After a Trial

If you are at court giving evidence, you should be informed of any sentence given.

Otherwise, the VWCU will tell you the result of the case and any sentence imposed.  If you have any further queries about this, you are entitled to be referred to the PPS, through the VWCU, for more information.

If a sentence is passed which includes supervision by the Probation Board of NI, you are entitled to ask them to explain the meaning of any Order imposed.  This can be done by phone, in writing or face to face.

Following the trial, the VWCU can direct you to any further victim support services you may want or need.  Victim Support NI can offer you further advice and refer you for specialist support and help if needed.  We offer an after court support service which can help with the victim recovery journey and is available to victims whose legal proceedings have concluded.  Find out more here.

If there is an appeal made against a conviction or sentence, you will be informed by the Victim and Witness Care Unit about the date, time and location of any key hearings, and the outcome of the appeal, including any changes to the original sentence.

You do not have a right of appeal against a sentence imposed, but if you consider that a sentence is too lenient, where the person has been sentenced in the Crown Court, you can ask the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider referring the case to the Court of Appeal.   This can only be done for certain offences, and only where the Director of Public Prosecutions thinks a sentence is unduly lenient.