Know your rights as a victim of crime

In NSW, there is a Charter of Victims Rights (the Charter) to protect and promote your rights if you are a victim of crime. The Charter is contained in the Victims Rights and Support Act 2013.

It sets out how you are to be treated and assisted if you are a victim of crime in NSW.

The Charter outlines 18 rights, including your right to:

• be treated with courtesy, compassion and respect
• information about, and access to, welfare, health, counselling and legal services, where available
• information about the investigation and prosecution of the offender.

See all 18 rights under the Charter

Who the Charter covers

• Any person who suffers harm as a direct result of an act committed by another person in the course of a criminal offence in NSW.
• A member of the immediate family of someone who has died as a result of an act committed by another person in the course of a criminal offence in NSW.

Who must uphold the Charter

The Charter must be upheld by:

• everyone working in NSW government departments and agencies
• any person working in a non-government agency that is funded by the NSW Government to provide services to victims of crime
• any person funded by the NSW Government to provide services to victims of crime.

If you believe your Charter rights have not been met

If you are a victim of crime and believe that an agency or person providing services to you has not acted in accordance with the Charter, you can make a Charter complaint. 

Visit Charter of Victims Rights complaints to learn more.