Victims Rights
Victims of crime in New South Wales have a Charter of Victims Rights (the “Charter”) to protect and promote their rights. The NSW Government has recently amended the Charter, strengthening the way rights are expressed. An additional right has been added to the Charter – The right to be informed about making a complaint if you think that the Charter has been breached.
Before, the Charter applied only to government agencies. Now it has been made to apply to a wider range of service providers, such as non-government agencies and contractors funded by the State.
To support these changes a code of practice or guidelines will be developed to guide the implementation of the Charter.
In coming weeks and months, there will be more information on this website about these changes.
The Charter of Victims Rights outlines 18 rights for victims of crime in NSW including their rights to:
- be treated with courtesy, compassion and respect;
- information about, and access to, welfare, health, counselling and legal services, where available;
- information about the investigation and prosecution of the offender; and
- protection from the offender and protection of privacy.
Depending on the victim’s situation and whether the crime involved violence or threat of violence, the victim may also have the right to:
If you believe that a NSW Government or non-government agency or contractor (excluding private legal officers and medical practitioners) funded to provide services to victims of crime has not acted in accordance with the Charter of Victims Rights, you are entitled to make a complaint.
View or download the Charter of Victims Rights in your preferred format
- Charter of Victims Rights (Full version) (pdf 133Kb)
A two page information sheet that sets out the 18 Charter rights from the Victims Rights Act 1996 and also explains what to do if you feel your rights under the charter are not being met.
- Charter of Victims Rights (Plain English version) (pdf 167Kb)
A two page information sheet that sets out, in plain English, the 18 Charter rights from the Victims Rights Act 1996 and also explains what to do if you feel your rights under the charter are not being met.
- Charter of Victims Rights for Indigenous Clients (pdf 784Kb)
A two page information sheet sets out the 18 Charter rights in plain English for Aboriginal victims of crime and also explains what to do if you feel your rights under the charter are not being met.
- Your Rights as a Victim of Crime (pdf 2977Kb)
A booklet explaining the Charter of Victims Rights, especially for victims with a cognitive disability. This booklet goes through each of the rights under the Charter with explanations in plain English using pictures and text.
- Charter of Victims Rights (pdf 728Kb)
A poster explaining the Charter of Victims Rights, especially for victims with a cognitive disability. The rights for victims of crime are explained in cartoon format.
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