- I was a victim of crime: consequences and reactions
- The rights of victims of crime
- Right to information
- Right to receive acknowledgement of the complaint
- Right to translation
- Right to victim support services
- Right to be heard
- Rights in the event of a decision not to charge the defendant
- Right to mediation
- Right to legal information and protection
- Right to reimbursement of expenses
- Right to the return of property
- Right to compensation
- Right to protection
- Right to privacy
- Rights of victims resident in another EU member state
- Criminal proceedings
- Who’s who in criminal proceedings
- Victim (Injured Party)
- Judge
- Prosecutor
- Pre-trial investingation officer
- Court secretary
- Court volunteer
- Victim’s lawyer
- Legal representative of an injured party (victim)
- Accompanying person of an injured party (victim)
- Victim support worker
- Suspect and defendant
- Defense lawyer
- Witness
- Experts and specialists
- Interpreter
- Psychologist
- Representative of state institution on protection of children rights
- Civil claimant and civil defendant
Right to the return of property
Some property belonging to the victim may have to be taken away for the investigation of the crime. For example, the victim’s car, or clothes, may contain important evidence for the investigation.
It is a general rule laid by laws that all the things taken from you during pre-trial investigation or trial shall be returned only after the sentence passed becomes valid (i.e. when there are no appeals lodged or the appeal procedure has ended).
However, you have a right to submit a written request to return your property during the pre-trial procedure already if the things taken have been fully examined by officials leading the case. In case your property is returned to you before the end of criminal procedure you shall have to sign a commitment to safeguard the property (i.e. not to sell it, not to throw it away) till the case is closed.