Victims of Crime Office

The core mandate of the Victims of Crime Office is to support the development of competent, caring and efficient services to victims of crime, by state agencies and non-governmental organisations throughout the country.

Among its key activities are:

• Using the Victims Charter to achieve improved standards of treatment of victims by relevant State and voluntary sector organizations.
• Promoting awareness concerning the needs of victims of crime and the services available to them.
• Advising the Minister for Justice and Equality on victims issues in Ireland and on international developments pertinent to victims.
• Working in co-operation with COSC, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, the Criminal Law Refom Division and other relevant sections of the Department of Justice and Equality to ensure a co-ordinated policy response to issues in relation to victims of crime by the Department.

The Victims of Crime Office was established as an executive office by Mr. Dermot Ahern, T.D., Minister for Justice and Equality in September 2008 as part of his  Justice for Victims Initiative (PDF - 24KB).

The Director of the Victims of Crime Office is an ex-officio member of the independent Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime; the Office provides the secretariat to the Commission.  The Commission funds voluntary sector organizations to provide support to victims of crime.