NCJ Number
101169
Journal
Victimology Volume: 10 Issue: 1-4 Dated: (1985) Pages: 34-43
Date Published
1985
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Although a number of victim service organizations have existed for many years, victims' rights organizations specifically formed for the purpose of legal reform are a recent phenomenon.
Abstract
These groups have been relatively successful in their short history in creating a political climate favorable to passage of victim-oriented legislation. Scientific research on the victims' rights movement has been minimal, however. Little is known about the demographic characteristics of members of these organizations: Are most of the members actually victims of crime? Do the members represent a cross-section of America's victims or are the members predominantly of particular racial, gender or socioeconomic groups? In addition to these issues, we know little about the impact that the legislative change advocated by victims' rights groups will have on our criminal justice system. This essay suggests a series of research questions as an agenda for future research. (Author abstract)