Support Information
Crime can affect anyone and some people may find that their daily lives change as a result. A person may find themselves a victim or witness of crime.
The experience of being directly affected by a criminal offence may cause someone to lose confidence or they may have difficulty in expressing themselves with close friends and family. The repercussions of being a victim or witness can be long lasting.
There are a number of organisations that support victims of crime on an ongoing basis. Victim Support is perhaps one of the most well known victims' charities and is staffed by trained volunteers. The Victim Support network is available throughout England and Wales.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) provides comprehensive information for both victims and witnesses of crimes. The CPS offers Witness Care Units. This service is available in 165 locations in England and Wales. Witness Care Units provide a victim or witness with a Witness Care Officer who offers information and support throughout the duration of a case.
Face to Face
Family Group Conferencing is one of a number of interventions used by Stoke-on-Trent Youth Offending Services which stem from ideas and principles enshrined in Restorative Justice. A Family Group Conference is a special meeting in which the offender, the offender's family or supporters, the victim, the victim's family or supporters, and professionals with a direct interest in the offender's behaviour, come together to share their thoughts and feelings about the events suurounding particular offences. As part of this meeting, the offender and his/her family work to devise a plan to 'make better' the wrongs they (the offender) have done. This plan can then form part of or all of a supervision plan.
Here's our Introduction to Family Group Conferencing which was funded by Staffordshire Criminal Justice Board. The video (run time approx. 22 minutes) provides an introduction to the process and is broken into four sections:
- The Offence
- Preparation
- The Conference
- Impact
Download [Windows Media Video format (.wmv) - 40MB]
For further information on the work of Stoke-on-Trent Youth Offending Services contact 01782 235858.