Victims
South Yorkshire Probation has worked with victims of crime for many years. Our Victim Contact Unit has officers based in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield. They provide information to victims of sexual or violent crime, or their families, about offenders given custodial sentences of more than 12 months of more.Victims and families are kept informed about the offender's sentence, progress in prison, how decisions are made about release from prison, safeguards available after the offender is released and help from schemes such as Victim Support. They are offered face to face appointments with unit staff, where they can express views, raise concerns and make sure their wishes are known.
Concerns about an offender can be passed onto prison authorities and taken into account when release is being considered. When an offender is released on licence from prison, this can include conditions to keep away from the victim and their home. Failure to comply can lead to their licence being revoked.
The probation service also works with offenders to make them understand the impact their crimes have had, and may continue to have, on their victims.