❓ Ms Walker questions the Attorney General about difficulties secondary homicide victims face obtaining court transcripts, particularly in high-profile cases. The Attorney General clarifies the DPP's policy, which allows viewing but not necessarily copying transcripts, and denies giving specific instructions on the matter.
AnsweredQoN 456Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Will the Attorney General advise why secondary victims of homicide are experiencing difficulty in obtaining a copy of court transcripts of proceedings from the Supreme and District Courts from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, particularly in high profile trials?
(2) Will the Attorney General advise if he has had any discussions with, or given any instructions to, the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the giving of such transcripts, particularly where the matter is or is likely to become a high profile case?
(2) Will the Attorney General advise if he has had any discussions with, or given any instructions to, the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the giving of such transcripts, particularly where the matter is or is likely to become a high profile case?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 October 2005
Response time
19 days
1. 1. The longstanding policy of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) allows victims on request to view transcripts for the purposes of any criminal injuries application, civil litigation or counselling/rehabilitation upon the provision of a written undertaking by each person inspecting the transcript that it will only be used for the above purposes or if a victim provides written approval for a doctor/counsellor to inspect. The DPP encourages victims to review the transcript in conjunction with a psychologist or support person. It is, therefore, possible to manage and ensure that a victim has appropriate support if the transcript is available to them for the purpose of reading it. If the transcript is provided to the victim it takes away the ability to control their reading of it and the provision of appropriate support. On request a victim will be provided with a copy of the transcript of their evidence and the transcript of the sentencing proceedings at no cost. The sentencing proceedings mean the Judge's comments, which usually include statement of the facts. If in a particular case, the Judge has not recited the facts, the State's statement of facts can be provided to enable the victim to understand the context in which the comments are made. 2. No discussions have been had with, nor directions given to the DPP with regard to the provision of transcripts.
The DPP encourages victims to review the transcript in conjunction with a psychologist or support person. It is, therefore, possible to manage and ensure that a victim has appropriate support if the transcript is available to them for the purpose of reading it. If the transcript is provided to the victim it takes away the ability to control their reading of it and the provision of appropriate support. On request a victim will be provided with a copy of the transcript of their evidence and the transcript of the sentencing proceedings at no cost. The sentencing proceedings mean the Judge's comments, which usually include statement of the facts. If in a particular case, the Judge has not recited the facts, the State's statement of facts can be provided to enable the victim to understand the context in which the comments are made. 2. No discussions have been had with, nor directions given to the DPP with regard to the provision of transcripts.
If the transcript is provided to the victim it takes away the ability to control their reading of it and the provision of appropriate support. On request a victim will be provided with a copy of the transcript of their evidence and the transcript of the sentencing proceedings at no cost. The sentencing proceedings mean the Judge's comments, which usually include statement of the facts. If in a particular case, the Judge has not recited the facts, the State's statement of facts can be provided to enable the victim to understand the context in which the comments are made. 2. No discussions have been had with, nor directions given to the DPP with regard to the provision of transcripts.
On request a victim will be provided with a copy of the transcript of their evidence and the transcript of the sentencing proceedings at no cost. The sentencing proceedings mean the Judge's comments, which usually include statement of the facts. If in a particular case, the Judge has not recited the facts, the State's statement of facts can be provided to enable the victim to understand the context in which the comments are made. 2. No discussions have been had with, nor directions given to the DPP with regard to the provision of transcripts.
The sentencing proceedings mean the Judge's comments, which usually include statement of the facts. If in a particular case, the Judge has not recited the facts, the State's statement of facts can be provided to enable the victim to understand the context in which the comments are made. 2. No discussions have been had with, nor directions given to the DPP with regard to the provision of transcripts.
2. No discussions have been had with, nor directions given to the DPP with regard to the provision of transcripts.
The DPP encourages victims to review the transcript in conjunction with a psychologist or support person. It is, therefore, possible to manage and ensure that a victim has appropriate support if the transcript is available to them for the purpose of reading it. If the transcript is provided to the victim it takes away the ability to control their reading of it and the provision of appropriate support. On request a victim will be provided with a copy of the transcript of their evidence and the transcript of the sentencing proceedings at no cost. The sentencing proceedings mean the Judge's comments, which usually include statement of the facts. If in a particular case, the Judge has not recited the facts, the State's statement of facts can be provided to enable the victim to understand the context in which the comments are made. 2. No discussions have been had with, nor directions given to the DPP with regard to the provision of transcripts.
If the transcript is provided to the victim it takes away the ability to control their reading of it and the provision of appropriate support. On request a victim will be provided with a copy of the transcript of their evidence and the transcript of the sentencing proceedings at no cost. The sentencing proceedings mean the Judge's comments, which usually include statement of the facts. If in a particular case, the Judge has not recited the facts, the State's statement of facts can be provided to enable the victim to understand the context in which the comments are made. 2. No discussions have been had with, nor directions given to the DPP with regard to the provision of transcripts.
On request a victim will be provided with a copy of the transcript of their evidence and the transcript of the sentencing proceedings at no cost. The sentencing proceedings mean the Judge's comments, which usually include statement of the facts. If in a particular case, the Judge has not recited the facts, the State's statement of facts can be provided to enable the victim to understand the context in which the comments are made. 2. No discussions have been had with, nor directions given to the DPP with regard to the provision of transcripts.
The sentencing proceedings mean the Judge's comments, which usually include statement of the facts. If in a particular case, the Judge has not recited the facts, the State's statement of facts can be provided to enable the victim to understand the context in which the comments are made. 2. No discussions have been had with, nor directions given to the DPP with regard to the provision of transcripts.
2. No discussions have been had with, nor directions given to the DPP with regard to the provision of transcripts.
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