NCJ Number
210885
Journal
Justice Actualites Report Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Dated: Summer 2005 Pages: 24-27
Date Published
2005
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the current state of victims’ rights in Canada and discusses how the Canadian criminal justice system can enhance services for victims.
Abstract
Historically, victims in Canada have had narrow rights within the criminal justice system, serving only as witnesses within Canadian criminal law. The Government of Canada has moved to incorporate more victim rights and services into the criminal justice system, such as allowing victims to present impact statements during the sentencing phase. The author contends that these small improvements, while welcomed, have not been nearly extensive enough to champion victims’ rights. Only 59 percent of victims in Canada reported their victimization to police in 1999, indicating their overall dissatisfaction with the system. Research has demonstrated that victims’ perceptions of fairness and their satisfaction with the criminal justice system are significantly impacted by the quality of interaction victims have with criminal justice authorities. The article describes a number of informal ways for authorities to include victims in the criminal justice process, thus bolstering victim satisfaction and confidence in the system. Simply explaining the criminal justice process to victims and listening to victims will go a long way toward increasing victim satisfaction in Canada. References