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<p /> <p /> <p><strong>The Government’s new Victims’ Code, which came into force on
10 December 2013, strengthens the rights of victims of crime, including where the
offender is mentally disordered. The Code provides victims with clearer entitlements
and better tailors services to individual need. Under the Code, criminal justice agencies
must provide enhanced services to victims of the most serious crime; persistently
targeted victims; and vulnerable and intimidated victims. </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Since
2001, victims of specified sexual and violent offences where the offender receives
a sentence of twelve months or more have been offered the Probation Victim Contact
Scheme, which enables them to make representations about which licence conditions
a prisoner should be subject to on release, and to be informed about key stages of
sentence such as release on temporary licence and full release. </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>The
Victim Contact Scheme was extended by legislation to victims of mentally disordered
offenders with restrictions in July 2005, and to victims of mentally disordered offenders
without restrictions in November 2008.</strong></p><p><strong>Since April 2014, there
has been a presumption that victims of restricted mentally disordered offenders will
be told if they are granted permission for escorted or unescorted leave from hospital
for rehabilitative purposes. </strong></p>
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