Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, victims of crime information

Victims can request

• the dates of any court hearings
• the final decision of a court in a trial and any reasons for it
• the final decision of any appeal arising from a trial, and any reasons for it.

Read more about reason for sentences and appeals. 

Victims can request any reasons given for the sentence that the judge imposes. This can be done by completing the request form and sending it (along with the identification called for in the form) to the court in which the case was heard.

If the case is appealed, the victims can ask for the reasons why the appeal was either allowed or not allowed.

Victim statements

When deciding a sentence, judges take into account the effect of a crime on a victim. For some more serious crimes, victims have the right to provide a statement to the court in their own words explaining how they have been affected by the crime. This can be how it affected them physically, emotionally and financially.

Read more about victim statements

Useful contacts 

Victims support Scotland

The Victims Support Scotland website provides comprehensive information, including guidance on reporting crime, seeking support and sentencing.

Witness Service

This is a court-based service run by Victim Support Scotland and is provided by volunteers. It gives emotional and practical support to all witnesses attending court, including:

• advance visits to a courtroom
• information about court etiquette (how to behave in court), procedures and personnel
• emotional support for anxiety that the court appearance may cause
• arrangements for separate waiting rooms if there are concerns about contact with associates of the accused
• advice on practical matters such as parking and expenses
• a needs assessment after the trial, including referral to other agencies if required.

Victim Information and Advice Office 

• case-specific information
• information about the criminal justice system in general
• support and referrals to voluntary organisations that may be able to help you.

Victim Information and Advice Office is run by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. Your local Procurator Fiscal’s Office can put you in touch with the local victim information representative.

Victim and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014

The central objective of the Victim and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014 (the Act) is to improve the experience of victims and witnesses within the criminal justice system in Scotland. One of the key provisions is that victims and witnesses have a legal right to request certain information about the case in which they are involved.

The Act specifies different types of information which can be requested. A protocol (below) has been drawn up by Police Scotland, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), as a guide for persons who wish information, to decide which organisation to ask, how to ask and what information you may be given. The protocol also contains styles of request form which may be used.