Victims in the criminal justice process
The responses of the criminal justice system to victimisation and in particular the operation of the criminal trial retain an enormously symbolic position in the public’s consciousness around criminal victimisation (Kirchengast, Victims and the Criminal Trial. London: Palgrave, 2016). From a cultural perspective then the criminal justice process has enormous significance. The trial itself is the most publicised component of the criminal justice process, and we know the majority of people still base much of their opinion of the justice system on knowledge obtained though media portrayals of it: both fictional and non-fictional accounts (Dowler, Journal of Criminal Justice and Popular Culture, 10:109–126, 2003). This chapter will turn its attention to the criminal justice process itself, offering an evaluation of substantive changes made to that system since the coming to power of the 2010 coalition government. In so doing, the chapter will highlight the extent to which reforms made in the criminal justice process might reflect the cultural and political contexts outlined in Chaps. 1, 2 and 3.
Victims' Rights, Human Rights and Criminal Justice: Reconceiving the Role of Third Parties
1 The Evolution of Victims' Rights I. The Victim through History Shifting Ideologies: The Political State II. The Rebirth of the Victim Victims in Contemporary Criminal Justice Policy: The Realisation of Rights? III. The Normative Basis for Victims' Rights Defining 'Victims' Defining 'Rights' The International Perspective IV. Victims' Rights and the Adversarial Process 2 The Right to Protection I. Protection from Victimisation Positive Obligations: The Duty to Protect Life Ramifications for Domestic Practice II. Secondary Victimisation The Nature and Extent of the Problem International Standards Domestic Practice Discussion IV. Conclusions 3 The Right to Participation I. Prosecution and Pre-Trial Processes Influencing Prosecutorial Decisions Private Prosecutions Preparing for Trial II. The Trial Process Participation within the Adversarial Context III. Sentencing The International Perspective Domestic Practice IV. Conclusions 4 The Right to Justice I. International Standards International Human Rights Law Progressing the Concept II. The Right to a Remedy in the Domestic Legal Order Victims of Non-State Crime III. A Right to Truth? International Developments Truth in the Adversarial System The Trial The Verdict Summary IV. Conclusions 5 The Right To Reparation I. Reparation as an International Standard The Origins of Reparation in International Law Reparation in Human Rights Law Lessons from International Criminal Law Discussion II. Realising Reparation in the Criminal Justice System State Compensation Reparation from the Offender III. Rethinking Reparation IV. Conclusions 6 A Place For Victims' Rights? I. Victims' Rights and Adversarial Justice The Nature of Victims' Rights The Inherent Limits of Adversarial Justice Summary II. Alternative Approaches Restorative Justice The Inquisitorial Approach III. Looking to the Future Reforming the Adversarial Paradigm
A Detroit Model for Police-Social Work Cooperation
The Family Trouble Clinic is a cooperative program established between the police and a local family service agency to provide crisis service, outreach, and ongoing treatment to families who call the police because of domestic disorder. The clinic offers a working model that could be replicated in other communities.