Information for bereaved family and friends following murder or culpable homicide

Information for bereaved family and friends following murder or culpable homicide

The Scottish Government, Edinburgh 2013

© Crown copyright 2013

You may re-use this information (excluding logos and images) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ or e-mail: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This document is also available from our website at www.scotland.gov.uk.

ISBN: 978-1-78256-390-7

The Scottish GovernmentSt Andrew’s HouseEdinburghEH1 3DG

Produced for the Scottish Government by APS Group Scotland DPPAS13794 (03/13)

Published by the Scottish Government, March 2013

Contents

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ContentsIntroduction 1

Section 1: Important contacts

1.1 Key contacts for keeping in touch 8Police 8TheProcuratorFiscal(PF) 8VictimInformationandAdvice(VIA)service 9Supportorganisations 9YourGP 10

1.2 The police Family Liaison Officer (FLO) 10WhoistheFLO? 10WhatistheroleoftheFLO? 10WilltheFLObeinvolvedthroughoutproceedings? 11LiaisonbetweentheFLOandthosewhowillprosecuteanycriminalcase 11

1.3 The Victim Information and Advice (VIA) officer 12WhoistheVIAofficer? 12WhatistheroleoftheVIAofficer? 12

Section 2: What you need to know now

2.1 Identifying the person who was killed 16

2.2 Seeing the body 16

2.3 Telling people about the death 17

2.4 Personal possessions and property 18Personalpossessions 18Whatifthecrimehappenedinmyhouse? 19

2.5 The post mortem examination 20Whatisapostmortemexamination? 20Possibledelayinmakingfuneralarrangements 20Postmortemreport 21

2.6 Funeral arrangements 22Whencanthefuneraltakeplace? 22Arrangingafuneral 22Payingforafuneral 23HelpfromtheCriminalInjuriesCompensationScheme 23Announcingthedeath 24

2.7 Coping with the media 24Co-operatingwiththemedia 24Whatyoucanandcan’tsay 25WhatcanIdoifIamunhappywithmediareportingorintrusions? 26

Section 3: The criminal investigation

3.1 The police investigation 30

3.2 Gathering evidence 30

3.3 How long will the police investigation take? 31

3.4 The police report 31

3.5 The role of the Procurator Fiscal (PF) 32

3.6 Deciding on charges 33HateCrime 34

3.7 Definitions of murder and culpable homicide 34

3.8 Preliminary charges 35

3.9 Decision on whether to prosecute 36

Contents

Section 4: The criminal prosecution

4.1 Attending court 40

4.2 What happens before the trial 41Theaccused’sfirstappearanceincourt 41Appearingforfullcommittal 42Preliminaryhearing 43

4.3 Bail 43Consideringbailandbailconditions 43Bailappeals 44

4.4 The High Court 45

4.5 The trial 46

4.6 If you are asked to be a witness 47

4.7 Support from the Witness Service 47

4.8 What to expect from a court case 48

4.9 Witness intimidation 51

4.10 Special measures for vulnerable or intimidated witnesses 51

4.11 Expenses to attend court 54

4.12 Verdicts 54

4.13 Sentencing 55

4.14 Mentally disordered offenders 56Whathappensiftheoffenderismentallyill? 56DisclosureofInformation 58

4.15 Victim statements 58

4.16 Appeals by a convicted person 59

4.17 Appeals by the prosecution 60

4.18 Bringing a private prosecution 61

4.19 Civil action 61

Section 5: What happens after the sentence has been passed?

5.1 The Victim Notification Scheme 64WhatistheVictimNotificationScheme? 64HowdoIregisterforthescheme? 65Whatwilltheoffenderknow? 65

5.2 How long will the offender be in prison? 66

5.3 Consideration for release 67

5.4 Concerns after the prisoner has been released 68

Section 6: Practical issues

6.1 How to register a death 72

6.2 Murder, manslaughter and suspicious deaths committed in other countries 72

IfaclosefriendorrelativediesabroadandyouareintheUK 72HowcanBritishConsularstaffhelp? 74BringingthepersonwhohasdiedbacktotheUK 75Supportservices 75

6.3 Claiming criminal injuries compensation 76Eligibilityandawards 76Informationandapplication 77

6.4 Legal aid 77

6.5 Benefits 78

Contents

6.6 Wills 79

6.7 Who do you need to tell about the death? 80

6.8 Stopping unwanted mail 81

6.9 Debts 82

6.10 If you have concerns about the criminal justice system 82Thepolice 82TheProcuratorFiscalService 83Courts 83YourMembersoftheScottishParliament(MSPs) 84

Section 7: Useful organisations and support

7.1 Services provided by Victim Support Scotland (VSS) 88VictimService 88SupportAfterMurder(SAM) 88WitnessService 89

7.2 Self-help and other support groups 90Petal(PeopleExperiencingTraumaandLoss) 90CruseBereavementCareScotland 91TheCompassionateFriends 91LesbianandGayBereavementProject 92Samaritans 92

7.3 Other sources of help 93TheMoiraFund 93CitizensAdviceBureau(CAB) 93TheLawSocietyofScotland 94Localauthorityhousingorsocialworkservices 94

Section 8: Understanding the legal process and terms

8.1 Flowchart showing the investigation and prosecution process 98

8.2 Explanation of legal terms 100

Introduction

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IntroductionIfsomeoneclosetoyouhasbeenmurdered,orifyouarecaringforsomeonewhohasbeenbereavedbymurderorculpablehomicide,thenyoumayfindtheinformationinthispackhelpful.

Ifyouareinthissituation,youareunlikelytoknowwhattoexpect.Thispackgivesyouinformationaboutwhathappensnext,theproceduresinvolved,andhowlongtheymighttakeandwhy.Ithasbeenpreparedwiththehelpofpeoplewhohavebeenthroughasimilarexperience.Itincludesinformationabout:

• howthepolice,theProcuratorFiscal(prosecutors)andcourtswork

• someofthearrangementsyoumayhavetomake

• thehelpandsupportavailabletoyou.

Thepackcoversalotoftopicsbutyoudonothavetoreadeverythingstraightaway.ThepoliceFamilyLiaisonOfficer(FLO)willexplainwhatyouneedtoknownow.Youcankeepthepackandrefertorelevantsectionswhenyouneedto.

Thepackaimstogiveyoubasicinformationaboutthesortofquestionsyoumighthaveatthisdifficulttime.Ifyoufindyouneedmoreinformationaboutcertainissues,thepackprovidescontactdetailsforarangeoforganisations,includingthosethatcanofferyousupport.

Someofthelanguageusedinthepackreflectslegaltermsthatyoumaynothavecomeacrossbefore.Theyhavebeenincludedbecauseyoumayhearthemduringtheinvestigationortrial.Thetermsareexplainedbrieflywheretheycomeupinthepackandinmoredetailinsection8.2.

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If you have been bereaved within the last few hours, you may find it helpful to read the section “What you need to know now”.

Youmightalsowantto:

• keepanoteofthenames,addressesandphonenumbersofthemainpeopleyoumightneedtospeaktoaboutwhatishappening(youcandothisinsection1.1.TheFLOcanhelpyoufillinthedetails)

• writedownquestionsyouwanttoaskorinformationyouhavebeengiven(thereisspacefornotesinthenextfewpagesofthepack)

• keepcopiesofanylettersinasafeplace.

Ifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutanythingyoureadinthepack,asktheFLO,VictimInformationandAdviceofficeroroneoftheorganisationslistedinsection1.1.Iftheycannotgiveyouananswerstraightaway,theywilltryandgetananswerforyouasquicklyastheycan.

Youmayalsowanttohavealookattheleaflet“Copingwithgrief”thataccompaniesthispack.

Introduction

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Notes

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Notes

Introduction

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Notes

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Notes

Section 1: Important contacts

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1.1 Key contacts for keeping in touchYoucanusethissectiontohelpyoukeepanoteofthenames,addressesandphonenumbersofthemainpeopleyoumightneedtospeaktoaboutwhatishappening.

Police

Foradviceandinformationabouttheprogressoftheinvestigationandthelegalsystemingeneral:

ThepoliceFamilyLiaisonOfficer(FLO):

Dutyhourscontactnumber:

Out-of-hoursofficecontact:

Forregisteringconcernsorcomplaintsabouttheinvestigation:

TheSeniorInvestigatingOfficer(SIO):

Postaladdressandtelephonenumber:

The Procurator Fiscal (PF)

Foradviceaboutthecriminalprosecution(andthepostmortemexamination,itsoutcomeandlikelytimingofreleaseofthebodyforthefuneral):

TheProcuratorFiscal:

Telephonenumber(officehours):

Section 1: Im

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Victim Information and Advice (VIA) service

Forinformationabouttheprogressofthecriminalprosecutionandthetypesofsupportthatmaybeavailabletoyou:

VictimInformationandAdvice(VIA)Officer:

Telephonenumber(officehours):

Support organisations

Forpracticalhelpandinformationandsomeonetotalktoinconfidence:

YourlocalVictimSupportScotland(VSS)service:

Telephonenumber:

(ortheVSSnationalofficeon01316684486,orhelplineson08456039213or08453030900)www.victimsupportsco.org.uk

Forsupportfromotherswhomayhavebeenthroughsimilarsituations:

Petal(PeopleExperiencingTraumaandLoss):(forthoseaffectedbymurderandsuicide)

Telephonehelpline:01698324502E-mail:info@petalsupport.comwww.petalsupport.com

Other:

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Your GP

YoumayalsofindithelpfultokeepyourGP’scontactdetailsinthissection:

GP:

Telephone:

1.2 The police Family Liaison Officer (FLO)

Who is the FLO?

VerysoonafteradeathyouwillbeintroducedtoaspeciallytrainedpoliceofficerknownasaFamilyLiaisonOfficer(FLO).Heorshehasreceivedtrainingabouttheneedsofpeoplebereavedincircumstanceslikeyours.FLOsarealsoexperiencedinvestigators.

TheFLOwillgiveyouatelephonenumberornumberswhereyouwillbeabletocontactthem,andtheywilltellyouwhentheywillbeavailable.TheywillworkwithyouthroughoutthepoliceinvestigationandmaybeassistedbyotherFLOs.

What is the role of the FLO?

TheFLOactsasacontactpointbetweenyouandtheSeniorInvestigatingOfficer(SIO)whodirectsallpartsoftheinvestigation.TheFLOispartoftheinvestigationteamandhasspecifictaskstocarryout.Theyhavetwomainfunctions:

• togatherallavailableinformationfromyouandotherfamilymembersaboutthepersonwhohasdiedandtopassthatinformationontotheSIOand

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• toactasapointofcontactbetweenyouandtheSIO,andtokeepyouupdatedaboutdevelopmentsintheinvestigation.

TheFLOwillalso:

• helpyouwithimmediatetasks,suchasidentifyingthebody

• keepyouinformedofprogresswiththeinvestigation

• withyourconsent,ensureyouarereferredtoyourlocalvictimsupportserviceorothervoluntarygroup

• duringthepoliceinvestigation,giveyouadviceandguidanceabouthowthecriminaljusticesystemworks

• helpyoutomanageanymediainterestinthecase

• helpansweranyquestionsyoumayhaveandwherepossibledirectyoutosomeoneelsewhocanhelp.

Ifyourfamilyisestrangedorseparated,theFLOwillarrangetonotifyotherpeopleofthedeathonyourbehalf.Theywillalsocontactotherpeopleiftheirrelationshiptothepersonwhodiedmeanstheyareentitledtobenotified.

Will the FLO be involved throughout proceedings?

TheFLOwillworkwithyouforalimitedtimeandthenhandovertheliaisonroletothosewhowillprosecutethecase.Moredetailsofhowandwhenthiswillbedonearegiveninthenextsection.

Liaison between the FLO and those who will prosecute any criminal case

Fromanearlystage,theFLOwillliaisewiththeVictimInformationandAdvice(VIA)service.VIAispartoftheScottishprosecutionservice,calledtheCrownOfficeandProcuratorFiscalService

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(COPFS).ThenextsectiongivesmoreinformationabouttheVIAserviceandthearrangementsforliaisonbetweentheFLOandtheVIAofficer.

Thereisspaceinsection1.1foryoutowritedowntheFLO’stelephonenumber.

1.3 The Victim Information and Advice (VIA) officer

Who is the VIA officer?

TheVIAofficeristheretoupdateyouabouttheprogressonthecaseandgiveyougeneralinformationaboutthecriminaljusticesystem.Theycanalsoreferyoutoorganisationsthatcanofferpracticalandemotionalsupportifthatwouldbehelpful.

WhenyourcaseisreferredtotheProcuratorFiscal,aVIAofficerwillprovideyouwithinformationandadviceaboutwhatishappening.BecausetheyworkfortheProcuratorFiscal,theyhavedirectaccesstoinformationaboutthecase.

What is the role of the VIA officer?

TheVIAofficercantelltheFLOtheoutcomeofpreliminarycourtproceedings.Forexample,theywillexplainiftheaccusedisincustodyorhasbeenreleasedonbail.

TheFLOwillwithdrawfromthecaseandpassresponsibilitytoVIAforgivingyouinformation.Whenthishappenswilldependonthecircumstancesofthecase.Itmaybeafterthefuneral,aftertheaccusedfirstappearsincourt,oritmaybelaterifpoliceinvestigationshavenotbeencompleted.

Section 1: Im

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AmeetingwillbeheldsothatyoucanmeettheVIAofficerbeforetheFLOwithdrawsfromthecase.Untilthatmeetinghastakenplace,allliaisonwithyouwillbethroughtheFLO.

TheVIAofficerwillprovideinformationandadviceuptotheendofthecriminalcase,includinganyappeal.Theycanalsogiveyouinformationaboutsourcesofsupportafterthecourtcaseisover(seealsosection7).

TofindoutmoreaboutVIA,call013897395577or08445613000orgotowww.crownoffice.gov.ukclickon“Areyouavictimofcrime?”.UnlikepoliceFamilyLiaisonOfficers,VIAstaffdonotworkshiftsorhaveout-of-officecontactnumbers.YoucancontactVIAduringofficehoursand,ifyouleaveamessageoutwiththesetimes,theywillcallyoubackassoonaspossible.

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Section 2: What you need to know now

The next few pages will tell you things you may want to know straight away.

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2.1 Identifying the person who was killedAftersomeonehasdied,theyaretakentoahospitalmortuaryoralocalauthoritymortuary.

Thenextstepisapostmortemexaminationtoestablishthecauseofdeath.Beforethepostmortemcantakeplace,thedeceasedpersonmustbeidentifiedbytwopeoplewhoknewthem.Itisnotessentialthatthesearenearestrelatives.Identificationcansometimesbedoneusingavideolink.

Ifyouarenotoneofthepeoplewhoidentifiesthebody,youcanstillchoosewhetherornottoseethepersonatalatertime.YoucandiscussthiswiththeFLO.

Therearetimeswhen,becauseoftheinjuriessustainedbytheperson,thepolicecannotpositivelyidentifythem.Inthesecases,identificationismadebyothermethodssuchasdentalrecords,fingerprintsandDNAfrom,forexample,ahairbrushortoothbrush.InsomecasesDNAsamplestakenfrommouthswabsofbloodrelativesmayberequired.TheFLOwillexplainthereasonsfortheseandhowtheyareusedtoidentifythevictim.

2.2 Seeing the bodyDecidingwhethertoseesomeonewhohasdiedisdifficultenoughinordinarycircumstances.Iftheyhavebeenkilledinaviolentway,thismaymakethedecisionevenmoredifficult.

Youmaybeworriedabouthowthebodywilllookbecauseofthecircumstancesofthedeath.Thepolicemaybeabletotellyouthenatureoftheinjuriesbuttheywillnotnormallybeabletodiscusstheminanydetail.Someinformationmayhavetobeheldbackso

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thatitdoesnotaffect(prejudice)theprosecutioncase.Thepolicewilltellyouiftheyhavetowithholdinformationfromyouandwhy.Itisimportantyouareawarethatthisishappeningandthatmoreinformationmaycomeoutduringthetrial.

Beingworriedornervousaboutseeingthebodyisperfectlynormal.Youmayfeelthatitwillnotseemreal,oryoumaynotwantyourlastmemoryofthepersontobeinacoffinoratthemortuary.Youmaychoosetosaygoodbyeorremembersomeoneastheywere.Ifyoudodecidetoseethebody,youshouldexpectittofeelcoldtothetouch.Inmostcases,youwillnotbeabletotouchthebodyuntilitisreleasedforburialorcremation.

Seeingthepersonwhowaskilledcanbethefirststeptowardshandlinggriefandhelpingyoufacetherealityofdeath.Somepeoplewhodecidenottoseethemcanfindithardertoaccepttheirdeath.

Youmaynotbeabletoseethemuntilafterapostmortemhasbeencarriedout.Thisisbecauseforensicevidenceisoftenfoundontheclothesandfromthebodyduringthepostmortem.Thismayhelptoidentifyandconvictasuspectsoitisimportantthattheevidenceispreserved.TheFLOwillexplainwhyyoucanorcannotseethebody,andifyoucan,whetheryoucantouchthemornot.

2.3 Telling people about the deathThepolicewilltrytoinformthenearestrelativesaboutadeathasquicklyaspossible.Theymaynotknoweveryonewhoshouldbecontacted,soletthemknowifthereissomeoneyouthinktheyshouldcontactonyourbehalf,oryoumaywanttocontactpeopleyourself.

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Asindicatedinsection1.2,ifyourfamilyisestrangedorseparated,theFLOmayneedtotellotherpeopleaboutthedeathbecauseoftheirrelationshiptothedeceasedperson.

Losingsomeoneinthesecircumstancesisshattering.Organisationswhichcanoffersupportarelistedinsection7andthereisspaceinsection1.1foryoutokeepanoteoftheircontactdetails.

2.4 Personal possessions and property

Personal possessions

Partofthepoliceinvestigationwillbetogatherforensicevidence(thescientificevidencecollectedfromthecrimescene,thebodyofthedeceasedandfromotherpeople).Thismaymeanthepoliceneedtotakeawaypersonalpossessionswhichbelongedtothepersonwhowaskilled.Thiscanincludeclothesandjewellery.TheFLOorVIAofficerwilltellyouthereasonforthis.

Someoftheitemsmaybeneededasevidenceinaprosecution.Theywillusuallybereturnedafterthetrial(orafteranappeal,ifthereisone).Itmaynotalwaysbepossibletoreturneverythingtoyouassomeitemsmaybecontaminatedandunsafe.Ifthisisthecase,theVIAofficerwillexplainwhatthismeans.

YoushouldlettheVIAofficerknowofanyitemswhichareparticularlyprecioustoyouandeveryeffortwillbemadetoreturnthem.TheVIAofficerwillalsotellyouifanyofthepropertyisdamaged,orhasbeenalteredsothatitcanbeusedasevidence.Youcanthendecidewhetheryouwanttohavethatitemreturned.

Ifpossessionsaretobeusedasevidenceinaprosecution,theymaynotbereturnedforsometime.Theywillnormallybereturned

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afterthetrialhasfinishedbut,ifthereisanappeal,theirreturnmaybedelayed.Ifnooneischargedinrelationtothedeath,thepolicemayneedtokeepsomeitems–suchasclothingwornbythevictim–indefinitely.

What if the crime happened in my house?

Thepolicemaytakepossessionsfromthehouseiftheyarerelevanttotheinvestigation.Theywillhavetosealthepropertywhileevidenceisgathered.Thismaymeanyouwillnotbeabletogetintoyourhome.Ifthisisthecase,oritisunreasonableforyoutocontinuetostayinthehouse,thelocalauthoritywillhelpyoutofindtemporaryaccommodation,ifnecessary.

Thepolicewilltakealltheevidencetheycanfromyourhomeandletyouhaveaccesstothepropertyassoonaspossible.Youmayfeelyouwanttocleanyourhomebeforelivinginitagain,oryourhomemayneedtobecleanedbeforeyoucanliveinitagain.Insomecasesthelandlordoryourhouseholdinsurerscanarrangeforthecleaningtobedone.YoucanaskyourFLOoraVictimSupportvolunteertomakeenquiriesaboutthisforyou.

Evenifthecrimedidnothappeninthehouse,incertaincircumstances,thepolicemaystillhavetocarryoutaforensicexaminationorasearchofthehouse.Theywillexplaintoyouwhytheyarehavingtodothisandtrytoletyouknowhowlongitmaytake.

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2.5 The post mortem examination

What is a post mortem examination?

Shortlyafterthepersonhasdiedorthedeathhasbeendiscoveredtherewillbeapostmortemexamination(amedicalexaminationtodeterminethecauseofdeath).

Ifyouhavecultural,religiousorotherobjectionstoapostmortembeingcarriedout,youshouldtelltheProcuratorFiscal(PF).Theywilltrytorespectyourwishes,butitmaystillbenecessarytoholdapostmortem,inordertoprovecriminalchargesarisingfromthedeath.

Apostmortemiscarriedoutbytwodoctors(calledpathologists).TheSeniorInvestigatingOfficer(SIO)andthePFattendthepostmortem.Thisistoensurethatallavailableevidenceisgatheredandtogetinformationfromthepathologiststohelpwiththecriminalinvestigation.

Possible delay in making funeral arrangements

Morethanonepostmortemexaminationmaytakeplaceifmorethanonepersonischargedwithanoffencetodowiththedeath.Youmayfindthisdistressingandyoushouldbepreparedforadelaywhilethisisbeingorganised.

Wherenooneisarrestedquickly,theProcuratorFiscalmayhavetodelayreleasingthebodyforthefuneral.Thisistopreserveevidenceuntilasuspectisarrestedandcharged.

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Post mortem report

Thepostmortemreportgivesdetailsofthemedicalexaminationandwill,inthemajorityofcases,givethecauseofdeath.Theremaybeadditionallaboratorytestscarriedouttoassistinidentifyingthecauseofdeath.Itcantakesometimefortheresultsofthesetobecomeavailable.

Ifthepostmortemmeansthatitisnecessarytoremoveorgansortissue,theFLOwillbeabletotellyouordiscussanyconcernsyouhave.Youcanaskfortheorgansortissuebacktoarrangetohavethemburiedorcremated,oryoucanaskthehospitalormortuarytocrematethemforyou.YoushoulddiscussanyconcernsyouhaveaboutanyoftheseissueswiththeFLOorVIAofficer.

Wherethedeceasedhadexpressedawishtodonateorgansortissueforthepurposesoftransplantation,everyeffortwillbemadetotrytomakethispossible.Ifthecauseofdeathissuspicioushowever,donationmaynotalwaysbepossible.Thisisbecauseforensicexaminationmayberequiredtoensurethebestpossibleevidence.IfdonationistoproceedinthesecircumstancestheapprovaloftheProcuratorFiscalwillbeneeded.

Ifyouhaveanyquestions,youmayfinditusefultowritethesedowninadvanceandtomakenotesofyourdiscussion.Itcanbehardtorememberthingsduringtimesofstress.Youcanusethespaceatthefrontofthispackfornotes.

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2.6 Funeral arrangements

When can the funeral take place?

ThefuneralcantakeplaceoncetheProcuratorFiscal(PF)hasgivenpermissiontoreleasethebodyforburial.Ifyouwanttohaveacremation,telltheFamilyLiaisonOfficerassoonaspossiblebecausethiswillrequirespecialpermissionfromthePF.Ifalltheaccusedhavebeenidentifiedandchargedandthedefenceindicatetheirinvestigationiscomplete,thePFcanauthorisecremation.

Incasesofmurderandculpablehomicide,thefuneralmaytakeplacesometimeafterthedeath.Thismaybelinkedtothepostmortemorcollectionofevidence.Somereligionssaythatafuneralmusthappenassoonaspossible.Ifthisisthecase,youshouldlettheFLOknow.ThePFwilltrytorespectyourwishesbutthismaynotalwaysbepossible.

Arranging a funeral

Ifyouarearrangingafuneral,youmayhavemanydecisionstomake–forexample,wheretoholdit,whethertohaveaburialoracremation,whatshouldbesaidatthefuneral,whoshouldbeinvited,whethertoaskforflowersordonations,whetherornottohaveamemorial.Afuneraldirector,yourministerorfaithleaderwillbeabletodiscusstheoptionswithyou.

Youwillneedtoconsiderifanyinstructionswereleftinawill(seesection6.6).Youmayalsowanttoconsiderthewishesofothersclosetothedeceasedperson.

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Paying for a funeral

Ifthedeceasedpersonwasinwork,adeath-in-servicepaymentmaybeavailable,ortheemployermayhaveabenevolentfundwhichcanhelp.Sometimesanoccupationalorpersonalpensionschemewillprovidealumpsumtowardsfuneralcosts.Findoutwhetherthepersonwhodiedwasamemberofacremationsocietyorhadapre-paidfuneralplanoraninsurancepolicytocoverthecostofthefuneral.

Funeralscanbeexpensive.Ifyouareonalowincome,theGovernmentmayhelpwithsomeofthecostsofthefuneral.AFuneralPaymentisavailableforpeoplewithalowincomeorwhoareclaimingbenefits.Thiscanbepaidupto3monthsafterafuneralhastakenplace.ContacttheDWPBereavementService.TheycancheckifyouqualifyforaFuneralPayment,andcantakeyourclaimoverthephone.

• Phone08456060265then:

• Selecttheoption“ifyouarecallingtotellusaboutsomeonewhohasdied,orcheckwhathelpmaybeavailablefollowingabereavement”.

YourlocalCitizensAdviceBureaumayalsobeabletohelpansweranyquestions(thenumberisinthetelephonedirectory).

Help from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme

YoumaybeeligibletoclaimthecostofreasonablefuneralexpensesfromtheCriminalInjuriesCompensationScheme(CICS).Thiswillbepaidtothepersonpayingforthefuneral,eveniftheyarenoteligibletoclaimcompensationunderthetermsofthescheme.Accountwillbetakenofyouroryourlovedone’sreligiousandculturalbackgrounds.

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Furtherdetailsontheschemecanbefoundatsection6.3.VictimSupportScotlandmaybeabletoassistyouwithyourCICSclaim.Theycanbecontactedon01316684486(nationaloffice)or08456039213and08453030900(helplines).

Announcing the death

Youmaywanttoputanannouncementaboutthedeathinthenationalorlocalnewspapers,givingdetailsofthefuneral.Thenewspaperwilladviseyouhowtodothisoryoucanaskyourfuneraldirectortoarrangethings.Forsecurityreasons,youmaydecidenottoincludeyouraddress.

Afuneraldirectorcanhelpyouconsideroptions,organisethefuneralandmanagethepaperwork.Ifyoudecidetouseone,youwillfindthenamesoflocalfuneraldirectorsinyourlocaltelephonedirectory.

TheNationalAssociationofFuneralDirectors(www.nafd.org.ukor08452301343)canprovidedetailsoffuneraldirectorsthroughouttheUKwhocomplywithqualitycodesofpractice.

2.7 Coping with the media

Co-operating with the media

Newspaper,magazine,televisionandradiojournalistsmaybeinterestedinthedeathandanycourtcasethatfollows.Theymaytelephoneyou,knockonyourdoororapproachyouatacourthearing.Theymaybroadcastorpublishyournameandaddress.

Talkingtojournalistsandhearingaboutalovedoneinthemediamaybedistressing.Mostjournalistswillunderstandifyousayyou

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donotwanttotalktothem.Oryoumightdecidethatitwouldbehelpfulforjournaliststocoverthecase,forexampletomakeanappealforinformation.

Youmightwanttochooseaparticularfamilymembertospeaktothemediaonyourbehalf,especiallyifthereisanappealtothepublicforinformation.TheSeniorInvestigatingOfficerwillmanagethereleaseofinformationtothemedia,totrytogetthebestpossiblehelpfromthepublictoaidtheinvestigation.

Ontheotherhand,youmaynotbehappytoco-operatewiththemedia,andyoumayfindtheirinterestinyou,orthepersonwhohasbeenkilled,intrusiveordistressing.Ifyoudo,youshouldtelltheFLOwhomaybeabletohandlequestionsforyou.

Journalistsmayaskforaphotographoftheperson.Youmaywanttoconsiderhowtheywouldwanttobeseenorremembered.TheFLOcanarrangeforanexistingphotographtobealteredifnecessary–forexample,takinganimagefromagroupphoto.

What you can and can’t say

Ifyoudodecidetospeaktojournalists,youmayfindithelpstopreparewhatyouwanttosayinadvance.Thismighttaketheformofashortstatementwhichyoucangiveout,readorhavereadforyou(forexample,bythepoliceor,ifyouhaveone,yoursolicitor).TheFLOwillhelpyouwiththis.

Ifsomeoneisbeingblamedforthedeath,itisimportantthatyoudonotmakeanypubliccommentaboutthemwhichmightbeharmfultoacourtcase.Thepoliceoryoursolicitorwillbeabletogiveyouadvicetoensureyoudonotsaysomethingbyaccidentwhichmaycauseproblemsfortheinvestigationandprosecution.

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What can I do if I am unhappy with media reporting or intrusions?

Ifyouareconcernedaboutthewaythemediaisbehavingorreportingevents,tellthepoliceoryoursolicitor.Theymaynotbeabletostopwhatishappening,buttheymaybeabletotakestepstoreduceitorgiveyouadviceonhowtotrytocopewithit.

Ifyouareunhappywithajournalist’sconductorthinkthattheyhavepublishedorbroadcastsomethingthatisincorrectorunfair,youcanmakeacomplainttotherelevantnewspaper,TVorradiostation.Todothis,youcanwritetotheeditororpublisherofanewspaper,orthedirectorofaTVorradiostation.Sometimesthemediaoffertoprintorbroadcastanapology.Anewspaperormagazinemayoffertoprintaletterfromyouifyouconsiderthistobeappropriate.

ThePressComplaintsCommission(PCC)canhelpwithphysicalharassmentbythemedia.ThePCC’semergency24-houradviceservice,designedtoofferround-the-clockhelp,is07659152656.ThePCCwillcontacttheeditorconcernedanddealwithyourcomplainturgently,aimingtostopanyharassmentthatisoccurring.Itmayalsobeabletocommunicateyourconcernsacrosstheindustryviaageneral“desist”message,whichshouldalleviatetheproblem.ThePCC’sguidanceonharassmentcanbereadhere–http://www.pcc.org.uk/code/advice_for_complainants.html?article=Mzg2Mw.

Journalistsarealsogovernedbynationalcodesofpracticethatrequirethemtorespecttheprivacyandfeelingsofbereavedpeople:

• ThePCCisanindependentbodywhichadministersthesystemofself-regulationfornewspapersandmagazines(andtheirwebsite).ThePCCdealswithcomplaints,framedwithinthe

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termsoftheEditors’CodeofPractice,abouttheeditorialcontentofnewspapersandmagazines.Moreinformationisavailableatwww.pcc.org.ukortelephone02078310022(textphone02078310123).ThePCChaspublishedspecificguidancewhichsetsouthowthePCCcanhelpmembersofthepubliccopewithmediaattentionfollowingthedeathofarelativeorafriend–http://www.pcc.org.uk/code/advice_for_complainants.html?article=NzE5OA

ThePCCcanalsoassistindividualsbyrepresentingtheirintereststoeditorsinadvanceofanarticleaboutthembeingpublished.Thereisnoneedtomakeaformalcomplainttousethisservice.PleasecontactthePCCdirectifyouareconcernedaboutanymaterialaboutyouthatisyettobepublished.

• TheOfficeofCommunications(Ofcom)regulateswhatisbroadcastonTVandradio.Ifyoubelievethataprogrammehastreatedyouunfairlyorhasinvadedyourprivacyeitherinthemakingofitand/oritsbroadcast,thenyoucanmakeacomplainttoOfcom.Acomplaintformisavailableatwww.ofcom.org.uk/complain/oryoucanaskOfcomtosendacopyoftheformtoyou.Thisshouldbedoneassoonaspossibleafterthebroadcastoftheprogramme.Youcanfindoutmoreatwww.ofcom.org.ukorbytelephoning03001233333or02079813040(textphone02079813043).

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Section 3: The criminal investigation

3

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3.1 The police investigationThepolicewillinvestigatethedeath.TheydothisonbehalfoftheProcuratorFiscal(PF)andreporttheirfindingstothePF.TheinvestigationwillberunbyaSeniorInvestigatingOfficer(SIO),whoisnormallyaseniordetective.TheSIOhasbeentrainedintheinvestigationofmurderandculpablehomicidecasesandwillberesponsibleforateamofofficerswhowillcarryouttheenquiriesneeded.TheSIOwillappointaFamilyLiaisonOfficer(FLO)tobethelinkbetweentheinvestigationteamandthefamily.TheSIOwillnormallycontactthefamilythroughtheFLO(seesection1.2).

ThepoliceworkcloselywiththePFthroughouttheinvestigation.ThePFundertakestheirowninvestigationoftheevidenceandhasfinalresponsibilityfortheoverallinvestigationofthedeath(seesections3.5and3.6).

3.2 Gathering evidenceThepoliceroleismainlytogatherinformation.Attimes,especiallyinthefirstfewhoursoftheinvestigation,thismayseeminsensitive.Butthemoreinformationthepolicecanget,themoretheywillunderstandthecircumstancesofthedeath.Theremayalsobeinformationthattheycannotsharewithyou(suchasdetailsofinjuries)–thisisbecauseitwouldharmanyfutureprosecution.

Asexplainedinsection2.4,thepolicemayneedtokeepsomepersonalitemsbelongingtothedeceasedpersonorsealyourhomewhilegatheringevidence.

TheFLOwillaskyouindetailabouttheperson.YoumayfindthisdifficultasitmayfeelliketheFLOispryingintoyourprivatelife.Thisisnottheintention–itisjustthatthemorethepoliceknow

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aboutyourlovedone,themorechancetheywillhaveofidentifyingwhocommittedthecrimeandcollectingtheevidencetheyneed.

AnystatementyougivetothepolicemaybegiventothedefencesolicitorinthefirstfewweeksafterthecaseisreportedtotheProcuratorFiscal.Defencesolicitorsarenotallowedtopasswitnessstatementsorcontactdetailstotheaccused.Ifyouhaveanyconcernsabouttheinformationthatmayhavebeenpassedtothedefence,letVIAknow.

3.3 How long will the police investigation take?

Thereisnosettimescaleforcompletionofapoliceinvestigation.Insomecases,thepolicewillmakeanarrestveryquicklyandbeabletosubmitareporttotheProcuratorFiscal(PF)immediately.Inothercases,theymightsuspectwhoisresponsibleforthedeathbutbeunabletofindthem.Orthepoliceinvestigationitselfmaytaketime.

Ifthereisnotenoughevidencetochargeasuspect,aseniorofficerwillbeappointedtoreviewtheinvestigation.Thatofficermaycontactyoudirectly.Ifaninvestigationisthenclosed,itwillbereviewedregularlyandanynewinformationwillbeactedupon.

3.4 The police reportThepolicereportisaconfidentialdocumentthatsummarisestheinformationfromwitnesses,anyinterviewswithsuspects,anyavailablereportsfromspecialistsandotherrelevantmaterial.ThisevidenceisusedbythePFtodecidewhetherthereisenoughevidencetobeginaprosecution.

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3.5 The role of the Procurator Fiscal (PF)ProcuratorsFiscalarethepublicofficialswhoinvestigateallsuddenandsuspiciousdeaths.TheyarelawyersandareemployedbytheCrownOfficeandProcuratorFiscalService(COPFS).

PFsareresponsiblefor:

• instructingapostmortemexamination(seesection2.5)

• investigatingthecircumstancesofadeath

• instructinginvestigationstotrytofindoutthecauseofadeath

• consideringwhetherpreliminarycriminalproceedingsarerequiredandaresupportedbytheavailableevidence(seesection3.6)and

• reportingthecasetoCrownCounselforadecisionaboutcriminalproceedings.

ThePFconsidersthereportcompiledbythepoliceintothecircumstancesofadeathandmakesdecisionsonpreliminarycharges(seesection3.6).Aftertheaccusedhasappearedincourtonpreliminarycharges(seesection4.2),thePFmayinterviewwitnessesandcollectotherevidence(thisstageiscalledprecognitionandisexplainedmorefullyinsection3.8).

ThePFwillthensendareporttoateamofseniorprosecutors(calledCrownCounsel).ItisCrownCounselwhodecidewhetheracriminalprosecutionshouldtakeplace,againstwhomandonwhatcharges.Insomecases,thedecisionwillbethatnoproceedingswilltakeplace.

YoucanasktotalktothePFatanytimeandtheywilltrytoansweryourquestions,thoughtheywillnotbeabletodiscusstheevidencewithyou.TheFLOorVIAOfficercantellyouhowtocontactthePF,andyoucankeeptheircontactdetailsinsection1.1.

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TheCrownOfficeandProcuratorFiscalService(COPFS)producesleafletsabouttheworkoftheProcuratorFiscal,includingtheinvestigationofcriminaldeaths.TheseareavailablefromtheProcuratorFiscalorfromCOPFS’websitewww.crownoffice.gov.uk.

3.6 Deciding on chargesIfapoliceinvestigationindicatesthattheconductofoneormorepeopleamountedtoacrime,thePFwilldecidewhethertheyshouldbebroughttocourttoansweranypreliminarycharge(s).Someonewhoisbeingchargedwithanoffenceisreferredtoas“theaccused”.

Sometimes,thePFmayneedthepolicetocarryoutfurtherinvestigationsbeforereachingadecisionaboutprosecution.

IfthePFbringsaninitialchargeofmurderagainsttheaccused,theymustthenmakearecommendationtoCrownCounselaboutwhetherthechargeshouldremainasmurder.CrownCounselwillconsidertheevidenceanddecidewhatthechargeshouldbe.TheyalsoconsiderwhetherornotthePFshouldopposebailfortheaccused.

YouwillbeinvitedtoameetingwithrepresentativesofthepoliceandCrownOfficeandProcuratorFiscalService–usuallytheFLO,SIOandVIAOfficer.Atthismeeting,thepolicewillexplaintheprogressoftheinvestigationtodateandVIAwillexplainwhatwillhappennext.Youwillbeabletoaskquestionsorraiseanyconcernsyoumayhavebutitisnotpossibletodiscusstheevidence.

ThePFmaywanttointerviewanyfamilymemberswhomayhavewitnessedsomethingrelevanttotheinvestigation.

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Hate Crime

Acrimecommittedbecausetheaccusedismotivatedbyprejudiceagainstaparticularrace,religion,sexualorientation,transgenderidentityordisabilityisdescribedasacrimeaggravatedbyprejudiceorahatecrime.Ifyoufeelthatthedeathofyourlovedoneinvolvedsuchacrime,thenpleasetellthepoliceandtheProcuratorFiscalofthis.Allcrimesofprejudiceareintolerableandwherethereissufficientevidenceinlawofsuchprejudicethiswillbeincludedinanychargesanaccusedpersonwillface.

3.7 Definitions of murder and culpable homicide

Murderiscommittedwhentheaccusedhasactedwiththeintentionofkillingthevictimorwheretheaccused’sconducthasbeen“wickedlyreckless”.

Culpable homicideiscommittedwheretheaccusedhascausedlossoflifethroughwrongfulconduct,butwheretherewasnointentiontokillor“wickedrecklessness”.Thismayalsobeconsideredwhereinlawtheaccusedisfoundtobeof“diminishedresponsibility”becauseofsomementalillness,orwheretherewasprovocation.

“Wickedrecklessness”willbeinferredfromthecircumstancesoftheaccused’sactions.Normallythiswillbebasedontheseverityoftheinjuriesandotherfactorsaboutthenatureoftheassault.

Insomecases,anaccusedmaybechargedinitiallywithmurderbutCrownCounselmaydecidethattheevidencedoesnotsupportamurdercharge.Theaccusedwillthenbetriedonachargeofculpablehomicideor,possiblyanotherchargesuchasassault.Changeslikethiscanalsohappenduringthetrial.

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VIAwilladviseyouaboutanychangeslikethis.Wherepossible,youwillbegiventhereasonsforachangetotheoriginalcharge.Itmaynotalwaysbepossibletogiveyouafullexplanationatthetimethedecisionismade–insomecasesthisisbecauseitmightcauseproblemsinbringingthecasetotrial.

3.8 Preliminary chargesIfanaccusedischargedwithanoffenceinrelationtothedeath,theywillappearincourtwhileinvestigationstogatherevidencecontinue.

Whenanaccusedappearsincourtonpreliminarycharges,theywillbegivenadocument(calledapetition)thattellsthemwhatinitialchargetheywillface.Theywillthenbefullycommittedfortrial.Moreinformationaboutthesecourthearingsisgiveninsection4.2.

Theaccusedmaybegivenbailorkeptincustody(prisonoraYoungOffender’sInstitution)betweencourthearings.Thisisexplainedinmoredetailinsections4.2and4.3.

Atthatstage,thePFwillbegintheirdetailedinvestigation(calledtheprecognitioninvestigation).

ThepurposeofprecognitionisforthePFtoexaminealltheavailableevidenceandobtainanymoreevidencethatisneeded.Thiscouldincludeforensicormedicalevidencewhichsupportsthecase.

ThePFmayinterviewwitnesses,andensurethatalltheinvestigationthatneedstobedoneiscompleted.Youmaybeinterviewedsothataprecognition(statement)canbetakenfromyou.

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Youmayalsobeinterviewedbythedefencelawyerorsomeoneontheirbehalf(aprecognitionagent).Ifthereismorethanoneaccused,youmayhavemorethanoneinterview.Defencelawyersoragentsshouldalwayscontactyouinadvanceandofferyouasuitabletimeandplacefortakingyourprecognition.Thisisanessentialpartofproceedingsandyoushouldco-operatewithanyrequests.Moreinformationaboutthisisgiveninsection4.6.

3.9 Decision on whether to prosecuteThePFmakesrecommendationstoCrownCounselaboutwhetherthereshouldbecriminalchargesandwhattheyshouldbe.

Beforemakingtheserecommendations,thePFwillhaveconsideredthelaw,theevidenceandwhetheritisinthepublicinteresttoprosecute.ThismeansthecrimehastoberecognisedinScotsLaw.Therealsohastobeenoughreliableandcredibleevidencethatthecrimewascommittedandthattheaccusedwasresponsible.

VIAofficer(seesection1.3)willinformyouaboutwhathappenstothecase.Theywillautomaticallygiveyouthisinformationbyletter–youdonotneedtoaskforit.Contactthemifyouhaveanyconcernsaboutthecaseorwantexplanationsaboutanypartoftheprocedure.VIAwillalsogiveyoudatesforcourthearings(includinganytrialdates).Thesecansometimeschange(seesection4.8)butVIAstaffwilldotheirbesttokeepyouinformed.

Sometimesadecisiontoprosecutemaybedelayeduntilmoreevidenceisavailable.

Ifadecisionistakennottoprosecute,ortheprosecutionisdroppedatalaterstage,thisisusuallytheendofthecriminalcase.Ifthishappens,theProcuratorFiscalwillcontactyoutolet

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youknowthatthecaseisnotgoingahead.Theyshouldofferyouameetingtoexplainthereasonsforthis.

Itispossibleinsomecircumstancestotakethecasetoacivilcourt(seesection4.19).Thisisdifficultandcanbecostly.Youshouldseekadvicefromasolicitoraboutthis.

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Section 4: The criminal prosecution

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4.1 Attending courtYoucanattendallcourtproceedingsexceptwhentheaccused:

• firstappearsincourt(“appearsonpetition”)and

• appearsfor“fullcommittal”(ifremandedincustodyattheirfirstappearance).

BothofthesehearingsareheldintheSheriffCourtinprivate.Moreinformationaboutthisisgiveninsection4.2.

Theremaybetimeswhenyou,andothersattendingthecase,maybeaskedtoleavethecourt.Forexample,theJudgemayclearthecourt(exceptforlegalstaff )whentherearelegalargumentsthatneedtobediscussedinprivate,orachildwitnessisgivingevidence.

Youmayhearthingsduringthecourseofthetrialthataredifficulttolistento,orthatyoudisagreewithandwanttosaysomethingabout.Howeverdifficultyoumayfindthis,thepeoplewatchingthetrial(includingyou,yourfamilyandfriends,andthefamilyandfriendsoftheaccused)areexpectedtolistenquietlytoproceedings.Youcanleavethecourtroomifyoubecomedistressed.

Ifyouareawitnessinthecase,youwillnotbeabletositinthepublicgalleryofthecourtroomuntilafteryouhavegivenyourevidence.Youwillalsobeaskednottoattendthepreliminaryhearing(explainedinsection4.2)asthiscouldharmthecase.

TheJudgecanaskanyonetoleavethecourtiftheirbehaviourisdisruptive.Theycanalsorestrictmovementtoandfromthecourtroomduringtheir“chargetothejury”(seeparagraph4.5).

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4.2 What happens before the trial

The accused’s first appearance in court

Whenanaccusedpersonischargedwithmurderorculpablehomicidetheirfirstappearanceincourtwillbeinprivate.Thisiscalled“appearingonpetition”anditwilltakeplaceintheSheriffcourtintheareawherethecrimewascommitted.TheJudgeinthiscourtiscalledaSheriff.

Thepetitionsetsoutthechargesforwhichthereappearstobeevidenceandasksforthecourt’sapprovaltotakethenextstepsininvestigatingthecrime.Thesenextstepsinvolvegatheringalltheevidence,interviewingallwitnessesandarrangingforexpertwitnessestopreparereports.

Atthisfirstappearance,thesolicitorfortheaccusedwillusuallystatethattheaccused“makesnopleaordeclaration”.TheProcuratorFiscal(PF)willnormallythenasktheSheriffto“committheaccusedforfurtherexamination”andfortheaccusedtoberemandedincustody(keptinprisonorayoungoffendersinstitution).

Atthisstage,thecourtwillmakeadecisiononwhethertheaccusedisreleasedfromcustodyuntilthetrial.Thisiscalledbail.Youmaybesurprisedthatbailisconsideredbut,eveninthemostseriouscrimes,theaccusedhastherighttoaskforbail.TheSheriffwillhearfromthePFandfromtheaccused’ssolicitorbeforemakingadecisiononbail.TheSheriffhasadutytoreleasetheaccusedexceptwheretherearegoodreasonsfornotdoingso.Inreachingadecision,theSheriffwillalwaystakeintoconsiderationtheindividualcircumstancesofeachcaseTheseareexplainedmorefullyatsection4.3.

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Ifbailisgranted,theaccusedwillbereleased(onconditions,asexplainedatsection4.3)andtheirnextappearancewillbeatapreliminaryhearingintheHighCourt.Thepreliminaryhearingmusttakeplacewithin11monthsoftheirfirstappearanceincourt.Thetrialmusttakeplacewithin12monthsfromthedateofthefirstappearance.

Appearing for full committal

IfbailisnotgrantedatthefirstappearancebeforetheSheriff,theaccusedwillberemandedincustodyandmustbebroughtbacktocourtbetween7and11dayslatertobe“fullycommitted”fortrial.Thishearingisalsoinprivate.

Theaccusedcanapplyagainforbailevenifthiswasrefusedatthefirstappearance.Ifbailisrefused,theaccused’snextappearancewillbeatapreliminaryhearingintheHighCourt.Thismustbewithin110daysof“fullcommittal”.Thetrialmustbeginwithin140days.

Thetimelimitsof110days,140daysand12monthscanbeextendedbythecourt.

Ifasuspectisarrestedandyouhaveanyconcernsaboutthepossibilityofthembeinggrantedbail,youshouldimmediatelytellthepoliceFamilyLiaisonOfficer(FLO)orVictimInformationandAdvice(VIA)officer.Thiswillensurethatyourconcernsaretakenintoaccountwhenanydecisionismade.ThePFcanaskforspecialconditionstobeattachedtothebailorder,totakeaccountofyourconcerns.

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Preliminary hearing

Atthepreliminaryhearing,theprosecutionandthedefencewilltelltheJudgewhethertheyarereadyforthecasetogototrial.Iftheyare,thecourtwillsetadateforthetrial.Iftheyarenotready,thecasewillbe“continued”.Anotherdatewillthenbesettofindoutiftheprosecutionanddefencearereadytogototrial.Thetrialdatewillonlybesetoncebothpartiesarefullyprepared.

Preliminaryhearingsareheldinpublic.Butwitnesseswhomightbecalledtogiveevidenceduringthecasewillbeaskednottoattendasthiscouldprejudicethecase.

Theaccusedcanpleadguiltyatthepreliminaryhearing.IfVIAfindouttheaccusedintendstodothis,theywilldotheirbesttoletyouknow.Buttheaccusedmaydecideonthispleaatthelastminute.Theycanalsochangetheirmindaboutpleadingguiltyupuntilthetimethepleaismadeincourt.

4.3 Bail

Considering bail and bail conditions

Section4.2explainedthetimeswhenbailwillusuallybeconsidered.Itcan,however,beappliedforatdifferentstagesofthecase,evenifithasbeenrefusedearlier.VIAwillkeepyouinformedaboutthis.

ThissectionexplainswhatfactorswillbetakenintoaccountwhentheSheriffdecideswhetherbailshouldbegrantedornot.

TheSheriffwillconsiderthenatureofthechargeandanyotherfactorsraisedbythePF.Itisimportantthatyouraiseanyconcernsyoumayhaveaboutthepossibilityofanaccusedbeinggranted

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bailwiththeFLOorVIAofficerimmediately.ThisistoensurethatyourconcernsarepassedontothePFbeforeanydecisionsonbailaremade.Theaccusedwillbegrantedbailunlessthecourthasgoodreasontobelievethattheymay:

• notattendtheirtrialorearliercourtappearance

• commitanoffencewhileonbail

• interferewithwitnesses

• obstructthecourseofjustice,e.g.byabsconding(disappearing)

• behaveinamannerwhichcauses,orislikelytocause,alarmordistresstowitnesses.

Theseissuesreflectstandardconditionslinkedtobail.ThePFmayalsoaskforother,specialconditionstobeapplied–forexample,limitingwheretheaccusedcanliveorpreventingthemcomingnearyou,yourfamilyand/oryourhome.

Bail appeals

AlldecisionsaboutbailaretakenbytheJudge.Ifbailisgranted,theprosecutionmay,incertaincircumstances,appealagainstthedecision.Theaccusedmayalsoappealagainstarefusaltograntbail.Ifbailisstillrefusedonappeal,theaccusedcanaskforthedecisiontobereviewed,butonlywherethereisgoodreason.

VIAwilltellyouwhethertheaccusedhasbeengivenbail,andanyspecialconditionswhichapply.Iftheaccusedpersonisgrantedbailandcausesyouanyconcern, you should report this to the police and VIA immediately and keep a diary of any incidents.

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4.4 The High CourtMurderandculpablehomicidechargesarealwaysheardintheHighCourtbyaJudgeandjuryof15peoplechosenatrandom.

TheevidencefortheprosecutionispresentedbyanAdvocateDepute(whoisaseniorlawyer).Aseparateadvocate,called“Counsel”oraSolicitorAdvocate(asolicitorwhohasarightofaudienceintheHighCourt)willactforeachaccusedperson.Counselwillspeakonbehalfoftheaccusedatthetrialandbeforesentenceispassed.Whenincourt,theJudgeandadvocateswearwigsandgowns,andSolicitorAdvocatesweargownsbutnotwigs.

Theaccusedpersonwillstatetheirpleaof“guilty”or“notguilty”.

Iftheaccusedpersonpleadsguilty,thereisnoneedforanyonetogiveevidenceincourt.TheAdvocateDeputewilltelltheJudgethefactsofthecaseandtheJudgemaythenpasssentenceormaychoosetodosoatalaterdate.Ifsentencingisdeferred(tobepassedatalaterdate),VIAwillinformyouwhenandwherethiswillhappen.

Iftheaccusedpersonpleadsnotguilty,thenatrialwilltakeplaceandwitnesseswillbecalledtogiveevidence.

Asexplainedinsection4.2,a“preliminaryhearing”maybeheldbeforethetrialtodealwithissues(suchastheavailabilityofwitnesses)thatmightotherwisedelaythetrial.Youareentitledtoattendthepreliminaryhearingifyouwish.Witnessesareadvisednottoattendasthismayprejudicethecase.Thetrialshouldgoaheadonthedatefixedatthepreliminaryhearing.

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TheHighCourtsareinEdinburgh,GlasgowandAberdeen.HighCourtcasesarealsoheardinSheriffCourtbuildingsacrossScotland.Yourcasemaynotbeheardinthecourtclosesttoyou.PreliminaryhearingsareonlyheldinGlasgowandEdinburgh.

4.5 The trialBoththeprosecutionanddefencemaycallwitnessestogiveevidenceandquestionthem.Aswellaseyewitnessesandpoliceofficers,expertwitnessessuchasforensicscientistsmaybecalledtogiveevidence.Photographs,videosanddiagramsmaybeshowntothejury.

Afteralltheprosecution(Crown)evidencehasbeenpresented,theJudgewillconsiderifthereissufficientevidenceinlawtoallowthecasetocontinue.Ifthereis,thedefencewillthenpresenttheirevidence.Ifthereisnotenoughevidence,thecasewillbedismissedandthejurywillnotbeallowedtoconsideraverdict.

Theaccusedcanchoosewhetherornottogiveevidence.Iftheaccuseddoesgiveevidence,theycanbecross-examinedbytheAdvocateDepute.

Oncealltheevidencehasbeenpresented,thelawyerforeachsidegivesaspeechtothejurytosumuptheevidence.Itisuptotheprosecutiontoprovethecase“beyondreasonabledoubt”.TheJudgewillalsogiveaspeechtothejury(knownas‘thecharge’).Inthis,theJudgedirectsthejuryinthelawrelevanttothecaseandhis/herunderstandingofpointsofevidencetheymaywishtoconsiderwhendecidingonaverdict.

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4.6 If you are asked to be a witness

Incertaincasesyoumaybeaskedtobeawitnesstogiveevidenceatacriminaltrial.

Ifyouaretobeaprosecutionwitness,youmayberequiredtoattendapre-trialinterview(precognition)withtheProcuratorFiscaloraprecognitionofficerwhoworksforthePF.Thedefencelawyer–oraprecognitionagentworkingforthedefence–mayalsocontactyoutotakeastatementfromyou.Seesection3.8formoreinformationaboutthese“precognitioninvestigation”interviews.

Youshouldco-operatewithanyrequestforprecognition,whetherfromtheprosecutionorthedefence.ItisanessentialpartofthecriminalproceedingsandhelpsthePFunderstandtheevidenceyouareproviding.Youcanclaimreasonableexpenseswhenyouareaskedtoattendforprecognition.

Itmaybepossibleforarelativeorfriendtositwithyouduringaprecognitioninterviewtooffersupport.Ifyouwanttobeaccompanied,askthePFordefencelawyerifthisispossible.Youarenotallowedtobeaccompaniedbyanotherwitnessandyoursupportercannotparticipateintheinterview.

4.7 Support from the Witness ServiceTheWitnessService,runbyVictimSupportScotland(VSS),providesemotionalandpracticalsupporttoallvictimsandwitnessesattendingcourt,andtheirfamilies.

TheServiceismanagedbypaidstaffandprovidedbytrainedvolunteers.Theycantellyouaboutcourtproceduresbutcannotdiscussevidencewithyou.Theycanalsodiscussanyconcernsyou

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have.IftheWitnessServicecannotanswerallyourquestions,theywilltrytoputyouintouchwithsomeonewhocanhelp.

TheVictimInformationandAdviceservice(seesection1.3)willgiveyouinformationaboutyourlocalWitnessService.OryoucangetthenumberoftheServicefromtheVictimSupportScotlandnationalofficeon01316684486,theVSShelplineson08456039213or08453030900,thewebsite(www.victimsupportsco.org.uk)oryourlocalvictimsupportservice(numberinthelocalphonedirectoryunder“victimsupport”).

Ifyouareawitnessinthecase,youmayfindithelpfultobeshownacourtbeforeyouattendthetrialsothatyouknowwhattoexpect.Thismaybeparticularlyusefulifyouareawitnessatthetrial.VIAwillexplaininalettertoyouthattheywillreferyoutotheWitnessServiceforthis“courtfamiliarisationvisit”unlessyoutellthemyoudonotwantit.OryoucanasktheWitnessServiceaboutityourself.

4.8 What to expect from a court caseCriminalcasesarenearlyalwaysheldinpublic.But,asindicatedinsection4.1,theJudgemayordermembersofthepublictoleavethecourtroom.Thiscanincludeyouandyourfamily.

Ifyouarenotawitnessinthecaseyoucansitinthepublicgallery.Otherpeopleinthegallerymaybejournalists,thepublic,orthefamilyandfriendsoftheaccused.

If you are a witness you will not be able to discuss the case or what you can say with other witnesses, or listen to court proceedings, until you have given evidence.

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Afriendorrelativecansitwithyoubeforeyougiveevidence(aslongastheyhavenotbeenincourt,eitherlisteningtothetrialorgivingevidenceinthecase).

Iftheaccusedpleadsguiltybeforeorduringthetrial,effortswillbemadetoensureyouarepresentifyouwanttobeincourtwhenthishappens,evenifyouareawitnessinthecase.

Insomecases,theprosecutionlawyermay,afterdiscussionswiththedefence,consideracceptingapleaofguiltytoalessercharge(seesection3.7).Inmurderorculpablehomicidecases,thedecisiontoacceptapleatoalesseroramendedchargeisalwaystakenbytheLordAdvocateortheSolicitorGeneral.TheLordAdvocateisScotland’smostseniorprosecutor,withoverallresponsibilityfortheprosecutionofcrime.TheSolicitorGeneralassiststheLordAdvocateinheadingtheprosecutionservice.

Ifyoudoattendcourt,itmayhelptobeaccompaniedbysomeone.Thepolicewillbetheretogiveevidenceandtheycannotdiscussyourevidencewithyou.TheWitnessServiceandyourVIAofficercanhelpexplainwhatishappening.

Itmaybepossibletoarrangeseatinginthecourtroomsothatyoudonothavetositnearrelativesorfriendsoftheaccused.LettheWitnessServiceorVIAknowifyouareconcernedaboutthisandtheywilltrytoarrangethisforyou.

Itmayalsohelpyoutoknowinadvancethat:

• AVIAofficercanmeetyouwhenyouattendcourt.TheVIAHighCourtofficerwillkeepintouchwithyouduringthetrialtohelpyouwithanyquestionsorconcerns,andtoupdateyouonanykeystages

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• Courthearingsmaystartlate,becutshortorpostponed,ormovedtoanothercourt

• Youmayhavetowaitforsometimebeforegoingintocourttogiveyourevidence.Thismaybebecauseofthetimeittakesotherwitnessestogivetheirevidence

• Thedefencelawyermayaskyouquestionsaboutyourevidence.Thismightfeelprobingbutitisnotpersonal–itisanormalpartofthedefenceroleandisintendedtotesttheevidence

• EvidencepresentedincourtisforthebenefitoftheJudgeandjury.Sometimesyoumaynotbeabletoseeevidencebeingdiscussed(suchasdiagramsorvideos)

• Somecourtsaremodernandhavegoodfacilities,othersdon’t.Itmayhelptocheck,inadvance,wherethetoiletsandrefreshmentfacilitiesare,andfindoutifthereisaquietroomwhereyoucansit

• IfyoutellthecourtofficerorWitnessServicevolunteerswhoyouare,theycanofferhelp,informyouofanycourtchangesandshowyouwherethewitnessroomis

• Thefirsttimethatyouseetheaccusedmaybeincourt

• Youmayseetheaccusedanddefencewitnesseselsewhereinthecourtbuilding,forexamplewhererefreshmentsareserved.

Somepeoplewhoarewitnessesfindithelpfultovisitacourtbeforethetrialbeginstogetabetterideaofwhattoexpect.Section4.7explainshowthiscanbearranged.Evenifyoudonotwanttovisitthecourtbeforethetrial,itmightstillbeworthtalkingtoamemberoftheWitnessServicetodiscussanyconcernsyouhave.

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4.9 Witness intimidationItisacriminaloffencetotrytofrightenorintimidateawitness,juror,oranyonehelpingthepoliceinaninvestigation.

Ifyouareharassedorthreatenedinanywaybeforeorduringthetrial,tellthepersonwhocited(called)youasawitness,orthepolice,sotheycantaketheappropriateaction.Or,ifyoufeelthreatenedwhenatcourt,tellthesecuritystaffonduty.Ifyouareharassedorthreatenedafterthetrial,youshouldcontactthepolice.

4.10 Special measures for vulnerable or intimidated witnesses

Beingawitnessincourtisanewexperienceformostpeople.Asawitness,youmayfeelparticularlyanxiousforanumberofreasons–thecircumstancesofthecase,orbecauseofyourage,thekindofevidenceyouwillhavetogive,oryourhealth.Oryoumayfeelsodistressedatthethoughtofgivingevidencethatthismakesyoufeelvulnerable.

Ifyouarecited(called)asawitness,youcandiscussanyconcernsyouhaveaboutgivingevidencewiththepersonwhoaskedyoutobeawitness(sentthecitationletter).OryoucanspeakwithyourVictimInformationandAdvice(VIA)contact.Theycangiveyouinformationaboutthecourtprocessandsupportarrangementstohelpyoubebetterpreparedforgivingyourevidence.Theywillalsodiscussyourindividualcircumstanceswithyouandwhethertomakeanapplicationtothecourtforwhatarecalled“specialmeasures”.Thesearedifferentwaystohelpyougiveyourevidence.

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Specialmeasuresgenerallyapplyto:

• allchildwitnessesundertheageof16(under18inhumantraffickingcases)

• adultwitnesseswherethereisasignificantriskthatthequalityoftheirevidencewillbediminishedbecauseofmentaldisorder,orfearanddistressinconnectionwithgivingevidence.

Thestandardspecialmeasuresautomaticallyavailabletoachildwitnessare:

• ascreensothatyoucannotseetheaccused

• usingalivetelevisionlink(inanotherpartofthecourtbuilding)sothatyoucangiveyourevidenceawayfromthecourtroom

• havingasupportpersonalongwitheitheroftheabovestandardspecialmeasures.Theycankeepyoucompanybeforeyougiveyourevidenceandprovideareassuringpresenceinthecourtroomwhileyougiveyourevidence.Buttheycan’tdiscussyourevidencewithyou.

Specialmeasures(allowedatthediscretionofthecourt)forchildoradultvulnerablewitnessesare:

• usingapriorstatementasyourmainevidence.Thisisavideooraudiointerviewbetweenyouandthepolice,orawrittenstatementyougavebeforethetrial.Itwillbeplayedorreadoutincourtandyouwillbeaskedquestionsaboutwhatyousaid

• incertainlimitedcircumstances,havingyourevidencetakenbya“commissioner”(aJudgeorSheriff )appointedbythecourt.Thismeansgivingyourevidenceinthesamewayasyouwouldinatrialbutatadifferenttimeorplace.Theevidenceyougivewouldberecordedandplayedatthetrial.

• ascreen

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• usingalivetelevisionlinkeitherinanotherpartofthecourtbuildingorinasuitableplaceoutwiththecourtbuilding

• havingasupportperson

Youmaybeallowedtouseoneormorespecialmeasures.Ifyouare,itisimportantthatyouknowafewthings.

Youcanstillbecross-examinedaboutyourevidence–thatis,askedquestionsbythedefencelawyer–evenifyouuseaspecialmeasure.

Ifyougiveevidenceusingascreeninthecourtroom,thiswillmeanthatyoucannotseetheaccused,buttheywillbeabletoseeandhearyouonaTVmonitorwhileyougiveyourevidence.TheaccusedwillalsobeabletoseeandhearyouonthesamesortofmonitorifyougiveevidencebyaliveTVlink.

Ifyougiveyourevidencebypriorstatement,youwillprobablystillhavetoattendthetrial(beatcourtorgiveyourevidenceorusealiveTVlink).Thatisunlessyourevidenceisagreedbytheprosecutionanddefencelawyersinadvance.

Ifyourevidenceistakenbyacommissioner,yourevidenceisvisuallyrecorded(forexamplebyDVD)andtheaccusedwillbeabletoseeandhearyourevidenceasitisbeingtaken.Theywillnotnormallybeintheroomwhereyourevidenceisbeingtakenunlessthecourthasagreedthattheycanbe.

Applicationsaremadetothecourtinadvanceofthehearinginwhichyouareduetogiveevidence.Theapplicationsmayormaynotbeapproved,andyouwillbetoldwhatthecourthasdecidedbythepersonwhomadetheapplicationonyourbehalf.

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Ifyouhaveanyquestions,speaktothepersonwhosentyouthecitation(letter)tobeawitnessortoVIA.Theywillbeabletotellyouhowthesemeasuresmightapplytoyou.Theycanletyouhaveabookletwhichexplainsspecialmeasuresinmoredetail.TheymayalsoshowyouaCD-ROMaboutgoingtocourt,whoyouarelikelytomeetthereandwhattheydo,andhowthespecialmeasureswork.Youcanalsofindoutmoreaboutbeingawitnessfromwww.witnessesinscotland.comandwww.crownoffice.gov.uk/Witnesses/Being-Witness-Court.

4.11 Expenses to attend courtYouareentitledtoexpensesifyouarecitedtoattendcourtasawitness.BereavednearestrelativesarealsoentitledtoexpenseswhenrequiredbytheCrowntoprovideaprecognition(seesection3.8),orwhenrequestedbytheProcuratorFiscalorVIAtoattendameetingattheirpremises.

TheProcuratorFiscalServicewillrefundreasonabletravelexpenses,lossofearnings,childcareexpensesandthecostofacarer.Yourwitnesscitationwillexplainwhatyouareentitledtoclaim.

Bereavedrelativeswhoarenotcitedaswitnessescanalsogethelpwithexpensesincurredwhenattendingcourt.Thisincludesreasonabletravel,accommodationandcarerand/orchild-mindingexpenses.Itdoesnotincludelossofearnings.Thissupportisnormallylimitedto3individualsperfamily.VIAwillbeabletoprovidemoredetails.

4.12 VerdictsTheaccusedmaybefoundguiltyornot guilty.Alternatively,thejurymayreacha“not proven”verdictwhichisalsoaverdictofacquittal.

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Fortheaccusedtobefoundguiltyofacharge,amajorityofthejury(atleast8)mustchoosethisverdict.

Forverdictsofnotguiltyandnotproven,amajority(atleast8),mustchoosethisverdict.Theseverdictshavethesameeffectandmeanthattheaccusedisfreetogo.Forinformationaboutdoublejeopardy,seesection4.17.

Itisworthnotingthat:

• Ifsomeoneisfoundguiltyofmurder,thecourtmustimposeasentenceoflifeimprisonment.TheJudgehastostatetheminimumperiodtobeservedbeforethepersoncanapplyforparole(earlyreleasefromaprisonsentence).Thisminimumperiodiscalledthe“punishmentpart”.

• Ifsomeoneisfoundguiltyofculpablehomicide,themaximumpenaltyopentothecourtislifeimprisonment.Butthecourtrarelyimposesthemaximumsentenceandmayimposeamuchlowerpenalty.

• Sometimescourtsfindtheaccusednotguiltyofaseriouschargebutguiltyofalessercharge,suchasassault.

Ifyouareunsureaboutanythingthathappenedincourt,VIAmaybeabletoexplain.

4.13 SentencingBeforesentenceispassed,CounselfortheaccusedwilladvisetheJudgeaboutanyfactorswhichtheythinkmightreducethesentence.Thisiscalleda“pleainmitigation”.SometimestheSheriffasksforbackgroundinformationabouttheguiltypersonbeforedecidingonthesentence.ItistheJudgealonewhodecideswhatthesentenceshouldbe–theprosecutorisnotinvolvedinsentencing.

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Anaccusedwhoisfoundguiltyofmurderwillnormallybekeptincustodyuntilthesentenceispassed.ThisisadecisionfortheJudge.Sentencingnormallyhappenswithin4weeksoftheendofthetrial.

Ifanaccusedpleadsguiltytoanoffence,theJudgeisrequiredbylawtoconsiderpassingalessersentencethanmightotherwisehavebeenthecase(youmayhearthisreferredtoasasentencediscount).TheJudgewillconsiderallofthecircumstancesofanindividualcasetoensureoffendersreceiveanappropriatesentencefortheiroffendingbehaviour.TheJudgedecideshowmuch,ifany,ofthesentencewillbediscounted.TheSheriffshouldstateincourthowmuchofthesentencehasbeendiscounted.

Ifyoudonotunderstandorareunhappyaboutthesentencepassed,VIAortheProcuratorFiscalmaybeabletoexplainmoreaboutthis.Theywillalsoadviseyouaboutanyappealbytheprosecutor(calledaCrownAppeal–seesection4.17).

4.14 Mentally disordered offenders

What happens if the offender is mentally ill?

Mentallydisorderedoffendersarepeople,who,asaresultofmentalillness,havebeenfoundbythecourttohavediminishedresponsibility,orhavebeenfoundnotguiltyonaccountofmentalillnessorfoundtobeunfitfortrial.Intheseinstances,thecourtcanorderapersontobedetainedinhospitalfortreatment.Forrestrictedpatients(peoplethecourtconsideraseriousrisktothepublic),thisdetentionwillbe“withoutlimitoftime”.

Ifaprisonerismovedfromprisontoasecurepsychiatrichospitalduringtheirsentence,theoriginalsentencestillstands.Whilstin

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hospital,theyaresubjecttothesamearrangementsasrestrictedpatients.

Restrictedpatientscannotbegivenleaveofabsence(suspensionofdetention)orbetransferredwithoutGovernment(ScottishMinisters’)consent.SuchrecommendationsaremadetoScottishMinistersbythepatient’sResponsibleMedicalOfficerandinvolveafullriskassessmentbytheclinicalteam.Thisincludesafullevaluationofpotentialrisktothepublic.Familyandvictimconsiderationsarealsotakenintoaccount.

AllrestrictedpatientsaresubjecttotheMultiAgencyPublicProtectionArrangements(MAPPA)whichistheframeworkthatjoinsuptheagencieswhoestablisharrangementsfortheassessmentandmanagementofrisksposedbyoffenders.ThefundamentalpurposeofMAPPA,ispublicsafetyandthereductionofseriousharm.AMAPPAreferralmustalsobemadebeforeanyconsiderationofunescortedleaveandatotherkeystagesinarestrictedpatient’srehabilitation.

DecisionsondischargeofrestrictedpatientsaremadebytheMentalHealthTribunalforScotland.TribunalpanelswhichconsiderrestrictedpatientcasesareconvenedbyaSheriff(orthePresidentoftheTribunal)andhaveamedicallyqualifiedandageneralmember.TheMentalHealthTribunalforScotlandmaygiveanypersonitconsiderstohaveaninterestinacasetheopportunitytomakerepresentations(eitherorallyorinwriting)andtoleadandproduceevidence.TheTribunaldecidesinanycasewhosuchapersonmightbe.IfyouwishtomakerepresentationspleasecontacttheScottishGovernmentattheaddressbelowandtheywillbringyourinteresttotheattentionoftheTribunal.

Ifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutrestrictedpatients,orhaveviewsorconcernsyouwouldliketobringtoScottishMinisters’attention

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inrelationtoarestrictedpatient,youcancontactTheRestrictedPatientTeamLeaderattheScottishGovernment,MentalHealthandProtectionofRightsDivision,Room2N.02,StAndrew’sHouse,EdinburghEH13DG(telephone01312442510).

Disclosure of Information

Section5.1explainshowyoucanregistertoreceiveinformationundertheVictimNotificationSchemeaboutanoffenderservingaprisonsentence.TheScottishGovernmenthasconsideredtheresponsestotheirconsultationontheintroductionofaVictimsNotificationsSchemeforvictimsofMentallyDisorderedOffendersandintendstobringforwarddraftproposalsonthismatterinduecourse

4.15 Victim statementsVictimsorrelativesaffectedbyseriouscrimes(includingmurderorculpablehomicide)canmakeawrittenstatementthattellsthecourthowthecrimeaffectedthem–physically,emotionallyandfinancially.

Victimstatementswillnormallybegiventothecourtiftheaccusedpleadsguilty,orisfoundguiltyafteratrialandwillbeconsideredbeforetheaccusedissentenced.Acopyofanyvictimstatementwillbegiventothedefenceatthesametime.TheJudgemustconsideryourvictimstatementanddecidewhatweightshouldbegiventoit.

Thestatementwillnotbereadoutincourtorreleasedtothepress.

VIAwillsendyouaninformationpackaboutvictimstatements.Thisincludesavictimstatementformandcontactnumbersforsupportagencieswhocangiveyouhelporadviceaboutmaking

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thestatement.Itwillalsoexplainwhatthestatementcan(andcannot)coverandhowitwillbeused.

Youdonothavetomakeavictimstatement.Ifyouchoosenotto,informationabouttheimpactofthecrimecanstillbebroughtoutduringtheprosecutioncase.

4.16 Appeals by a convicted personFollowingacriminalcase,aconvictedpersonmayappealagainsttheirconvictionorsentence.Theycanalsoapplyforbailandmaybereleasedwhilewaitingfortheappeal(thisiscalled“interimliberation”).

Anaccusedfoundguiltyattrialcanappealagainsttheconvictionorsentenceorboth.Thecourtmayrefusetheappealormayallowtheappealinfullorpart.Iftheappealisallowedinfull,thecourtmayorderaretrialormayacquittheaccused.

Iftheaccusedpleadguiltytheycanappealagainstthesentence.AllappealsareheardbyJudgesintheAppealCourtwhichisbasedinEdinburgh.Thecourtisabletoimposeahigherorlowersentence,ormayconfirmtheoriginalsentence.

VIAwilltellyouifthereisanappealandhowitprogresses.Inparticular,theywilltellyou:

• iftheoffenderisgrantedbailbeforetheappeal

• thedateoftheappealand

• theoutcomeoftheappeal.

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4.17 Appeals by the prosecutionAsindicatedinsection4.13,theCrownhasalimitedrightofappealagainstsentence,butonlywhereasentenceis“undulylenient”.Becauseofthis,suchappealsarerare.Ifanappealislodged,youwillbekeptinformedofprogress.

IftheHighCourtJudgedecidesthatthereisinsufficientevidencetoconvicttheaccused,thentheCrownmayappealthisdecision.Ifsuchanappealislodged,youwillbekeptinformedoftheprogress.

Theprosecutioncannotappealagainstthedecisionofthejurytoreturna“notguilty”ora“notproven”verdict.

Inmostcases,theruleagainst“doublejeopardy”meansthatanacquittedpersoncannotberetried.However,therearesomestrictlylimitedcircumstanceswhereitmaybepossibleforanewtrialtooccur,forexampleifthereisnewevidencewhich,haditbeenavailablebefore,wouldhavebeenhighlylikelytohaveledtoaconviction.

Allappealsunder“solemnprocedure”(whereatrialtakesplacewithaJudgeandjury)mustbelodged14daysafteracourt’sdecision,unlessthecourtgivespermissionforthistimelimittobeextended.ThetimelimitfortheCrownlodginganappealagainstanundulylenientsentenceis4weeks.VIAwillkeepyouinformedwhetherornotanappealhasbeenlodgedandabouttheprogressofanyappeal.

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4.18 Bringing a private prosecutionIncertaincircumstancesanindividualmayseektoprosecuteanotherpersonforacriminaloffence.Thisiscalledaprivateprosecution.TobringaprivateprosecutionyoumusthavetheLordAdvocate’sconsent.Thisprocessisverycostlyandyoucannotclaimlegalaid.Itisthereforeveryrare.

4.19 Civil actionIfyouaredissatisfiedwithanacquittalverdict(seesection4.12),youcanraiseacivilactionagainsttheacquittedperson.Acivilactionisbasedonadifferentlevelofproof–“onthebalanceofprobabilities”(adecisioninacriminalcaseisbasedon“beyondreasonabledoubt”).

Raisingacivilactioncanbeaverylongandexpensiveprocess.Thereisnoguaranteethatyouwillbegrantedlegalaid.Beforeproceedingwithacivilaction,youshouldseekadvicefromasolicitor.

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Section 5: What happens after the sentence has been passed?

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5.1 The Victim Notification Scheme

What is the Victim Notification Scheme?

Iftheoffenderhasbeensentencedto18monthsormoreinprison,youcanchoosewhetherornotyouwanttoregisterwiththeVictimNotificationScheme.

Theschemehastwopartsandyoucanopttoreceiveinformationundereitherorbothparts.Thefirstpartentitlesyoutoinformationabout:

• whentheoffenderistobereleased

• thedateoftheirdeath,iftheydiebeforebeingreleased

• iftheyaretransferredtoaplaceoutwithScotland

• theireligibilityfortemporaryrelease(forexample,fortrainingandrehabilitationprogrammesorhomeleaveinpreparationforrelease)

• themescapingorabscondingfromprison

• theirreturntoprison,ifthereturnrelatestotheoffencewhichyouareregistered.

Part2oftheschemeentitlesyoutoinformationabouttheoffenderbeingconsideredforparoleorreleaseonHomeDetentionCurfew(HDC,sometimesknownas“tagging”),seesection5.3formoreaboutconsiderationforrelease:

• whentheParoleBoardforScotlandisduetoconsiderthecaseaffectingyou,youwillbegiventhechancetosendwrittencommentstotheBoard

• whentheScottishPrisonService(SPS)isconsideringaprisoner’sreleaseonHDC,youwillbegiventhechancetosendwrittencommentstotheSPS

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• youwillbetoldwhethertheBoardrecommendsordirectsthereleaseoftheoffender

• youwillbetoldwhetheranyconditionshavebeenattachedtothelicencethatrelatetoyouoryourfamily(seesection5.3).

How do I register for the scheme?

VIAwillsendyouabookletabouttheschemeandaformtoregisterforit.Whenyouhavefilledtheformin,yousenditontotheScottishPrisonService(SPS)whowillregisteryourdetails.Whentheoffenderisduetobereleased,SPSwillsendalettertellingyouthedateofrelease.

If,afterregisteringfortheVictimNotificationScheme,youdecidetooptoutoftheschemeyoushouldwritetotheScottishPrisonServicetoletthemknow.Youshouldalsotellthemifyouchangeaddress.VIAwillsendyouformsforthisatthesametimeastheysendouttheformtoregisterforthescheme.

Ifyoudidn’toriginallyjointheschemebutthendecideyouwouldliketoregister,youcandothisatanytimeuntiltheoffenderreachesthepointinthesentencewhentheyareduetobereleased.Iftheoffenderisjustabouttobereleased,orhasalreadybeenreleased,thenitwillnotbepossibleforyoutojointhescheme.

YoucanfindoutmoreabouttheVictimNotificationSchemefromtheScottishPrisonService(www.sps.gov.uk).Theycanbecontactedon01312448670,oremailvns@sps.gov.uk.

What will the offender know?

ThePrisonServicedoesnottelltheoffenderthatyouareonthescheme.ButifyousendwrittencommentstotheParoleBoard,theoffenderislikelytoseethem.Thisisbecauseoffendersare

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entitledtoseealloftheinformationthattheParoleBoardusestomaketheirdecision.Youdonothavetostateanypersonaldetails–likeyouraddressorcontactdetails–ontheformyousendtotheBoard.

AlthoughtheScottishPrisonServicewillmakeeveryefforttomaintainyouranonymity,theoffenderwillbemadeawareofyourcommentsiftheyhaveabearingonthedecisionaboutwhethertoreleasethemoronthespecificconditionsattachedtotheprisoner’slicence.

Justbecauseyouhaveregisteredwiththeschemedoesn’tmeanthatyouhavetosendwrittencommentstotheBoard(ortotheScottishPrisonServiceifanoffenderisbeingconsideredforreleaseonHDC).Evenifyoudecidenottosendinwrittencomments,youwillstillreceiveinformationaboutwhattheParoleBoard(ortheScottishPrisonServiceaboutreleasesonHDC)hasdecided.

5.2 How long will the offender be in prison?Anaccusedwhoisconvictedofmurderwillbesentencedtolifeimprisonment.Someonewhoisconvictedofculpablehomicidemaybesentencedtoaspecifiedperiodofimprisonment(adeterminatesentence)ortolifeimprisonment.

Whenpassingalifesentence,thecourtwillsayhowlongtheoffendermustspendincustody(knownasthe“punishmentpart”).Alifesentenceprisonermustspendatleastthatperiodinprisonbeforetheycanbeconsideredforreleaseonlifelicence(thistermisexplainedinsection5.3).

Homicideincludesarangeofoffencesincludingmurder,deathbydangerousdriving,deathbycarelessdrivingandculpable

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homicide.Incasesofhomicidewhicharenotmurdersuchasdeathbydangerousdrivingorculpablehomicide,thecourthasdiscretiontodecideinthespecificcircumstancesofacasetodecidewhatthesentenceshouldbe.Atpresentanoffendersentencedto4yearsormorewillbeconsideredbytheParoleBoardforScotlandforreleaseonlicenceafterservingonehalfoftheirsentence.Beingconsideredforreleasethenorlaterdoesnotmeanitwillhappenautomatically.Buttheoffenderwillbereleasedonlicenceafterservingtwo-thirdsoftheirsentence.

5.3 Consideration for releaseTheParoleBoardforScotlandisresponsiblefordeterminingwhenalifesentenceprisoneroronesentencedto4yearsormorewillbereleasedonlicence.TheBoardmustbesatisfiedthattheoffendernolongerpresentsanunacceptablerisktopublicsafety.Italsodecidestheconditionsthatwillapplytotherelease.

Ifanoffenderbreachesanyoftheirlicenceconditions,includingre-offending,theymayhavetheirlicencetakenawayandbereturnedtoprison.Thecourtcanalsoorderareturntoprisoniftheoffendercommitsanotherimprisonableoffencebeforethedatetheywouldhaveservedtheoriginalsentenceinfull.

HomeDetentionCurfew(HDC)allowsoffenderstobereleasedbetween2weeksand6monthsbeforethedateonwhichtheywouldotherwiseleaveprison.Offendersservinglongerthan4yearsinprisonwillnotbereleasedonHDCunlesstheyhavealreadybeenapprovedforparole.Thismeansthattheyareunlikelytobereleasedmorethan6weeksbeforetheywereduetobereleasedonparole.

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TheScottishPrisonServicewillcarryoutariskassessmentofanoffenderbeforetheyareallowedtobereleasedonHDC.OffendersreleasedonHDCmuststaywithinaspecificaddressforaround12hourseverynight.Thisisknownasacurfewconditionandismonitoredremotelybyelectronicequipment(a“tag”).

OffendersreleasedonHDCwillcontinuetoservetheirsentenceduringtheHDCperiodandcanberecalledtoprisoniftheydon’tcomplywiththeconditions.

5.4 Concerns after the prisoner has been released

Thepoliceareautomaticallytoldwhenaprisoner,whohasbeensentencedto4yearsormore,isreleasedfromprison.Ifyouareworriedaboutyoursafety,youshouldcontactthepolice.Theywillthendecidewhataction,ifany,totake.Ifthreatshavebeenmadeagainstyou,oryouhavebeenharassedorintimidatedbytheperson,youmayalsoapplytothecivilcourtsforaninterdicttopreventthemfromcomingnearyouoryourhomeaftertheyleaveprison.Asolicitorwillbeabletogiveyouadviceonthis.

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Section 6: Practical issues

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Whenalovedonediessuddenly,itcanbedifficulttocopewiththepracticalmattersyouwillneedtoaddress.Thissectioncoverssomeofthosepracticalmattersandgivesdetailsofagenciesthatyouarelikelytoneedtocontact.

VictimSupportScotlandofferspracticalsupportandcanhelppeopletodealwiththevariousdemandsandpressuresfollowingadeath.Theycanbecontactedon01316684486(nationaloffice)orthehelplineson08456039213or08453030900.Callsarechargedatthelocalrate.

6.1 How to register a deathAnydeathwhichoccursinScotlandshouldberegisteredwithin 8 days.

ThedeathcanberegisteredinanyregistrationdistrictinScotland.Youcangettheaddressofthelocalregistrarfromthefuneraldirectorortelephonebook(under“RegistrationofBirths,DeathsandMarriages”).Thefuneraldirectororregistrarwillalsobeabletotellyouwhatdocumentswillbeneededtoregisterthedeath.

6.2 Murder, manslaughter and suspicious deaths committed in other countries

If a close friend or relative dies abroad and you are in the UK

Ifaclosefriendorrelativehasbeenkilledabroad,thiscreatesextradifficulties.Inthesecircumstances,theBritishConsulistheretohelpandguideyou.OncenotifiedofthedeathofaBritishnational,consularstaffwillpassthedetailstothepoliceintheUKwhowilltrytocontactrelativesassoonaspossible.Ifthepersonwasmurdered,orthedeathisunexplainedorsuspicious,youmay

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beallocatedapoliceFamilyLiaisonOfficer(seesection1.2)whowillliaisewiththeForeignandCommonwealthOffice(FCO).ThisistheUKGovernmentdepartment,basedinLondon,thatdealswithBritishinterestsabroad.

ConsularstaffattheFCOinLondonwillkeepintouchwithyouandtheConsulateabroaduntilburialorcremationoverseas,oruntilyourlovedonehasbeenbroughtbacktotheUK.TheywilllettheConsulateoverseasknowyourwishesconcerningfuneralarrangementsanddotheirbesttoensurethesearecarriedout.

Ifthepersonwhodiedwasknowntobesufferingfromaninfectiouscondition,forexample,thehepatitisorHIVviruses,youshouldtellConsularstaff.

Theremaybeadelaybeforeyoucanbringthepersonhomeifthereisanoverseasinquestandpostmortem.Withveryfewexceptions,neitherthepoliceinScotlandnortheProcuratorFiscal(PF)haveanyauthoritytoinvestigatedeathsabroad.ThepoliceinScotlandmaybeaskedtocarryoutenquiriesintheUKtoassisttheinvestigatingpolice.

Youshouldregisterthedeathaccordingtothelocalregulationsinthecountryconcernedandobtainadeathcertificate.YoumaybeabletoregisterthedeathwiththeBritishConsulinthatcountryforafee.However,youarenotobligedtodothis.

IfyoudoregisterthedeathwiththeBritishConsul,arecordofthedeathwillbesenttoScotland.YouwillthenbeabletogetacopyfromtheNationalRecordsofScotland.TheremaybeadelayinobtainingthissincedetailsarereturnedfromBritishConsulsattheendofeachyearandrecordsamendedinMarch/Aprilofthefollowingyear.

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Ifthedeathisregisteredonlywiththelocalauthoritiesinthecountrywherethepersondied,therewillbenorecordheldintheUnitedKingdom.

Moreinformationaboutregisteringadeathisavailableat:www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/births-deaths-marriages-civil/registering-a-death

How can British Consular staff help?

BritishConsularstaffcankeepthenext-of-kininformed.Theirjobistoensureyoudonotfeelyouareonyourown.Theyhaveseveralhelpfulguidesavailableatwww.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas

Theycanadviseonthecostoflocalburialorcremation,andtellyouhowtoarrangeforthereturntotheUKofthedeceasedpersonandtheirpersonalproperty.Consularstaffcannotpayorhelpwiththeseexpenses.Youwouldneedtocheckifcostscouldbecoveredbyatravelinsurancepolicy.

Consularstaffcanprovidealistoflocalfuneraldirectorsinthecountrywherethedeathtookplace.IfanEnglishspeakingfirmisnotavailable,Consulatestaffwillhelpyouwiththearrangements.

Wherethereisevidenceofsuspiciouscircumstances,Consularstaffcansuggestthebestwaytoraiseconcernswiththelocalauthorities.Theycannotinvestigatedeathsthemselves,butwillconsidermakingrepresentationstothelocalauthoritiesifthereareconcernsthattheinvestigationisnotbeingcarriedoutinlinewithlocalprocedures.

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Bringing the person who has died back to the UK

Ifyoudecidetobringyourlovedonebackfromabroad,andwishacremationtotakeplace,youmustmakeacremationapplicationtothePublicHealthTeamoftheScottishGovernment.Youwillbeabletogetadviceonthisfromafuneraldirector,whowillmakethesearrangementsonyourbehalf.

UnlessthedeathfallsintooneoftherareexceptionswherethePFcancarryoutinvestigations(seeabove)therewillbenoneedforinvestigationbythePFwhenthebodyisreturnedtoScotland.Ifinvestigationsarenecessary,thesemayincludeapostmortemexamination(seesection2.5)andthiscouldaffectthePF’sdecisiontoallowcremation.

Support services

ManycountrieshaveserviceslikeVictimSupportwhichcanprovidehelp.IfyouwouldliketocontactavictimsupportserviceinanotherpartofEurope,detailscanbefoundat:www.victimsupporteurope.eu.Alternatively,youmaywishtocontactVictimSupportScotland’sNationalOfficeandtheywilltryandfindoutwhat,ifany,serviceexistsinanothercountry.Theirphonenumberis01316684486.Somecountriesalsohavetheirownstatecompensationschemes.

SupportAfterMurderandManslaughterAbroad(SAMMAbroad)isaregisteredcharitythathelpspeopleintheUKwhoselovedonesarethevictimsofmurderormanslaughterabroad.Moredetailsareavailableatwww.sammabroad.orgortheircontacttelephonenumberis08451232384.

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6.3 Claiming criminal injuries compensation

Eligibility and awards

Ifyouaretherelativeordependantofsomeonewhohasdiedasaresultofacriminalinjury,youmaybeeligibletoreceivecompensationundertheCriminalInjuriesCompensationScheme.TheCriminalInjuriesCompensationAuthority(CICA)fatalinjuryawardisnotdesignedtocompensateforthelossoflife.Theawardisintendedasanexpressionofpublicsympathy.

Asindicatedinsection2.7,theCICAmaybeabletorefundfuneralexpensesandmakepaymentstocompensateforthelossoffinancialsupportduetothevictim’sdeath.Youshouldkeepallreceiptsasarefundcanonlybemadeifyouprovidevalidreceiptswithyourclaim.

Afinaldecisiononyourclaimcansometimestakeayearormore,dependingonhowcomplexyourcaseisandwhichotherorganisationstheCICAhavetocontact.

Tocheckwhetheryouareeligibletoapplyforanawardeitherphone03000033601orvisitwww.gov.ukandsearch“criminalinjuriescompensation”.

Differentpeoplequalifyfordifferenttypesofpayment.Paymentswilldependonyourrelationshipwiththevictimandwhetheryouwerefinanciallydependentonthem.Ifyouwereawitnesstothecrime,youmayalsoqualifyforapayment.

Youwillonlybegivencompensationifyoumeettherequirementsofthescheme.TheCICAmayreduceorrefuseanawardonthegroundsofyour,orthevictim’s,conductorconvictions.

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CICAcurrentlydoesnotcoverhomicidesabroad.

Information and application

Applicationsundertheschemeshouldnormallybemadewithin2yearsoftheincidentforwhichtheclaimismade.Thistimelimitmaybesetasideinexceptionalcircumstances.

Youcanobtainmoredetails,alongwithanapplicationformanddetailsofthedocumentsyouneed,bycontactingtheCICAon03000033601.

Furtherinformationcanalsobefoundontheirwebsiteat:www.gov.uk

YourlocalVictimSupportservicecanofferyouhelpandinformationonmakingandcompletinganapplicationunderthescheme.YoucanfindtheaddressofyourlocalVictimSupportserviceinthetelephonebook,oryoucanringthenationalofficeon01316684486orthehelplineson08456039213or08453030900.Callsarechargedatthelocalrate.

6.4 Legal aidIfyouhavealowincome,youmaybeeligibleforlegaladviceonmattersarisingfromthecrime.Youmaybeaskedtopayacontributiontowardsthecostofthislegalaidbutyoumaybeabletopaythisininstalmentsoverseveralmonths.Yoursolicitorcanadvisewhetheryouwillqualifyforlegalaidandwhatthearrangementsareforclaimingit.

Ifyouraiseacourtactionwiththehelpofpublicfundingandyourcaseissuccessful,youwillbeaskedtoputsomeorallof

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themoneyyoureceivetowardsyoursolicitor’sbill.Thisiscalled“clawback”.Makesurethatyoursolicitorexplainsitbeforeyougoaheadwithyourcase.

6.5 BenefitsManypeoplehavefinancialworriesafterbereavement,soyoumightwanttocheckifyouareentitledtoanywelfarebenefits.

TheRegistrar(whoregistersthedeath)willgiveyouacertificatetofillinandreturntotheDepartmentforWorkandPensions.YoushouldreadtheinformationonthecertificateregardingtheDWPBereavementServiceandcallthemtonotifythemofthedeath.Inaddition,theycancompleteabenefitscheckofwhatyoumaybeeligiblefor,takeyourclaimforcertainbenefitsoverthephoneandadvisewhotocontacttoclaimothers.

• Phone08456060265then:

• Selecttheoption“ifyouarecallingtotellusaboutsomeonewhohasdied,orcheckwhathelpmaybeavailablefollowingabereavement”.

IfyoucalltheDWPBereavementServicetoreportthedeath,youdonothavetosendintheBD8form.KeeptheBD8formandanoteofanyreferencenumbersasyoumayneedthemlateron.YoushouldalsolettheTaxOfficeknowaboutyourchangeincircumstances.

YoucanalsoreceiveadvicefromyourlocalCitizensAdviceBureau(yourlocalbranchwillalsobelistedinthetelephonedirectory).

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6.6 WillsAWillappointssomeone(knownastheexecutor)toadministeradeadperson’sestate(everythingtheyowned).

Italsogivesinstructionsonhowpossessionsandmoneyshouldbedistributed.

YouwillneedtofindoutifthepersonmadeaWill.CopiesofWillsmaybeheldbyabankorasolicitor.Ifyouareindoubt,contactasolicitor.

Willscanbecomplicated.SometimesthereisnoWill.WhetherornotthereisaWill,asolicitorwillbeabletogiveyouadviceonwhatyouneedtodo.

Ifyoudonothaveasolicitor,theLawSocietyofScotlandcangiveyoudetailsofsolicitorsinyourarea.TheLawSocietyistheprofessionalbodytowhichallsolicitorsinScotlandbelong.Youcancontactthemon01312267411(textphone01314768359)orvisittheirwebsiteatwww.lawscot.org.uk.

Sortingouttheaffairsofsomeonewhohasdiedcanbecomplexanddistressing.Itmaytakemanymonthsoryears.Friendsandfamilycanbesupportiveatthistime–theymaybeabletohelpinallsortsofways.

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6.7 Who do you need to tell about the death?Dependingonthecircumstances,youmayalsoneedtocontactsomeotherorganisationsandpeople.Thesecouldinclude:

• GP

• Anyhospitalthepersonwasattending

• Otherhealthprofessionals(forexample,dentist,optician)

• Employer

• Personaloroccupationalpensionschemes

• Insurancecompany

• Bankand/orbuildingsociety

• Mortgageproviderorhousingassociation

• Thelocalcouncilhousingdepartmentifthepersonwaslivinginacouncilhouse

• ThelocalcouncilHousingBenefit/CouncilTaxBenefitsectionifthepersonwasgettingHousingBenefitand/orCouncilTaxBenefit(seesection6.5aboutwhototellaboutotherbenefits)

• Achildoryoungperson’steacher,orcollegeoruniversityifaparent,brother,sister,grandparentorclosefriendhasdied

• DVLA(ifthepersonhadadrivinglicence,youwillneedtoreturnit)

• ThePassportOffice(ifthepersonhadapassport,youwillneedtoreturnit)

• Acarinsurancecompany(ifyouareinsuredtodrivethecarundertheperson’sname,youwillceasetobelegallyinsured)

• Gas,electricityandtelephonesuppliers

• ThePostOfficesothattheycanredirectthemailoftheperson

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• ChildBenefitCentreifchildbenefitwasbeingreceived

• BenefitDeliveryCentreifbenefitswerebeingreceived

• ThetaxofficeatHMRevenue&Customs.

Formoredetailedinformationyoumayfindtheleaflet“WhattodoafteradeathinScotland”useful.ItisavailablefromtheScottishGovernmentatwww.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/law/damages/successionortelephone01312443581.AScottishGovernmenttextphonefacilityisavailableat01312441829

6.8 Stopping unwanted mailItcanbeupsettingtoreceivedirectmailorsalescallsforsomeonewhohasdied.Onewaytoreducethechanceofreceivingjunkmailistocontactthe“BereavementRegister”bycalling08000821230orloggingontoitswebsiteatwww.the-bereavement-register.org.uk.Theprocessofregisteringisstraightforwardandfree.

Youcanalsoreducethechanceofunwantedtelephonesalescalls,mailandfaxesbyregisteringfreewiththefollowing:

• TelephonePreferenceService(08450700707orwww.tpsonline.org.uk)

• MailingPreferenceService(08457034599orwww.mpsonline.org.uk)

• FaxPreferenceService(08450700702orwww.fpsonline.org.uk).

Youhavetore-registerwiththeseserviceseveryfewyears.

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6.9 DebtsYoumayhaveworriesaboutdebt,oraboutmanagingyourfinances,especiallyifyouarenotusedtodealingwithmoneyandbillsonyourown.

Youmayneedtocontactsomeorganisationstoestablishresponsibilityforoutstandingbalances.Whotheseorganisationsarewilldependonyourownfinancialarrangementsorthoseofthedeceasedperson.

Ifyouhaveanymoneyworries,getintouchwithyourlocalCitizensAdviceBureau.Theyprovideadvicebutcannotthemselvesofferyoufinancialsupport.Youwillfindtheirtelephonenumberinyourlocaldirectory.

Foradviceondebt,calltheNationalDebtlinefreeon08088084000orwww.nationaldebtline.co.uk/scotland/.

6.10 If you have concerns about the criminal justice system

Thispageexplainshowtomakeacommentorcomplainttotheauthoritiesaboutthecriminaljusticesystem.

The police

IfyourcommentsareaboutthepoliceyoucanwritetotheChiefConstableofthePoliceServiceofScotland.Ifyouarenotsatisfiedwiththereplyyoureceive,youcancomplaintothePoliceComplaintsCommissionerforScotland(PCCS),HamiltonHouse,HamiltonBusinessPark,CairdPark,Hamilton,ML30QA,orcallfreephone08081785577,oremailenquiries@pcc-scotland.org(www.pcc-scotland.org).PCCSwillinvestigatehowyourcomplaint

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wasdealtwithbytheChiefConstable,andmaymakerecommendationstothepoliceforceconcerned.

The Procurator Fiscal Service

ComplaintsshouldbedirectedtotherelevantProcuratorFiscal’sOffice(or,whereappropriate,therelevantCrownOfficeUnitorDivision)wherethecomplaintoriginated.Yourcomplaintwillbehandledbyalocalmanager.Ifyouaredissatisfiedwiththeresponseyoucanrequestareviewbyamoreseniormanager.ThereviewwilloftenbecarriedoutbytheAreaProcuratorFiscal(oraseniormanagernominatedontheirbehalf ),theAreaBusinessManagerortheHeadoftherelevantCrownOfficeUnitorDivision.AcomplaintthatremainsunresolvedmaybereferredforafinalreviewtotheCrownAgentandChiefExecutive(theHeadofCOPFS)CrownOffice,25ChambersStreet,EdinburghEH11LAoraseniormanagernominatedontheirbehalf.

Courts

IfyourcommentsareaboutaSheriffCourtyoucanwritetotheSheriffClerk,ifabouttheHighCourt,youcanwritetotheDeputyPrincipalClerkofJusticiary.Ifyouarenotsatisfiedwiththereplyyoureceive,youcanwritetotheSheriffdomBusinessManager(SheriffCourt)andPrincipalClerkofJusticiary(HighCourt).Ifyouarestillnotsatisfied,youcanwritetotheChiefExecutive,attheScottishCourtService,SaughtonHouse,BroomhouseDrive,EdinburghEH113XD.

IfyourcommentsareaboutaSherifforJudgeyoucanwritetoTheExecutiveDirector,JudicialOfficeforScotland,JudicialOfficeforScotland,1AParliamentSquare,EdinburghEH11RQ.

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Your Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

YourMSP’sjobistorepresentyourinterestsintheParliament.Youmaywanttowritetoormeetthemtodiscussanyaspectofyourcasewhichyouthinktheycouldactupon.

YoucanwritetoyourMSPattheScottishParliament,EdinburghEH991SP.YoucanfindoutthenameofyourMSPsbycalling01313485000or08000927500(textphone08000927100)orvisitingtheScottishParliamentwebsiteatwww.scottish.parliament.uk.

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Section 7: Useful organisations and support

7This section provides contact details for organisations which can offer you support at this difficult time. Some offer support at specific times (e.g. the Witness Service at court) while others can provide support before and after the court case.

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7.1 Services provided by Victim Support Scotland (VSS)

Victim Service

VictimSupportScotlandgivesfreeandconfidentialhelpandsupporttoallthoseaffectedbycrime.Theyhavespeciallytrainedpeoplewhoareabletosupportpeoplebereavedbyviolentcrime.

ThepolicecanputyouintouchwithyourlocalVictimSupportserviceoryoucancontactthemyourself.LookinthephonebookfordetailsofyourlocalofficeorcontacttheVSSnationalofficeon01316684486,orthehelplineon08456039213between8.00am-8.00pm.

AUKVictimSupporthelpline,08453030900,isopen9.00am-9.00pmweekdaysand9.00am-7.00pmweekends.Callsarechargedatthelocalrate.

FurtherinformationcanalsobefoundontheVictimSupportScotlandwebsiteatwww.victimsupportsco.org.uk

Support After Murder (SAM)

ThisVSSserviceofferssupporttofamiliesandfriendswhohavebeenbereavedasaresultofmurderorculpablehomicide.Trainedvolunteersalsoofferspecificsupporttoyoungpeopleintheaftermathofmurder.Thisservicecanbeaccessedthroughthesamecontactpointsgivenonthepreviouspage.

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Witness Service

TheWitnessService,runbyVictimSupportScotland,isavailableineverySheriffandHighCourtinScotland.Itprovidesafreeandconfidentialserviceincluding:

• someonetotalktoinconfidence

• informationoncourtprocedures

• theopportunitytovisitacourtbeforethetrial

• aquietplacetowaitbeforeandduringthehearing

• someonetoaccompanyyouintothecourtroomwhengivingevidence

• practicalhelp,forexample,withexpenseforms

• puttingyouintouchwithpeoplewhocananswerspecificquestionsaboutthecase(pleasenotetheWitnessServicecannotdiscussevidenceorofferlegaladvice)and

• theopportunitytotalkoverthecasewhenithasendedandtogetmorehelporinformation.

YouwillfinddetailsoftheWitnessServiceinthephonebookunderthenameoftheCourt.OryoucancontacttheVictimSupportScotlandnationalofficeon01316684486orthehelplineon08456039213.

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7.2 Self-help and other support groups

Petal (People Experiencing Trauma and Loss)

PetalSupportprovidessupporttopeoplewhohaveexperiencedthelossofafamilymemberorfriendthroughmurder,culpablehomicideandsuicide.Theorganisationprovidesservicestoadults,youngpeopleandchildren.Petaldeliverstherapeuticserviceswhichincludeonetoonecounselling,groupandtelephonecounselling,stressrelievingtherapies,suicideprevention,peersupportgroups,advocacy,practicaladviceonlegalaspectsandrelatedissues,andmediationbetweenclients,agenciesandemployers.

AtelephonecounsellingserviceisprovidedtomemberswhentheyareunabletotraveltothePetalsupportcentresinHamiltonandGlasgow.Itisaregisteredcharitywithnoaffiliationtoanyreligiousorpoliticalpartyandwelcomesallsectionsofthecommunity.

Petalisfreeandconfidentialandprovidessupporttomurderandsuicidevictims’familiesandfriends–irrespective of time.

PETALcanbecontactedon01698324502oryoucanwritetothemat:

8BarrackStreetHamiltonML30DG

Thewebsiteaddressiswww.petalsupport.com,andthee-mailaddressisinfo@petalsupport.com.

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Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland

Anationwideserviceofferingcounsellingandadviceforallbereavedpeople.Youcancontactthemat:

CruseBereavementCareScotlandRiverviewHouseFriartonRoadPerthPH28DF

Telephone:08456002227or01738444178e-mailadmin@crusescotland.org.ukorvisitthewebsiteatwww.crusescotland.org.uk

The Compassionate Friends

CompassionateFriendsisaself-helpgroupofferingfriendshipandsupporttobereavedparentsorgrandparentswhohavelostachildofanyagethroughillness,accident,violenceorsuicide.Theycanbecontactedviatheirlocalratehelpline–08451232304–whichisalwaysstaffedbyabereavedparentandisavailable365days,e-mailatinfo@tcf.org.ukorvisitthewebsitewww.tcf.org.uk.Ifyouprefer,youcanwriteto:

CompassionateFriends53NorthStreetBristolBS31EN

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Lesbian and Gay Bereavement Project

TheLGBPoperatesahelplinewhichoffersalisteningeartolesbiansandgaymenwhohavebeenbereavedaswellastofamilyandfriends,colleaguesandcarers.Theycanbecontactedon02078373337.Moreinformationontheprojectisavailableatwww.londonfriend.org.uk/bereavementhelpline/

Help,information,adviceandsupportisavailablefromtheLesbianandGaySwitchboard:

LothianLGBTHelpline–01315564049/www.lgbthealth.org.ukStrathclydeLesbianandGaySwitchboard–01418470447/www.sgls.co.uk

Samaritans

BranchesthroughouttheUKofferhelptopeoplewhoaresuicidalorindespair.Lookinthephonebookfordetailsofyourlocalbranch,orcontacttheir24-hourhelplineon08457909090.Youcancallanyofthelocalbranchesor,ifyouwouldprefer,writealetter,tothecorrespondencebranchat:

POBox9090StirlingFK82SA

oremailjo@samaritans.org.

Furtherinformationcanalsobefoundontheirwebsiteat:www.samaritans.org.uk.

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7.3 Other sources of help

The Moira Fund

TheMoiraFundmakesgrantsavailabletoindividualsreferredtothem,whohavebeenbereavedthroughviolentdeath.Thisincludessupporting:

• Accesstospecialistbereavementcounselling

• Accesstorespiteand/orretreat

• Participationinasupportnetwork

• Needswhichmayariseandforwhichthereisnocurrentprovision.

TheMoiraFundmaybecontactedatthefollowingaddress:

TheMoiraFundPOBox3213StaffordST169LJ

oremail:info@themoirafund.org.uk.Thewebsiteaddressiswww.themoirafund.org.uk

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)

Bureauxprovidefree,independent,impartialandconfidentialadviceandassistanceonawiderangeofissues,includingfinancialandlegalmatters.ForyournearestCABlookinthephonebook,contactthenationalorganisation(CitizensAdviceScotland)on01315501000orvisitwww.cas.org.uk.

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The Law Society of Scotland

TheLawSocietyistheprofessionalbodytowhichallsolicitorsbelong.Theycanprovideyouwithdetailsaboutsolicitorsinyourarea.Youcancontactthemon01312267411,bytextphoneon01314768359orvisittheirwebsiteatwww.lawscot.org.uk.Alternatively,youcanwriteto:

TheLawSocietyofScotland26DrumsheughGardensEdinburghEH37YR

Local authority housing or social work services

Youcanfinddetailsunderthenameofyourlocalcouncilinyourlocaltelephonedirectory.

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Section 8: Understanding the legal process and terms

8

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8.1 Flowchart showing the investigation and prosecution process

Notes:1.Procedureswillnotalwaysfollowtheflowchart(forexample,theaccusedmaybe

identifiedbutcannotbetracedorarrestedimmediately).Ifthisisthecase,theFamilyLiaisonOfficer/VIA/procuratorfiscalwillexplainthistoyou.

2.Thetermsusedintheflowchartareexplainedmorefullyinsection8.2.

Deathreportedtopolice

Policeinvestigationbegins

PFinstructspostmortemexamination

Evidencegatheredtoindentifysuspect

Suspectarrested(interviewedbypolice)

PolicemakereporttoPF

PFtakespreliminarydecisiononproceedings

Policeinformprocutatorfiscal(PF)whoprovidesadviceanddirectiontopolice

investigations

Bailgranted(accusedreleasedandtrialmuststart

within12monthsofthisdate)

Bailgranted(accusedreleasedandtrialmuststart

within12monthsoffirstcourtappearance)

Bailrefused(accusedremandedincustody.

Preliminaryhearingmustbeginwithin110daysandthetrialwithin140days)

First court appearance by accused (“Appearing on petition”. In private, on preliminary

charges, usually first working day after arrest. Accused “commited for further examination”)

Bailrefused(accusedkeptincustody)

Within7-11daysAccusedappearsfor

“fullcommittal”(inprivate)

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PFpreparescase(interviews–precognosces–witnesses,preparesreportforCrownCounsel)

PFreportstocrowncounselwhoinstructsproceedings(indictmentservedonaccusedgivingcharges)

Preliminaryhearing(tofindoutifprosecutionanddefencearereadytogototrial)

Prosecutionand/ordefencenotpreparedfortrial

Accusedpleadsguilty(maybetoareduced/amendedcharge)

Defencemakepleainmitigation

Accusedpleadsnotguilty

Trial

Verdict

Guilty

Defencemakepleainmitigation

Notguilty/Notproven

JudgedecidesonsentenceByProsecution

(onlyifsentenceis“undulylenient”)

Byaccused(againstsentenceonly)

ByProsecution(onlyifsentenceis“undulylenient”)

Byaccused(againstconvictionand/orsentence)

Accusedfree

Appeal?

Prosecutionpresentsfacts

Judgedecidesonsentence

Appeal?

Trialdate

Prosecutionand/ordefencepreparedfortrial

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8.2 Explanation of legal termsThissectionisintendedtohelpyouunderstandthetermsthatyoumighthearduringtheinvestigationandanytrial.Itislistedalphabeticallyandshowscommonabbreviationsyoumayalsohear.

Term (Abbreviation) Explanation

Adjournment Abreakincourtproceedings.Thismaybeforlunch,overnightortoacompletelynewdate.

Advocate Depute (AD) AnadvocateorseniorProcuratorFiscalwhoworksonlyfortheprosecutionandprosecutesonlyintheHighCourt.

Appeal Achallengetotheaccused’sconvictionorsentenceorboth.Theprosecutioncanonlyappealagainstasentenceiftheyregarditasundulylenient.

Appearing on petition Thisreferstotheaccused’sappearancesintheSheriffCourttoanswerpreliminarycharges(seelaterintable).Theseproceedingsareheldinprivateandmayinvolvetwoseparateappearances–committalforfurtherexaminationandfullcommittal(bothareexplainedlater).Theaccusedwilleitherbegrantedbailorremandedincustody.

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Term (Abbreviation) Explanation

Bail Whentheaccusedisreleasedfromcustodyuntilthetrial,orafterconvictionandbeforesentence.Whenreleasedonbail,theaccusedmustadheretostandardconditionsthathe/sheappearatcourt,doesnotcommitfurtheroffences,doesnotinterferewithwitnessesorotherwiseobstructthecourseofjustice,doesnotbehaveinanalarmingordistressingmanner,andmakeshimself/herselfavailableforenquiriesorreport.Thecourtsmayaddanyfurther,specialconditionstheyliketoensuretheobservanceofthesestandardconditions.Examplesofspecialconditionsarethatanaccuseddoesnotenteracertainareaorhasacurfew,meaninghe/shemustremainathomeduringcertainperiodsoftheday/night.

Charge (to the jury)

TheJudge’slegaldirectiontoajuryinmattersoflawandevidencebeforetheydecideontheirverdict.

Citation (to be a witness)

Aletterwhichtellsawitnesstoattendcourttogiveevidenceatatrial.Itstatesthedate,timeandlocationthewitnessshouldattend.

Clerk of Court Responsibleforthemanagementofthecourtandjurors.TheclerkisthemainpointofcontactwiththeJudgeandensuresthecorrectrecordingofallproceedings,includingtheverdict.

Committal for further examination (CFE)

Whathappensattheendoftheaccused’sfirstcourtappearance.Theaccusedwilleitherbegrantedbailorremandedincustodyuntilbeingfullycommittedfortrial(seelater).

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Term (Abbreviation) Explanation

Crown Counsel Seniorprosecutors(alsocalledAdvocatesDepute)whodecidewhetheracriminalprosecutionshouldtakeplace,againstwhomandonwhatcharges.Theyreceivereportsfromtheprocuratorfiscalabouttheevidenceinthecase.

Counsel Theadvocatethatactsforeithertheprosecutionortheaccused(adifferentadvocatewillactforeach).

Court familiarisation visit

Thiscanhelpyoufindoutwhattoexpectatcourt,particularlyifyouwillbeawitnessatthetrial.ItcanbearrangedinadvanceofthetrialthroughtheVIAofficerortheWitnessService.

Determinate sentence Whensomeonewhoisconvictedofculpablehomicideissentencedtoaspecificperiodofimprisonment.

Family Liaison Officer (FLO)

Thepoliceofficerwhoactsasthecontactwiththepoliceinvestigationandkeepsyouinformedofdevelopments.

Forensic evidence Thescientificevidencecollectedfromacrimescene,thebodyofthedeceasedandfromotherpeople,e.g.fingerprints,DNAsamples.

Full committal (FC) ThesecondappearancebytheaccusedinprivateintheSheriffCourt.Itisheldtoconfirmthattheaccusedshouldbebroughttotrial.Bailcanalsobeconsideredatthishearing.

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Term (Abbreviation) Explanation

Home Detention Curfew (HDC)

Afterariskassessment,offenderscanbeconsideredforreleasebetween2weeksand6monthsbeforethedateonwhichtheywouldotherwiseleaveprison.OffendersreleasedonHDCaresubjecttocurfewconditionsandmonitoredremotelybyelectronicequipment(a“tag”).

Indictment Thedocumentthatsetsoutthecharge(s)inwriting.Itisgiventotheaccusedsothattheyknowwhattheyareaccusedof.

Interim liberation Whentheoffenderisreleasedonbail,afterappealingagainstsentenceand/orconvictionandbeforeadecisionontheappealismade.

Judge AJudgepresidesovercasesheardintheHighCourt(inaSheriffCourt,theJudgeiscalledaSheriff ).

Law Officers ThemostseniorprosecutorsinScotland–theLordAdvocateandtheSolicitorGeneral.Anydecisiontoacceptapleaofguiltytoareducedchargeinamurdercasecanonlybetakenwiththeirapproval.

Licence Whenanoffenderisreleasedfromprisonbeforetheendoftheirsentence,thelicencesetsouttheconditionsofbehaviourthattheymustmeet.

Lord Advocate Scotland’sseniorprosecutor,withoverallresponsibilityfortheprosecutionofcrimeinScotland.

Macer AnofficerofthecourtwhoattendstotheJudgeandassistswithwitnessesandproductionsinthetrial.

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Term (Abbreviation) Explanation

Mentally disordered offender (MDO)

Mentallydisorderedoffendersarepeople,who,asaresultofmentalillness,havebeenfoundbythecourttohavediminishedresponsibility,orhavebeenfoundnotguiltyonaccountofinsanity.

Parole Whenanoffenderisallowedtobereleasedearlyfromaprisonsentence.Thisreleasewillbesubjecttolicenceconditions(seeearlierintable).

Parole Board for Scotland

Responsiblefordecidingwhenalifesentenceprisoneroronesentencedto4yearsormorewillbereleasedfromprisononlicence.TheBoardalsoconsidersanybreachesoflicenceconditionsanddetermineswhethertheriskcannolongerbemanagedinwhichcasetheoffendermayberecalledtoprison.

Pathologist Aqualifieddoctorwhoexaminesthebodyofthedeceasedtofindoutthecauseofdeath.

Petition Thefirstdocumentwhichsetsoutthechargeagainsttheaccused,andstartstheformalcourtprocess.Thiswillnotnecessarilyresultinatrialandifitdoes,thechargesthattheaccusedfacesattrialmaybedifferentfromthosesetoutinthepetition.

Plea Theaccused’sanswertothecharge.Notrialisneedediftheypleadguilty.

Plea in mitigation Anyfactorsthattheaccused’scounselthinksshouldbetakenintoaccountbeforesentenceispassed.

Post mortem examination Themedicalexaminationofthebodyofthedeceased.

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Term (Abbreviation) Explanation

Precognition or precognition investigation

Theprocessofgettinginformationfromwitnessestofindoutwhattheyknowaboutacrime.Thishappensbeforeatrialandusuallyinvolvestakingawrittenstatement.Itisdonebytheprosecution(ProcuratorFiscalorprecognitionofficer)andmayalsobedonebythedefence(solicitororprecognitionagent).Itisavitalpartoftheprosecutionprocessandyoumustgiveaprecognitionifaskedtodoso.

Precognition agent Apersonworkingonbehalfofadefencelawyertofindoutfromwitnesseswhattheyknowaboutthecrime.Theywillusuallytakeawrittenstatementandcontactyouathometoarrangethis.

Precognition officer ApersonemployedbytheProcuratorFiscaltofindoutfromwitnesseswhattheyknowaboutthecrime.TheywillusuallyaskyoutoattendtheProcuratorFiscal’sOfficesotheycantakeawrittenstatementfromyou.

Preliminary hearing ThisiswheretheprosecutionandthedefencewilltelltheJudgewhetherornottheyarereadyforthecasetogototrial.Theymayalsoagreeanyuncontroversialevidence.Thetrialdatewillonlybesetoncebothpartiesarefullyprepared.

Proceedings Generaltermforthecourtprocess.

Procurator Fiscal (PF) Aqualifiedlawyerwhoisthepublicofficialinalocalarearesponsibleforinvestigatingsuddendeathsandprosecutingcrime.

Productions Documentsshownasevidenceincourtduringatrial,e.g.aforensicreport.Otheritems,e.g.clothingarereferredtoaslabels.

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Term (Abbreviation) Explanation

Punishment part (of sentence)

Howlonganoffenderwhoisgivenalifesentencemustspendinprison.Itistheminimumtimetheymustspendinprisonbeforebeingconsideredforrelease.

Remand or remanded in custody

Whenapersoniskeptincustody(prisonoraYoungOffenders’Institution)awaitingtrialorbeforesentence.

Senior Investigating Officer (SIO)

Theseniorpoliceofficerinchargeofthepoliceteaminvestigatingthedeath.

Sentence discount WhentheJudgereducesthelengthofsentencepassedbecausetheaccusedhaspleadedguilty.Thediscountshouldbestatedincourtandshouldnotbemorethanathirdofthemaximumavailablesentence.

Sheriff AJudgewhoworksintheSheriffCourtinalocalarea.

Sheriff Court Thelocalareacourtwherethefirststepofthecourtproceedingswilltakeplace.

Solemn procedure WhereatrialtakesplaceinfrontofaJudgeandjury(alwaysthecaseinamurderorculpablehomicidetrial).

Solicitor General AssiststheLordAdvocateinleadingtheprosecutionservice.

Special measure Aformofsupportthatmaybeconsideredforaparticularlyvulnerablewitnesstohelpthemgiveevidence.

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Term (Abbreviation) Explanation

Victim Information and Advice (VIA) service

PartoftheCrownOfficeandProcuratorFiscalService.Keepsvictimsandtheirfamiliesadvisedabouttheprogressofthecasethataffectsthem.VIAalsoprovidesgeneralinformationaboutthecriminaljusticesystem,candiscussanyconcernsyouhaveifyouareawitnessinthecaseandcanputyouintouchwithorganisationsthatofferpracticalandemotionalsupport.

Warrant Adocumentfromacourtallowingthepolicetotakecertainaction,e.g.toarrestsomeoneortosearchpremises.

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Acknowledgements

Thisinformationpackwasoriginallywrittenin2004bytheVictimsofCrimebranchoftheScottishGovernment,withhelpandadvicethroughoutfromaworkinggroupofrepresentativesfromsupportorganisationsandcriminaljusticeagencies.ThisgroupcomprisedrepresentativesoftheCrownOfficeandProcuratorFiscalService(includingVictimInformationandAdvice),PeopleExperiencingTraumaandLoss(PETAL),thepolice,theScottishCourtsService,SocialWork,andVictimSupportScotland(VSS).Individualfamiliesbereavedbymurderalsocommentedonthepack.

ContributionswerealsomadebyofficialsacrosstheScottishGovernment,andtheForeignandCommonwealthOffice.

Thepackhasbeenupdatedinconsultationwiththesekeystakeholders.

2013 Edition

© Crown copyright 2013

ISBN: 978-1-78256-390-7

APS Group Scotland

DPPAS13794 (03/13)

w w w . s c o t l a n d . g o v . u k