The Structure & a Summary of the Act Part Three – Victims’ Rights Section 54: Right to information: offender imprisoned
146.Section 16 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (the Criminal Justice Act) as amended by the Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014, provides that victims of any offence can receive information mainly related to the circumstances in which a prisoner leaves prison. This may be information about: the first time a prisoner is entitled to be considered for temporary release, an escape, transfer to a prison outwith Scotland, release on licence or parole, death of the prisoner or the end of the custodial sentence.
147.The Act amends the Criminal Justice Act to provide for the disclosure of information about mentally disordered offenders (restricted patients) to their victims or their relatives, in certain circumstances. A mentally disordered offender is the term used to describe a person charged with an offence who, upon conviction or acquittal has either been given a mental health disposal by a court authorising compulsory measures of treatment in hospital without limit of time rather than being sentenced to imprisonment, or a prisoner who has been found to be suffering from a mental disorder whilst in prison and who is thereafter transferred into the mental health system.