses. VIA staff work closely with these
people to guide and support them through that
experience.
"VIA works closely with the police and Scottish Court
Service, as well as voluntary organisations such as Women's
Aid and Victim Support. The ISRCL conference gives us an
opportunity to share our experience with prosecutors from
around the world, and to learn from approaches
elsewhere."
VIA serves individual victims, or groups of individual
victims, in all cases of domestic abuse, racist crime,
sexual offences and cases likely to be tried before a jury.
The service is also provided to all child witnesses or
vulnerable witnesses and to the next-of-kin where criminal
proceedings are possible, a Fatal Accident Inquiry is to be
held, or further enquiries are pending.
VIA provides information on cases reported to the
Procurator Fiscal from the time of first reporting to the
conclusion of the case. This information includes outcomes
of key stages and key decisions. For example decisions to
grant/allow bail with special conditions are communicated
to the victim within 24 hours.
VIA works closely with other statutory agencies (the
police, Scottish Courts Service) and also with voluntary
organisations (such as the Witness Service, Women's Aid,
Victim Support).
The International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law
(ISRCL) is a non-governmental association of judges,
legislators, lawyers, academics and governmental officials
who come together to work actively on the administration of
criminal justice, both in their own jurisdictions and
internationally.
The 2005 ISRCL conference opened in Edinburgh on
Sunday, June 26 and runs until Thursday, June 30.