Victims' rights to compensation during criminal proceedings
Under both the ECtHR and the Charter, victims should have the right to seek and obtain compensation within a reasonable time limit. According to FRA evidence, the implementation of these requirements differs across EU Member States. The table provides an overview of victims’ rights concerning compensation during criminal proceedings.
|
Right to ask for compensation during criminal proceedings - view map |
State pays compen-sation |
Prosecutor may suggest or initiate mediation between offender and victim | Compen-sation paid by offender taken as mitigating factor in sentencing | Time limit exists within which claims for compen-sation must be made | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| BE | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| BG | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| CY | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| CZ | ✔ | ✔ | (✔) | ✔ | ✔ |
| DE | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| DK | ✔ | (✔) | ✔ | ||
| EE | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| EL | ✔ | (✔) | ✔ | ||
| ES | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| FI | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| FR | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| HR | ✔ | (✔) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| HU | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| IE | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| IT | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| LT | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| LU | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| LV | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| MT | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| NL | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| PL | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| PT | ✔ | (✔) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| RO | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| SE | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| SI | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| SK | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| UK | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Total | 22 | 25 | 17 | 21 | 28 |
Note: A tick in brackets shows that a Member State only partly covers the indicated aspect, or it is provided for in practice. The absence of a tick signifies that the aspect is not provided for; for example there is no right for victims to ask for compensation during criminal proceedings. All Member States provide for the right for victims to ask for compensation in civil proceedings.
Right of victims to ask for compensation during criminal proceedings provided for
Source: FRA, 2014
| Right to ask for compensation provided for | |
| Right to ask for compensation not provided for |