Victim Information Service

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Victim Information Service

• YJN Showcasing Good Practice

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Todays Objectives

• To give a brief overview of SCRAs Victim
  Information Service
• To give a brief overview of the VOYCE Project
• To place these services within the context of
• National Standards for Youth Justice (Objective
  4)
• National Standards for Victims of Crime
• To facilitate a discussion on how best to balance
  the rights of the child and those of the victim
  of youth crime

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Victim Agenda

• Historically victims have not received
  information about the outcome of a case against a
  young person accused of an offence against them.
  Section 53 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act
  2003 introduced the legislative change that gave
  victims the right to receive from the Reporter
  information about the outcome of an offence
  committed against them by a child, whilst also
  protecting the childs right to confidentiality.

AAAAARGHH
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Statutory Basis

• s.53 Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003
  Where the Principal Reporter has received
  information about a case in which it appears that
  an offence has been committed by a child, the
  Principal Reporter may provide any information
  about the case to any person mentioned in
  subsection (3) if (and only if) - (a) the
  information is requested by the person and (b)
  the Principal Reporter is satisfied that the
  provision of the information would not be
  detrimental to the best interests of the child
  concerned in, or any other child connected (in
  any way) with, the case.

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National Standards

• The National Standards for Scotlands Youth
  Justice Services introduced the standard that
  "every victim should receive information about
  the process for dealing with the young person who
  has committed an offence against them and the
  outcome" (Objective 4).
• The National Standards for Victims of Youth Crime
  reinforces the commitment to access to
  information, and is also an objective of SCRAs
  own Victim Strategy (Objective 2). SCRAs Victim
  Information Service has been introduced to
  deliver this commitment.

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Principles of the Service

• To provide victims of youth crime with access to
  routine information
• To provide specific information to victims (and
  others specified) about what has happened to the
  referral to the Reporter of the child or young
  person responsible for the crime
• To protect the right of the child to
  confidentiality

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Process
Offence
Reported
Offence
Reported to Police
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Process
VSS Referral
Reported
Detected
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
VI Coordinator
Offence
Reported to Police
Police write to VSS (unless opted-out)
(YP detected) Police send crime report to SCRA
with victim detail
VSS support as required inc. post information
Initial letter from Reporter
Reporter Initial Decision
Reporter decision and explanation
Victim Information Coordinator clarifies info
records opt-out liaison with RJS provides
info about other agencies
Hearing decision and explanation
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VICTIM SUPPORT VOYCE PROJECT

• VOYCE OFFICER PAM LESLIE

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What is VOYCE?

• Acronym for Victims Of Youth CrimE
• Funded by Dundee City Council
• Unique to Dundee

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About VOYCE

• Dedicated service to victims of youth crime
• Emphasis on victims
• Free, Independent Confidential
• Set up to address gap in service

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Background

• Discussions between Dundee City Youth Justice
  Multi-Agency Team VS Dundee - recognised need
  for specific service
• Good links with key partners further strengthened
  by formation of Youth Justice Group
• Linked in with National Strategy - opportunity to
  develop unique service specifically aimed at
  addressing victims issues
• Development of Voyce

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VOYCE Remit

• Provide general information to victims about the
  Childrens Hearings System
• Refer on to Victim Support Community based
  service
• Give victims a Voice'

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Key Partners

• Tayside Police
• Scottish Childrens Reporter Administration
  (S.C.R.A.)
• Dundee City Council Social Work Department

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Referrals

• Referred by Police when young person charged AND
  subsequently reported to Childrens Reporter
• Opt out system
• Receive referrals for all but the most serious
  crimes

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Service Users

• Individuals
• Commercial/Retail
• Local Authority
• Other Organisations

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Crime Categories

• Fiscal Year 2004 -2005
• ASSAULT (28)
• VANDALISM (18)
• BREACH OF PEACE (14)
• SHOPLIFTING (11)

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Age Groups Affected

• 30 - 44 highest (31.5)
• 0 - 15 (23.3)
• 45 - 59 (18.9)
• Assault 74.6 of all referrals for
• 0 - 15s

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Victim Feedback

• The lady who called me was very helpful on the
  phone and full of good information on this
  unfortunate matter which happened to my 13 year
  old daughter! Do keep up the good work.
• Helpful in comforting myself and my wife.
• Very helpful and had it been a more personal
  oriented crime I would have benefited greatly
• Leaflets sent through the post were informative.
  It was comforting to know that there was a
  support system in place for the victim if
  required. Making offenders aware of their actions
  was also a good idea and hopefully would deter
  future offending
• Information as to the outcome of the case would
  be helpful

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Shuttle Feedback

• What was found most useful was the feedback on
  how the offender reacted when he knew what
  distress his actions caused.
• The positive feedback outcome was a valuable
  aspect of the service
• Being able to pass personal comments to the
  young person

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Other Anecdotal Feedback

• Victim glad something had been done and that
  the boy responsible had received the help he
  needed
• Pleased that something had been done said it
  was good to be kept informed like this. Was glad
  boy responsible had been made aware of
  consequences
• Satisfied the matter had been addressed that
  the person responsible had been made to face the
  consequences and seemed remorseful

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CASE STUDY
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Benefits of Service

• Public better informed
• Allows victims a place
• Access to further support
• Promotes victim awareness
• Case Worker focus on specific victim issues

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Balancing the victims right to information and
the childs absolute right to confidentiality Tri
gger Questions
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Could you reasonably guess the impact of a youth
crime on a victim?
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Before now do you believe that victims of youth
crime have received an equivalent service to
victims of adult crime?
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If you were the victim of a youth crime would it
be worth your while reporting it to the police?
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Do you consider that childrens rights are fairly
and sufficiently considered within the youth
justice process?
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Is there ever a point where a child gives up
their rights as a consequence of their behaviour
or actions?
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Are there circumstances where it would be right
to withhold information from a victim regarding
the outcome of a case against a young person?
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What consideration do you give the rights of the
child in your work?
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What consideration do you give the rights of the
victim of youth crime in your work?