Basic Legal Knowledge
Procedures during criminal hearings
Juvenile Court
Arresting procedure, my rights and obligations
Free or subsidized legal assistance
Protection for victims
Punishment and sentencing options
Criminal records and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Ordinance
Rights of victims
According to the Victims Charter, “a victim is a person who suffers physical or emotional harm, or loss or damage to property because of a criminal offence. This covers not only the person against whom the offence was committed but also anyone who has suffered directly from the commission of the offence.”
According to the Victims Charter, every member of the community has a duty to help maintain law and order. This means that they should:
- abide by the law
- take proper precautions to prevent crime
- Report crime, corruption or suspicious circumstances
- Be co-operative with the police or other law enforcement agencies
- Give any assistance they reasonably can at an incident to the police or other law enforcement agencies
- Come forward as a witness
The Victims Charter also contains 11 “rights” of a victim:
- The victim's right to be treated with courtesy and respect
- The victim's right to have a proper response to complaints of crime
- The victim's right to information-reporting the crime
- The victim's right to information - investigation and prosecution
- The victim's right to proper facilities at court
- The victim's right to be heard
- The victim's right to seek protection
- The victim's right to privacy and confidentiality
- The victim's right to prompt return of property
- The victim's right to support and after-care
- The victim's right to seek compensation