NCJ Number
180797
Editor(s)
Jan J. M. van Dijk,
Ron G. H. van Kaam,
JoAnne Wemmers
Date Published
1999
Length
330 pages
Annotation
Papers presented at the Ninth International Symposium of the World Society of Victimology (Amsterdam, August 25-29, 1997) address crime victim surveys, victims' bill of rights and mediation, victim assistance and psychotraumatic stress, and the abuse of power and human rights abuses.
Abstract
Five papers address the use and findings of crime victim surveys. Topics covered include criminal victimization and victim empowerment in international perspective, influences on fear of crime victimization in America and Japan, and key findings from the New Zealand Women's Safety Survey. Six papers are presented under the topics of victims' bill of rights and mediation. One paper calls for more comprehensive implementation theory for instituting victims' rights in the criminal justice system. Another focuses on the possibilities and pitfalls of the paradigm of restorative justice. Also discussed in this section are new tendencies of victim policy in eastern Europe, who is responsible for implementing victims' rights, and victims of crime in various jurisdictions and the influence of local realities. A symposium report on victims' bill of rights and mediation is presented as well. Five papers pertain to victim assistance and psychotraumatic stress. In addition to assessing the effectiveness of victim assistance in addressing the psychological effects of victimization, these papers consider repeat victimization and why victims under the control of offenders do not attempt to escape. The five papers presented under the topic of abuse of power and human rights abuses cover victims of war crimes, victims' procedural rights at trial, and victimology and the abuse of power. References, notes, and tables accompany the papers. For some of the papers, see NCJ-180798-805.