Working With Victims of Crime

Over many years Probation in Lancashire has worked to uphold the rights of victims of crime.

Our role has grown and now we have a legal duty to consult all victims of offenders who receive a prison sentence of 12 months or more for sexual and violent offences and to notify a victim about the release arrangements. The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 lays down what the Probation Service must do:

• contact the victim/ or their representative after the offender is sentenced by the Court
• before the offender's release from prison, find out if the victim/ representative wishes to have a say about release, such as conditions or restrictions on the offender
• pass on victim views about release arrangements to those responsible for deciding any conditions for release.
• if the victim wishes to know, tell them whether the offender will be subject to any conditions or requirements on release.

It is the duty of the Probation Service to trace a victim/representative. If this is not possible from the information given in court, police help will be sought. The police are also under a legal duty to contact victims about the outcome of their case.

Probation In Lancashire has a team of five Victim Contact Officers covering all the county. These officers make contact with a victim of crime by letter at their home address. The letter offers an appointment to meet the Contact Officer. It will also explain the victim's right to decline contact and the right to change their mind and decide to take up contact at a later date.

When a victim of crime accepts an offer to meet the Contact Officer they are offered:

• a point of contact with Probation. If wishing to be kept informed, the victim/representative must notify the Probation Service contact point of any change of address. They victim/ they may at any time change their mind about involvement
• general information about the custodial process for the offender and supervision after release
• likely timescale for considering release on licence or temporary licence
• the opportunity of being contacted at stages when the offender is in custody and for having a say about the arrangements for release from prison.

The Victim Contact Officer's role is to provide and pass information as victims may wish. It is not their role to provide ongoing social work support.

A victim of crime or victim's representative may contact our Service by writing to :

• Victim Contact Service Co-ordinator
  99-101 Garstang Road
  Preston
  Lancashire, PR1 1LD

Probation's statutory work with victims of crime is separate from the role of other agencies which support victims of crime and their families. In Lancashire our Service over many years has been committed to upholding victims' rights under the Victims' Charter and has established links with Victim Support in Lancashire.

Victim Support is a voluntary organisation which provides independent support and advice to victims of crime. They also are able to advise about criminal injury compensation. National Contact telephone: 0845-3030900.