Recent Developments in the Criminal Policy on Victims in The Netherlands (From Changing Victim Policy: The United Nations Victim Declaration and Recent Developments in Europe: Report on Expert Group Meeting, 1988, Helsinki, P 68-79, 1989 -- See NCJ 122412)

• NCJ Number: 122415
• Author(s): J J M van Dijk
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 12 pages
• Sale Source: United Nations European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control (HEUNI)
• Publication Type: Survey (Cross-Cultural)
• Language: English
• Country: Finland

Annotation

In recent years several activities initiated by the government of The Netherlands have focused on improving services to crime victims, with emphasis on the services provided by the police and the prosecutors.

Abstract

The Vaillant Committee appointed in 1983 and reestablished in 1986 concluded that more should be done for victims within the existing legal framework. As a result, it drafted detailed guidelines for victim policies to be carried out by the police and prosecutors. To carry out these guidelines, each prosecutor's office established a victim policy coordinator. In addition, the National Organization for Victim Support received a grant from the Ministry of Justice in 1985 to hire about 30 coordinators for local victim support systems. Moreover, the Minister of Justice established the Terwee Committee in 1986 to consider victim compensation, especially as a penal sanction. This committee recommended the adoption of regulations that would blend components of the English and Scottish systems. Thus, The Netherlands has clearly defined the duties of police and prosecutors regarding victims. However, the victims themselves have not received many rights as a party to the trial. 5 references.