Work with Victims of Crime
We work with the victims of offenders sentenced to 12 months or more for a sexual or violent offence. This work comes under the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. In West Yorkshire we have a Victim Services Unit which carries out this work.
We must try to consult victims at significant stages in the offender's sentence, and seek their views about relevant release licence conditions. We must then inform the victim of any licence conditions which relate to them or their family, and the date on which any restrictions will no longer apply.
The Victim Services Unit also works with some women victims of domestic abuse. Where their male partners or ex-partners are serving a community sentence, which includes a requirement for attending probation's Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme, the safety of women and their children can be monitored throughout and the appropriate actions taken.
In 2006 the government introduced The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime. This ensures that all of the criminal justice agencies give victims information about support services and ensures that wherever possible victims' needs are met.
