Geraldine Woods: working with victims during the covid-19 pandemic

My work as a member

As a team of four, we work with members of the public who have been a victim of crime and who have registered with our scheme. We try to understand and to acknowledge that no matter how similar the offence, the experience for each victim or family member of the victim, will be different. We may be dealing with their feelings of sorrow, loss, anger and trauma as a consequence of offences such as rape, assault, murder or burglary perpetrated against them. It is for us to assess each situation, listen and assist in the most suitable and helpful way. Often, we could be the first people they have encountered post sentence who offer them the opportunity to express these feelings. It takes time to build a relationship and in my experience, you can never be completely certain how our information will be received.

Victim information scheme

In Northern Ireland the statutory Victim Information Scheme is an ‘opt in’ scheme and this means victims need to register if they want to be kept informed. When a perpetrator receives a court sentence and where there is a victim, their contact details are referred to our Unit. We write to the individuals explaining the schemes and invite them to register. Once registered we keep in touch with victims at certain points to explain the details of the sentence, the progress of the offender and, in certain cases, get them involved when reports are requested. My job also involves liaison with victim representatives, PBNI colleagues who supervise offenders, NI Prison Service, social services and many others.

Announcement of pandemic

With the announcement of the Covid- 19 lock down working from home became the new ‘normal’. Our team responded very quickly by re-organising the system for sending out information, ensuring confidentiality and client protection. Overnight I moved from face to face client contact to liaising with victims and victim representatives by telephone only. Now, as a referral comes in, we make sure we contact the victim as soon as possible by phone. Initially I was concerned about ‘cold calling’ however, I have been very surprised at the response. Some may be more receptive to taking the call and more inclined to engage in conversation in the current lock down. Despite the subject matter, sometimes when there’s been no social contact for someone our call can be a welcome connection as well as a chance to impart information.

More information

The impact of a crime on an individual and their wider family can be debilitating. In my experience information can be empowering and, in most cases, victims are grateful to receive it. Currently an advantage of introducing the Victim Information Schemes via the telephone and registering an individual at that point, is that we can immediately explain our service which in each case is bespoke, along with the sentence details.However, sometimes the news we have to share brings further upset to families. People can often feel upset and angry and these discussions are much more challenging by telephone. Covid- 19 has removed the possibility of human face to face contact for us at a time when I know how vulnerable and fearful individuals must feel as they tell their story and relive their trauma.

Department of Justice

One of the most significant impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic was the announcement by the Department of Justice that some prisoners would be released early. Almost immediately, the Victim Information Unit telephone started ringing with enquiries from our service users anxious to find out if the perpetrator of their crime was eligible for early release. There was a need to provide information and reassurance and deal with the many questions that victims had. Working from home and rotas for social distancing in the office will probably be the new normal for the foreseeable future. Personally, I find some aspects of my work easier to do from home; however, I do miss the shared conversations with my colleagues. I need that social interaction from the workplace because in that often, quick exchange of conversation, we can inspire and support one another.

I think sometimes of how surreal this all feels and then I realise we managed difficult times before and we’ll do the same this time. In the words of Seamus Heaney, “If we winter this one out, we can summer anywhere.”