(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order brings into force on 1st November 2004 sections 16 and 17 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003.
Where a person is convicted of an offence prescribed in the Victim Notification (Prescribed Offences)(Scotland) Order 2004 (S.S.I. 2004/411) and sentenced to four or more years' imprisonment, section 16 provides the victim of such an offence with the option of receiving certain information in relation to the release, temporary release, transfer, death in custody or escape of that person (unless Scottish Ministers consider that there are exceptional circumstances which make it inappropriate to do so).
By virtue of section 17, victims entitled to receive information under section 16 must also be given an opportunity, before any decision is taken to release that person on licence, to make written representations to the Scottish Ministers as respects such release and the conditions which might be specified in the licence on which the person will be released.
The victim must have intimated a wish to receive the information and/or to be given the opportunity to make representations.