Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004

36 Victims' rights: preliminary E+W

(1) This section applies if the conditions in subsections (2) and (3) are met.

(2) The first condition is that one of these applies in respect of a person (“the patient”) charged with a sexual or violent offence—

(a) the patient is convicted of the offence;

(b) a verdict is returned that the patient is not guilty of the offence by reason of insanity;

(c) a finding is made—

(i) under section 4 of the Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 (c. 84) that the patient is under a disability, and

(ii) under section 4A of that Act that he did the act or made the omission charged against him as the offence.

(3) The second condition is that a hospital order [F1 , whether with or without a restriction order,] is made in respect of the patient by a court dealing with him for the offence.

(4) The local probation board for the area in which the determination mentioned in subsection (2)(a), (b) or (c) is made [F2 or the provider of probation services operating in the local justice area in which the determination mentioned in subsection (2)(a), (b) or (c) is made ] must take all reasonable steps to ascertain whether a person who appears to the board to be the victim of the offence or to act for the victim of the offence wishes—

(a) to make representations about the matters specified in subsection (5);

(b) to receive the information specified in subsection (6).

[F3 (4A) The provider of probation services mentioned in subsection (4) is the provider of probation services identified as such by arrangements under section 3 of the Offender Management Act 2007.]

(5) The matters are—

(a) whether the patient should be subject to any conditions in the event of his discharge from hospital [F4 while a restriction order is in force in respect of him];

(b) if so, what conditions [F5 ;

(c) what conditions he should be subject to in the event of his discharge from hospital under a community treatment order].

(6) The information is information about any conditions to which the patient is to be subject in the event of his discharge from hospital.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 36(3) substituted (3.11.2008) by Mental Health Act 2007 (c. 12), ss. 48, 56(1), Sch. 6 para. 2(2) (with s. 50(8)-(13)); S.I. 2008/1900, arts. 1(1), 2(o) (with art. 3, Sch.)

F2 Words in s. 36(4) inserted (1.4.2008) by The Offender Management Act 2007 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/912), arts. 1, 3, Sch. 1 para. 20(4)(a)

F3 S. 36(4A) inserted (1.4.2008) by The Offender Management Act 2007 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/912), arts. 1, 3, Sch. 1 para. 20(4)(b)

F4 Words in s. 36(5)(a) inserted (3.11.2008) by Mental Health Act 2007 (c. 12), ss. 48, 56(1), Sch. 6 para. 2(3)(a) (with s. 50(8)-(13)); S.I. 2008/1900, arts. 1(1), 2(o) (with art. 3, Sch.)

F5 S. 36(5)(c) inserted (3.11.2008) by Mental Health Act 2007 (c. 12), ss. 48, 56(1), Sch. 6 para. 2(3)(b) (with s. 50(8)-(13)); S.I. 2008/1900, arts. 1(1), 2(o) (with art. 3, Sch.)