A neglected aspect of our criminal justice system has been the impact of crime on victims. But during the last decade much progress has been made both overseas and within Australia.
In 1985 the General Assembly of the United Nations formally approved a Declaration concerning fair treatment and assistance for victims of crime and victims of abuse of power. However, the role of the victim in the criminal trial and sentencing process has provoked controversy in a number of quarters.
This Trends and Issues was prepared by a recent Visiting Scholar to the Institute. Dr Erez describes the Victim Impact Statement (VIS) - a significant initiative which embraces concerns about the rights of victims in a manner consistent with existing legal principles. The VIS is an organised and structured method of ensuring that the court is aware of important information concerning the effect of the crime on the victim. It has been adopted in South Australia and in many jurisdictions in the USA and Canada. The VIS is a simple way of integrating victims into the criminal justice process. It should be considered for adoption by all Australian jurisdictions.