Victims

Victims of Crime

Being involved with the criminal justice system can be stressful when you already coping with the physical and emotional effects of crime. It can also be confusing - most people are unfamiliar with the legal procedures involved and with the language that people who work in the system use.

We hope this section of the COPFS website will help give you a better idea of what to expect if you are:-

  • a victim of crime, or
  • a nearest relative of someone killed as the result of a crime

Victim Information and Advice (VIA)

Our VIA service offers help to certain victims, witnesses and bereaved nearest relatives affected by crime. More information about VIA is available by clicking on the tabs on the left of the page.

If you are a witness

Depending on the circumstances of the crime, you may also be a witness in any criminal case that follows.

Our being a witness section provides information about what is involved in being a witness at court and you may be eligible for help from the Victim Information and Advice (VIA) service too - check using the Who does VIA help? tab on the left of this page.

Our Commitments to Victims and Witnesses

COPFS is committed to providing the very best service we can to victims. Our Commitments to Victims and Witnesses tells you what you can expect from us at every stage of your case. You can get more information from our leaflet and booklet
We want to hear about your experience of dealing directly with COPFS, whether it is good or bad, or how you have otherwise been affected by our service. We can learn from your experience.
You may also wish to view the OCVW Easy Read version.
 

Reasons for decisions:

Where a Procurator Fiscal decides to take no criminal proceedings in a case or to accept an adjusted plea of guilty, the victim can ask for an explanation of the decision and this will be provided.

 

Disabled Access to Procurator Fiscal Offices

Our access guides provide some helpful information on disabled access arrangements for each of our Fiscal offices. The guides for your local office can be found by clicking on the map. For more information or to request additional arrangements to suit your needs, please contact the relevant office direct.

If you have any difficulty, please contact your local office or send us your questions or comments.