media releases

Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims Bill viewed as flawed attempt to
right the imbalance between victim and offender compensation

16 February 2005

Victim Support views the Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims Bill as a seriously flawed attempt to improve the level of compensation available to Victims of Crime, and correct an embarrassing imbalance between the rights of offenders and those of their victims.

“In situations where a prisoner is awarded compensation, that prisoner is likely to have become a victim through abuse of power”, Steve Caldwell, Chief Executive of Victim Support said this afternoon.

“However, the rights of a victim to receive compensation for a crime and the rights of a prisoner to receive compensation as a result of abuse of power on an individual basis are two separate issues and should in no way be directly linked.”

His comments formed part of Victim Support’s 16 February submission to the Justice and Electoral Select Committee, currently considering The Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims Bill.

“Victims of crime should be able to expect to receive reparation or restitution awarded without having to think that payment may be dependent on a successful claim made by a prisoner.”

“Victim Support has long advocated that a fund be dedicated to ensuring timely payment of reparation and restitution and that other mechanisms be found for obtaining the reparation from the offender.”

Mr Caldwell considers the message in this Bill is that compensation is not a matter of justice but a means of transferring the compensation awarded from one victim to another.

Representatives of Victim Support will be presenting their submission to the Select Committee at 5.20 p.m. today and will be available for comment afterwards. Copies of the submission will be available.