- I was a victim of a criminal offence: consequences and reactions
- The rights of victims of a criminal offence
- Right to be treated with respect and dignity
- Right to privacy
- Right to information about rights from the first contact with the competent authority
- Right to be heard
- Right to interpretation and translation
- Right to be accompanied by a victim support association
- Right to be accompanied by a legal representative and an adult of your choice
- Right to declare a third party’s address as a home address (with their consent)
- Right to return of property
- Right to compensation
- Right to legal aid
- Right to an individualised assessment
- Right to specific protection measures
- Social protection rights
- Right to an alternative to criminal proceedings: mediation
- Right to benefit from restorative justice measures
- Right to information on appeals and remedies
- Criminal proceedings
- Who is who in criminal proceedings
Right to benefit from restorative justice measures
Since the law of 15 August 2014, any victim can apply for a restorative justice measure. This right is available to the victim from the moment the complaint is filed and at all stages of the criminal proceedings.
Restorative justice is a practice that complements the traditional criminal justice system by bringing together victims and offenders (irrespective of whether they were involved in the same case). The measures, in various ways, are all aimed at re-establishing social ties and dissuading repeat offenders as much as possible.
Meetings take place according to pre-established rules and are facilitated by specially trained, impartial and caring professionals.
This measure is free of charge and the meetings are confidential. The agreement of each party is required to participate.
Restorative justice helps to raise awareness of the personal, professional, family and social repercussions of an offence and promotes appeasement and reconstruction.