This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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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.