The right to offer information: The Charter explains that the crime victim may ‘participate (if necessary and where possible), in criminal justice proceedings’ by attending the bail hearing, the trial, sentencing proceedings and/or parole board hearing’. In affording this right to crime victims, criminal justice service providers are expected to take measures to ensure that any contribution that a crime victim wishes to make in relation to investigation, prosecution and parole, is heard and considered in these processes. This includes being able to make further statements to the police when the victim feels that his or her previous statement was incomplete, as well as giving evidence in court during sentencing proceedings (in order to ‘bring the impact of the crime to the court’s attention’). The crime victim may also make a written application to the parole board to attend the parole hearing, and submit a written input to the board.
[*]The right to receive information: This right relates to crime victims being informed of their rights and how these may be exercised. This includes the right of victims to have their rights explained in their own language, to be informed of the services available to them, and to be informed about their role in the case, and the approximate duration of the case. The Charter states that victims may also request information about court dates, witness fees and the witness protection programme. Victims may also request that they be informed about the status of the case, whether or not the offender has been arrested, charged, granted bail, indicted, convicted or sentenced as well as the reasons regarding decisions that have been taken in relation to the case regarding whether or not to prosecute. The Charter notes that victims are entitled to receive documents that the law entitles them to, and that they can request to receive notification of proceedings which they may attend. Victims may also request that the prosecutor notify their employer of any proceedings which necessitate their absence from work.