NCJ Number
58515
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE ARGUMENT THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM SHOULD BE REORIENTED TO CONSIDER THE CRIME VICTIM'S NEEDS ABOVE THOSE OF THE CRIMINAL IS PRESENTED; RECOMMENDATIONS SUPPORTING THIS VIEWPOINT ARE INCLUDED.
Abstract
SOCIETY SPENDS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR CARING FOR CONVICTED CRIMINALS BUT DOES ALMOST NOTHING TO ALLEVIATE THE LOSSES OF THOSE THEY INJURE. STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION, INCLUDING DIRECT COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS AND FREE MEDICAL CARE FOR ALL CRIME RELATED INJURIES. IN ADDITION, THERE SHOULD BE FUNDS FOR THE SPOUSE AND CHILDREN OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN MURDERED; FUNERAL COSTS SHOULD BE REIMBURSED AS WELL. AT PRESENT, NEW YORK IS ONE OF 24 STATES THAT OFFERS SOME FORM OF CRIME VICTIM COMPENSATION. HOWEVER, NEW YORK'S PROGRAM, LIKE MOST SUCH PLANS, IS UNDERFUNDED, UNDERSTAFFED, AND PRACTICALLY UNKNOWN. PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING SHOULD ALSO BE AVAILABLE. A NEW NETWORK OF VICTIM RELATED SERVICES WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE ESTABLISHED. INSTEAD, EXISTING COUNSELING SERVICES COULD BE RESTRUCTURED, WITH PSYCHIATRISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND VOLUNTEERS TRAINED IN THE DYNAMICS OF CRIME RELATED TRAUMA. IN ADDITION, ALL CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES SHOULD BE INSURED AGAINST FINANCIAL LOSSES DUE TO PROPERTY CRIME. FEDERAL CRIME INSURANCE PROGRAMS SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. THE SOCIAL STIGMA OF BEING A VICTIM OF CRIME MUST BE ERASED AND THE BLAME PLACED WHERE IT BELONGS, ON THE CRIMINAL. OMBUDSMEN FOR CRIME VICTIMS SHOULD BE APPOINTED AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS. FREE LEGAL COUNSEL TO ALL CRIME VICTIMS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE, AND THERE SHOULD BE A CRIME VICTIM ADVOCATE WITHIN EACH POLICE DEPARTMENT TO OVERSEE VICTIM RELATED ACTIVITIES. ALSO, THE PRISON SYSTEM MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE VICTIM WHEN THE PRISONER IS BEING CONSIDERED FOR PAROLE OR WORK RELEASE. SIMILARLY, BAIL STATUTES SHOULD BE REVISED SO THAT THE VICTIM'S PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE IS CONSIDERED WHEN DETERMINING PRETRIAL RELEASE OF THE ACCUSED. (LWM)