Rights for Victims of Crime: Rebalancing Justice

by Irvin Waller

Overview

When the victims of injustice lose faith in their justice system, the crime they've endured cuts only deeper, adding insult to injury. The time has come to face the truth that most victims of crime will not have their needs met and often won't experience our systems of justice as just. This short book makes its readers experts in advocating rights for victims of crime. It empowers taxpayers, voters and (potential) victims of crime to make the case to rebalance justice and support victims. Written for the millions of victims of crime and their friends and families, it helps to transform an antiquated system of criminal and civil justice into a modern system that is just and fair, shifting from neglect to respect and support.

While some laws in the USA and elsewhere do support victims by providing assistance, compensation, and protection from the accused, this book also sheds a harsh light upon their inadequate implementation. Police services must catch crooks but make victims their client. Courts must balance rights for defendants and victims. Services for women, children and elderly victims must be adequately funded. Restitution from offenders must be ordered and collected, not overlooked. Fair compensation from the state must change from a secret to a given. The prevention of victimization must be the budget priority not mass incarceration. Despite the speeches and the United Nations norms, governments still leave most victims of crime without basic information, support, and assistance, let alone respect and remedies in courts. If you are not yet one of those victims of crime, social responsibility requires you to ensure that your country's systems of justice are fair to those who are and for them, this book provides an answer.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442207059
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	12/16/2010
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Irvin Waller is a pioneer of the victim rights movement in the USA and a leader internationally. He is a Professor at the University of Ottawa and Vice-President of the International Organization for Victim Assistance. He was elected to the board of the National Organization for Victim Assistance in 1979 and has served since on numerous occasions on international organizations on victim assistance. He is a popular speaker and has won recognition across the world for making a difference to victim rights and prevention of victimization (the ultimate right). His recent book Less Law, More Order: The Truth about Reducing Crime (available in 5 languages) is making legislators re-think crime policy to prevent violence.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Reinvigorating the Victims' Rights Movement
Chapter 1 Forgotten But Still Here: What About Victims of Crime?
Chapter 2 Inalienable Rights for Victims: Europe and North America Proclaim, Japan Delivers
Chapter 3 First in Aid: Victims at the Zenith of Law Enforcement
Chapter 4 Caring for Victims: Support, Mental Health, and Assistance
Chapter 5 Making Good the Loss: Reparation from Offender, State and Civil Suits
Chapter 6 Staking Claims: Victims Represented and Heard
Chapter 7 Stopping Crime: Victimization Prevention as Return on Investment
Chapter 8 The Action Plan: Investment to Rebalance Justice for Victims
Appendix I: Draft Model Law to Rebalance Justice by Implementing Effectively Rights for Victims of Crime

Editorial Reviews

I've often been asked if there is a "good victimology textbook" for advocates, justice professionals and students, and now there is! My great colleague and good friend Dr. Irvin Waller, President of the International Organization of Victim Assistance, has just published Rights for Victims of Crimes. This excellent book addresses our field's history, victims' rights, services and support, and prevention, and includes an "action plan" for the future. You can tell how excited I am about this book, and saying it's a must read is an understatement.

Anne Seymour

Clear, instructive and inspiring - with this short book, Waller provides hope for victims of crime. He has combined his personal commitment and academic skills to make an empowering case for stronger services, reparation and rights for victims of crime - not just in the USA. Read it and let´s get our elected representatives to rebalance justice in Canada too.

Heidi Illingworth

Waller exposes the tough rhetoric that has driven responses to victims' needs, and encourages an evidence-based approach. Clearly and concisely, he challenges victim advocates to act in interests of victims. As well as making the case for, he provides a framework to guide, an ambitious, but necessary, programme of victim-centred, criminal-justice reform.

Michael O'Connell

This book makes the case compellingly to rebalance justice for victims of crime. Professor Waller is an icon of international advocacy for victim rights. He uses his knowledge of evidence and international best practice to explain what is needed to bridge the gap between current achievements and international standards. He provides a road map for legislative action and investment that is affordable for any government. He is tough on what must be done but makes it a must and easy read for taxpayers, policy makers and indeed for all.

Marlene Young

I applaud this new book. Rights for Victims of Crime makes the case for much greater investments to rebalance justice. It uses the latest in scientific research, best practice across the world, and international human rights norms. Waller has done it again. Though many proposals focus on the USA, there are lessons for every continent. Its pithy style and practical proposals for legislators make it easy to understand. This unique book is essential reading for policy makers, justice professionals and advocates for victims. It is a great achievement.

Marc Groenhuijsen

This work initially appears to be a useful handbook contributing to the rapidly growing literature in the academic study of victimology. The descriptions of the eight core needs of crime victims and their six interests unmet by the criminal justice system are helpful for lay readers as well as professionals. Also, the chapter on focusing on research-based prevention strategies rather than relying primarily on crime control measures such as incarceration is insightful....Waller (Univ. of Ottawa, Canada) rightfully describes the sensationalism that often hinders meeting the needs of victims. Summing Up: Recommended.

Choice Reviews

Rights for Victims of Crime: Rebalancing Justice focuses on the next steps forward for victims: comprehensive laws, permanent funding, and rights. I encourage anyone who has been a victim of crime in any sense of the word … to read and embrace this book. It is a work that people must hold up to their legislators to demand that victims' issues be urgently addressed through legislation that will change our national agendas. Only then will we see a proper balance of justice in our society.

Richard Barajas

This work initially appears to be a useful handbook contributing to the rapidly growing literature in the academic study of victimology. The descriptions of the eight core needs of crime victims and their six interests unmet by the criminal justice system are helpful for lay readers as well as professionals. Also, the chapter on focusing on research-based prevention strategies rather than relying primarily on crime control measures such as incarceration is insightful....Waller (Univ. of Ottawa, Canada) rightfully describes the sensationalism that often hinders meeting the needs of victims. Summing Up: Recommended.

Choice

This work initially appears to be a useful handbook contributing to the rapidly growing literature in the academic study of victimology. The descriptions of the eight core needs of crime victims and their six interests unmet by the criminal justice system are helpful for lay readers as well as professionals. Also, the chapter on focusing on research-based prevention strategies rather than relying primarily on crime control measures such as incarceration is insightful....Waller (Univ. of Ottawa, Canada) rightfully describes the sensationalism that often hinders meeting the needs of victims. Summing Up: Recommended.

CHOICE

Waller, a victims' rights expert and former appellate court judge, makes the case that the criminal justice system focuses on perpetrators of crime while neglecting victims. Armed with statistics and studies, he reviews the state of U.S./international victim-support legislation and practice, and outlines eight inalienable rights victims should be entitled to and for which victims' rights organizations must lobby. Waller's action plan aims to take advocates from recognizing the problem to implementing solutions, including enacting legislation, acquiring appropriate levels of funding, and establishing a network of ombudspersons to support victims. VERDICT Written for crime victims, their families, and advocates, this book provides tools for changing a flawed system. Complete with model legislation, an extensive bibliography, and analysis of positive victim-support initiatives in other countries, this belongs in most criminal justice collections.—Joan Pedzich, Harris Beach PLLC, Rochester, NY

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