Criminal Justice System



Criminal Justice System

Cambell, R., Wasco, S.M., Ahrens, C.E., Sefl, T., Barnes, H.E. (2001), "Preventing the 'second rape': rape survivors' experiences with community service providers", Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol. 16 pp.1239-59.

This article talks about the provision of services for crime victims is an integral component of the criminal justice system and is woven throughout networks of community-based providers. Victim services derive from multiple disciplines, including, although not limited to criminal justice, law, social work, psychology, and public health. Included in these services are a range of government, nonprofit, and private stakeholders who work in diverse settings. The training of victim service providers has evolved over time to meet the ever-changing manifestations of victimization.

Frazier, P.A., Haney, B. (1996), "Sexual assault in the legal system: Police, prosecutor, and victim perspectives", Law and Human Behavior, Vol. 20 pp.607-28.

This entry gives an overview of services provided by victim assistance programs, provides the need for and historical evolvement of victim assistance programs, and ends with a brief comment about the importance of victim assistance programs. While victims of crimes, especially violent crimes, still experience feelings of frustration and powerlessness in the criminal justice process, victim assistance programs have made the experience of navigating the criminal justice system, and especially court proceedings, less daunting and mysterious than they were in the past.

Stephens, B.J., Sinden, P.G. (2000), "Victims' voices: domestic assault victims' perceptions of police demeanor", Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol. 15 pp.534-47.

Victim assistance programs were instituted to provide a better experience for crime victims and witnesses than they had traditionally experienced in the criminal justice system. Although independent victim assistance programs exist, most victim assistance programs are government organizations run through the local or state district attorney's office. In addition, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has its own Office for Victim Assistance, which helps victims of federal crimes.

Sims, B., Yost, B., Abbott, C. (2006), "The efficacy of victim services programs: alleviating the psychological suffering of crime victims?", Criminal Justice Policy Review, Vol. 4 pp.387-406.

This article talks about victim support groups provide victims of crime with various forms of emotional, physical, and practical aid. With the rise of the victims' rights movement, society has become more aware of the devastation that occurs to the victim of a crime and the intervention that must occur to repair and reintegrate the victim's sense of being. Victim support groups are made available in the United States through funds and support from the community, the National Center for Victims of Crime, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Office for Victims of Crime. Internationally, victim support groups are provided by the community as well as the government.

Sims, B., Yost, B., Abbott, C. (2005), "Use and nonuse of victim services programs: implications from a statewide survey of crime victims", Criminology and Public Policy, Vol. 2 pp.361-83.

According to this article, the emergence of victims' rights as an important issue internationally made the materialization of victim-service programs imminent in many regions of the world. During the last 3 to 4 decades, ...