NCJ Number
213808
Date Published
October 2006
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This video presents the key findings of a series of roundtable discussions with crime victims that focused on their experiences with the criminal justice system.
Abstract
Three main themes emerged from the roundtable discussions: (1) current State laws governing victims’ rights are perceived as ineffectual; (2) a Federal victims’ rights amendment is needed to guarantee uniform rights for crime victims; and (3) there is a need for a constitutional amendment for crime victims. In response, the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) has taken two main actions: (1) a National Crime Victims Law Institute has been established that has developed and implemented a multi-year demonstration project to improve the capacity of attorneys to represent crime victims in the enforcement of their rights; and (2) President Bush signed into law the Crime Victims’ Rights Act and authorized $155 million in Federal funding over 5 years for victim assistance programs at both the Federal and State levels. The roundtable discussions were held in 9 States with over 300 crime victim participants who shared their experiences with the criminal justice system. OVC Director John Gillis convened the roundtables and asked participants how the OVC could best help them at the grassroots level. Individual participants noted that while progress has been made in terms of victims’ rights, there are still gaps in the system and victims’ rights are not respected in many cases. Moreover, when victims’ rights are trampled, there are no legal mechanisms for recourse. Other participants discussed the revictimization they experienced in the courtroom during cross-examinations by attorneys and offenders. This videocassette is part of the Voices of Victims Series.