Victim rights

The Northern Territory (NT) charter of victims' rights explains what your rights are as a victim within the justice system. It ensures every reasonable resource will be used to help keep yourself, your property and your family safe.

The charter is also a guide for government agencies and contracted services to ensure you are treated:

• fairly
• respectfully
• compassionately.

Read the NT charter of victims' rights PDF (4.8 MB).

Support, protection and information

As a victim, all services who engage with you must:

• treat you with courtesy, compassion and respect
• provide fair and equal services
• keep your contact details private except where legally required, of which you will be kept informed
• help you understand how you can be legally protected against violence and intimidation by the accused
• tell you about services you can access, like counselling, healthcare, legal help and financial support
• be give you updates about the investigation if those details can be shared and if you choose to.

Staying informed

If you want to, you will be informed by police or prosecutions in a timely manner about:

• charges laid
• court processes, your rights in relation to attending any trial or hearing
• your role in the justice system, including as a witness for the prosecution
• the outcome of any bail applications
• any bail conditions imposed to protect you and your family members
• options regarding court-ordered restitution or compensation
• the time, date and place of any court dates
• any substantial changes to the charges
• reasons for not laying charges, accepting a plea of guilty to a lesser charge or not prosecuting
• where practicable, your views about accepting a plea of guilty to a lesser charge will be heard and considered, the prosecutor will make the final decision
• the outcome of the criminal proceeding, including any sentence imposed and any conditions that are set and what it means
• an appeal being made, the grounds of the appeal and the result of the appeal
• the release or escape from custody of the accused, including before trial and when they are returned to custody.

You can apply to be on the victim register, this will keep you informed about the offender. This includes the offender’s:

• imprisonment
• parole applications
• release dates
• escapes.

The Crime Victims Services Unit can assist with your application to be placed on the victim register.

Your involvement in court proceedings

If you have been asked to give evidence in court, you may be able to refuse or raise an objection, this will be considered and decided by the court. You may be eligible to provide evidence as a vulnerable witness.

Read more about going to court as a witness.

You also have the option to provide a victim impact statement to the court and engage in restorative justice through victim-offender conferencing.

Support services

If you are a victim of a violent crime you may apply for financial assistance.

There are also other support services you can access as a victim, find out more about support services for victims.

If your rights are not upheld

If you believe the charter has not been followed, contact the service provider.

If you're unhappy with their response, you can make a complaint to Ombudsman NT, find out more on the Ombudsman NT website.