Australian Capital Territory Consolidated Acts Australian Capital Territory Consolidated ActsIn the administration of justice, the following principles are to, as far as practicable and appropriate, govern the treatment of victims:
(a) a victim should be dealt with at all times in a sympathetic, constructive and reassuring way and with appropriate regard to his or her personal situation, rights and dignity;
(b) a victim should be told at reasonable intervals (generally not more than 1 month) of the progress of police investigations about the relevant offence, except if the disclosure might jeopardise the investigation, and, in that case, the victim should be told accordingly;
(c) a victim should be told about the charges laid against the accused and of any modification of the charges;
(d) a victim should be told about any decision concerning the accused to accept a plea of guilty to a lesser charge or a guilty plea in return for a recommendation of leniency in sentencing;
(e) a victim should be told about any decision not to proceed with a charge against the accused;
(f) if any victim's property is held by the Territory for the purposes of investigation or evidence—inconvenience to the victim should be minimised and the property returned promptly;
(g) a victim should be told about the trial process and of the rights and responsibilities of witnesses;
(h) a victim should be protected from unnecessary contact with the accused and defence witnesses during the course of the trial;
(i) a victim's residential address should be withheld unless the court directs otherwise;
(j) a victim should not have to appear at preliminary hearings or committal proceedings unless the court directs the victim to appear;
(k) a victim should be given an explanation of the outcome of criminal proceedings and of any sentence and its implications;
(l) a victim who is known to have expressed concern about the need for protection from an offender should be told about the offender's impending release from custody.