News In Focus
6 September 2010
Victims' rights could extend to mental disorder cases
A Scottish Government consultation now running is looking for views on whether the notification scheme for victims of crime should be applied to victims of mentally disordered offenders.
Under the current scheme, victims are entitled to receive certain infomation about their offender, including notification advance of an offender's possible release from prison, and can be invited to make representations concerning parole.
The scheme does not currently apply to memtally disordered offenders, but ministers are considering this as part of their programme to support victims, while recognising that issues also arise regrading mental patients' rights to privacy.
The consultation asks, in summary, whether a scheme should be introduced covering restricted, and (separately) non-restricted patients; whether victims should be able to make representations to a mental health tribunal; what offences should be included; and who should be considered a victim. It runs until 22 November.
Click here to access the consultation.