Derbyshire Youth Justice Service – Victim Services
Out of Court Disposals
Victims are invited to provide information regarding how they have been affected by the offence and whether they wish to participate in a restorative process.
The range of restorative activity options offered to victims in cases dealt with both out of court and through court processes include:
- A letter of explanation or apology.
- Answers to any questions the victim may have.
- Keeping the victim informed.
- A face-to-face restorative meeting can be organised if it is appropriate and timely.
Pre-Sentence Contact – Victim Safety and Public Protection
Victims of the following offences, who give their consent to be contacted, are invited into accessing a service.
- Serious sexual offences and concerning sexual behaviours.
- Serious offences of violence, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm and grievous bodily harm with intent.
- Arson and fire setting.
- Aggravated taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent.
- Dwelling house burglary.
This invariably entails a home visit being undertaken by a practitioner to ascertain the following:
- Identifying the victim’s needs and current wellbeing – how the offence has impacted on them.
- Clarify whether a Victim Personal Statement has been provided and whether an update is required (the practitioner will facilitate obtaining such a statement).
- The victim’s willingness to participate in a Restorative Process, if appropriate, if not now, in the future and a risk assessment of their suitability, if they choose to participate (the range of options is explained later).
- Questions are asked to gain a sense of their perceived risk and how they have been affected by the offence.
- In the context of victim safety, the practitioner explores the appropriateness of Prohibited Activities, Exclusion Zones or Restraining Orders.
Subsequent to this home visit a practitioner provides the Pre-Sentence Report author with the outcome of the contact with the victim, in turn, both practitioners take responsibility for following up on any actions, including incorporating victim safety into the Pre-Sentence Report sentencing proposal.
Court Disposals
The victims of young people sentenced by the Court are offered a service which includes participation in the following:
- If appropriate, participation at the Referral Order Panel. (Referral Orders only).
- On behalf of the victim the practitioner can offer the Panel the victim impact statement (Referral Orders only).
- Offer a face-to-face meeting at some point during the Court Order.
- Offer a letter of apology or explanation.
- Ascertain answers to questions the victim may have.
- Offer a summary of the outcome of the Order.
Custodial Sentences
The contact with victims of young people who are sentenced to Detention and Training Orders is undertaken by the YJS practitioner. The contact with victims of young people sentenced to lengthier custodial sentences under Section 250 or 259 of the Sentencing Act 2020, post sentence, is undertaken by the Victim Liaison Officer in Probation. The latter requires effective communication between Probation and the YJS to ensure that the service to the victim is fulfilled, including consulting with victims in respect of Licence Conditions.
Feedback from Victims
Evaluation questionnaires are issued to victims to invite feedback at the end of YJS involvement.