1. Courtesy, compassion and respect

A victim should be treated with courtesy, compassion, and respect for the victim's rights and dignity.

Browse the Victims of Crime Website to learn more about the services and remedies available.

View publications produced by Victims Services in relation to a variety of topics effecting victims of crime.

The Charter of Victims Rights Resource Kit provides a guide to best practice for service providers in implementing the Charter of Victims Rights.

2. Information about services and remedies

A victim should be informed at the earliest practical opportunity, by relevant agencies and officials, of the services and remedies available to the victim.

Browse the Victims of Crime website to learn more about other services and remedies available

Read more about victim support groups

3. Access to services

A victim should have access where necessary to available welfare, health, counselling and legal assistance responsive to the victim's needs.

The Victims of Crime website will give you information about accessing many of these services

4. Information about investigation of the crime

A victim should, on request, be informed of the progress of the investigation of the crime, unless the disclosure might jeopardise the investigation. In that case, the victim should be informed accordingly.

Read more about your right to information about the investigation

5. Information about prosecution of accused

(1) A victim should be informed in a timely manner of the following:

(a) the charges laid against the accused or the reasons for not laying charges,

(b) any decision of the prosecution to modify or not to proceed with charges laid against the accused, including any decision to accept a plea of guilty by the accused to a less serious charge in return for a full discharge with respect to the other charges,

(c) the date and place of hearing of any charge laid against the accused,

(d) the outcome of the criminal proceedings against the accused (including proceedings on appeal) and the sentence (if any) imposed.

(2) A victim should be consulted before a decision referred to in paragraph (1) (b) is taken if the accused has been charged with a serious crime that involves sexual violence or that results in actual bodily harm, mental illness or nervous shock to the victim, unless:

(a) the victim has indicated that he or she does not wish to be so consulted, or

(b) the whereabouts of the victim cannot be ascertained after reasonable inquiry.

Find out how to get information about the prosecution of the accused.

6. Information about trial process and role as witness

A victim who is a witness in the trial for the crime should be informed about the trial process and the role of the victim as a witness in the prosecution of the accused.

Read more about going to court.

7. Protection from contact with accused

A victim should be protected from unnecessary contact with the accused and the defence witnesses during the course of court proceedings.

Read more about going to court.

8. Protection of identity of victim

A victim's residential address and telephone number should not be disclosed unless a court otherwise directs.

Read more about going to court.

9. Attendance at preliminary hearings

A victim should be relieved from appearing at preliminary hearings or committal hearings unless the court otherwise directs.

Read more about going to court.

10. Return of property of victim held by State

If any property of a victim is held by the State for the purpose of investigation or evidence, the inconvenience to the victim should be minimised and the property returned promptly.

11. Protection from accused

A victim's need or perceived need for protection should be put before a bail authority by the prosecutor in any bail application by the accused.

12. Information about special bail conditions

A victim should be informed about any special bail conditions imposed on the accused that are designed to protect the victim or the victim's family.

13. Information about outcome of bail application

A victim should be informed of the outcome of a bail application if the accused has been charged with sexual assault or other serious personal violence.

14. Victim Impact Statement

A relevant victim should have access to information and assistance for the preparation of any victim impact statement authorised by law to ensure that the full effect of the crime on the victim is placed before the court.

Read more about victims impact statements

What you need to include in a victim impact statement if you are a primary or secondary victim

What you need to include in a victim impact statement if you are a family member of a homicide victim

15. Information about impending release, escape or eligibility for absence from custody

A victim should, on request, be kept informed of the offender's impending release or escape from custody, or of any change in security classification that results in the offender being eligible for unescorted absence from custody.

Read more about Victims Registers.

16. Submissions on parole and eligibility for absence from custody of serious offenders

A victim should, on request, be provided with the opportunity to make submissions concerning the granting of parole to a serious offender or any change in security classification that would result in a serious offender being eligible for unescorted absence from custody.

Read an information package about making Submissions to the Department of Corrective Services in .pdf* format.

Read an information package about making Submissions to the Department of Corrective Services in text-only format.

17. Compensation for victims of personal violence

A victim of a crime involving sexual or other serious personal violence should be entitled to make a claim under a statutory scheme for victims compensation.

Read more about the NSW Victims Compensation Scheme.

Click here to access a PDF copy of the Charter of Victims Rights.

 
To access a pamphlet in plain English produced by the Victims of Crime Bureau on the Charter of Victims Rights click on the icon below.

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*It is a PDF document. To view a PDF document, you will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat on your computer. If you do not have a copy of Adobe Acrobat, you can download a copy for free from the Adobe site.

To download a copy of Adobe Acrobat, select this link.