Victims

The National Probation Service works closely with victims of serious sexual or other violent offences where the offender has been sentenced to 12 months or more in custody.

A Victim Liaison Officer will normally contact a victim, or the family of a victim, within eight weeks of the offender being sentenced and will explain what the sentence means in practice and what will happen when the offender is due for release from prison.  They will also ask victims whether they wish to be contacted at key stages in the criminal justice process. 

Near to the offender's release date, the Victim Liaison Officer will again make contact with the victim to discuss the offender's release from prison. Any concerns the victim may have could  influence the conditions of release.  The victim may wish for restrictions to be placed on the licence such as preventing contact from the offender.  The Victim Liaison Officer will pass on their views and concerns to the appropriate person prior to the release licence being prepared.  It will be explained that although their concerns are taken into account, the request for additional licence conditions may not be granted.

Involvement is entirely optional on the part of the victim.  If the victim does not wish the Victim Liaison Officer to visit, or wishes to withdraw at any part of the process, their decision will be accepted and respected without further question. 

Victim Liaison Officers do not offer counselling but they will provide information on the appropriate counselling agency if the victim wishes.

Link to Victim Contact Scheme PDF. [1]

Women's Safety Worker

A Women's Safety Worker works specifically with the female victims of domestic abuse, usually work alongside the partner of a man attending the Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme (IDAP), a programme to address domestic abuse.