NCJ Number
107568
Date Published
1987
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This paper proposes services, civil action, and legislation to mitigate the harm done to victims through the crime and subsequent criminal justice processing.
Abstract
Victoria, Australia, has an independent, volunteer agency that provides moral support and tangible assistance to victims in the course of case processing; other victim services are provided to defuse the trauma caused by the victimization. In North America, victim civil lawsuits against offenders are increasing. The benefits of such action include a therapeutic regaining of control, making offenders accountable to victims, deterring a repetition of the crime, and compensation of victims monetarily. Australian jurisdictions should enact legislation that authorizes the government's confiscation of a crime's profits as well as the perpetrator's assets, which may be used to compensate victims. Also legislation should mandate the use of victim impact statements at sentencing. Victims would be greatly helped by a policy that permits the use of photographs of stolen property as evidence to facilitate the prompt return of victims' property obtained by the police. A bill of rights for victims similar to that enacted in South Australia should be adopted in other Australian jurisdictions. Such a bill of rights delineates standards for the criminal justice system to follow in ensuring that victims are properly informed, properly included, and properly served by the criminal justice system. 4 references.