ASSISTING VICTIMS

Victims of serious offences have the right to receive information about the prison process and to receive information about any release plan for the offender   Probation service responsibility While we work with offenders to make sure they understand the impact of their crime on victims, we also provide information directly to victims of serious crime. We have a responsibility to tell them, or their families, about offenders sentenced to custody of one year and over for sexual or other violent offences. This service has been extended to include offenders with serious mental health issues.   The information they receive will include: The details of the sentence How decisions are made about release from prison The safeguards that exist after the offender is released Other sources of support, especially victim support schemes. Dealing with fears Some victims fear that they will not find out that an offender has been released from prison or that they may be revictimised. The probation service can help by: Keeping in touch with victims if they wish and letting them know release dates and if home leave is granted. Passing victims' concerns on to prison authorities, to the Offender Manager (supervising the offender),  and at Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements, so that the victims can be taken into account when decisions about release and the conditions of release are made. Exclusion areas for offenders are regularly imposed to prevent victims accidentally meeting them.   Victims feature in all aspects of our work:   In the courts: Probation staff assess the risk of re-offending to help courts decide on sentencing. This assessment considers the risk to the community and, specifically, to victims.   Working with offenders: Offenders are made to face up to the effects of their crime on other people.   Many community service projects make a practical contribution to victimised communities - for example, removing graffiti or fitting security locks to prevent burglaries.   Probation programmes provide protection from offenders whose specific offending patterns are identified during supervision planning.   Women Safety Officers The Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme is a 27 week groupwork programme supported by additional individual work for male perpertrators of domestic violence. Offenders are required to sign a contract that any current and past female intimate partners  who were either, the victim of the offence or also at risk,  are contacted and offered a service by Women Safety Officers which includes:  Help with future safety planning Information on the perpetrator programme and realistic expectations of the changes it may bring about Information on any changes in the offenders sentence or supervision which could effect her And Advice on other services which exist for longer term or specialist help and support   Information from the victim is also used to monitor whether the offenders behaviour is really changing over time and is taken into account when  assessing the  ongoing risk at Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (which cover all those at high risk of domestic abuse) or Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (which cover sentenced offenders).