Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014
General principles
1General principles
1AFurther general principles applicable to victims
Standards of service
2Standards of service
3Reports
Complaints
3AComplaints
Provision of information to victims
3BThe Victims’ Code for Scotland
3CVictims’ right to receive information
Provision of support to victims
3DReferral to providers of victim support services
Assistance to communicate
3EVictims’ right to understand and be understood
3FVictims’ right to interpretation and translation
Acknowledgement of complaints
3GWritten acknowledgement of complaints
Reimbursement of expenses
3HVictims’ right to reimbursement of expenses
Return of property
3IVictims’ right to return of property
Offences committed in another Member State
3JOffences committed in another Member State
Rules: review of decision not to prosecute
4Rules: review of decision not to prosecute
Restorative justice
5Restorative justice
Disclosure of information
6Disclosure of information about criminal proceedings
Interviews
7Interviews with children: guidance
8Certain offences: victim's right to specify gender of interviewer
Medical examinations
9Certain medical examinations: gender of medical examiner
Criminal investigations
9AVictims’ right to protection during criminal investigations
9BIndividual assessment of victims in criminal investigations
9CMeasures to assist victims in criminal investigations
Protection of victims
9DRight to avoid contact between victim and offender
9EVictims’ right to protection of privacy
Vulnerable witnesses
10Vulnerable witnesses: main definitions
11Child and deemed vulnerable witnesses
12Child and deemed vulnerable witnesses: standard special measures
13Objections to special measures: child and deemed vulnerable witnesses
14Child witnesses
15Reporting of proceedings involving children
16Other vulnerable witnesses: assessment and application
17Objections to special measures: other vulnerable witnesses
18Review of arrangements for vulnerable witnesses
19Temporary additional special measures
20Special measures: closed courts
21Power to prescribe further special measures
22Vulnerable witnesses: civil proceedings
Victim statements
23Victim statements
Sentencing
24Duty to consider making compensation order
25Restitution order
26Victim surcharge
Release of offender: victim's rights
27Victim's right to receive information about release of offender etc.
27A Notification of victims in relation to release etc. of short term prisoners
28Life prisoners: victim's right to make oral representations before release on licence
29Temporary release: victim's right to make representations
Child victims
29AExercise of functions where victim is a child
Deceased victims
29BApplication of Act where victim’s death caused by offence
National Confidential Forum
30National Confidential Forum
31NCF: constitution and operation
General
32Interpretation
33Ancillary provision
34Commencement
35Short title

Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014

2014 asp 1

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision for certain rights and support for victims and witnesses, including provision for implementing Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and the Council; and to make provision for the establishment of a committee of the Mental Welfare Commission with functions relating to persons who were placed in institutional care as children.