NCJ Number
209404
Editor(s)
Simon Cornell
Date Published
July 2004
Length
165 pages
Annotation
This 2003 Annual report of the Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI) presents a series of papers on the protection and rights of victims of crime.
Abstract
The annual report begins with a description of the main activities of UNAFEI during 2003 and outlines the work program for 2004. Training is the main priority of UNAFEI’s work and in 2003 the main themes and topics of training focused on the problems generated by rapid socio-economic change, such as transnational organized crime, corruption, computer crime, and the re-integration of prisoners into society. The training seminars and courses conducted by UNAFEI during 2003 are described, as are the other activities undertaken in 2003, such as overseas missions and alumni activities. Next, a series of 10 papers focus on the place of victims of crime within criminal justice systems around the world, most notably in Japan, Australia, Germany, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Several of the papers discuss the emergence of restorative justice practices, focusing on how they are making a difference for both victims of crime and offenders. Restorative justice processes are varied and have been credited with stimulating community participation in criminal justice. Both victims and offenders who have participated in restorative programs have expressed satisfaction and victims have come away with a sense of empowerment. Offenders in these processes are enabled to take responsibility for the harms they caused and are given the opportunity to make amends; restorative justice processes have been credited with ceasing the seemingly endless circle of re-offending behavior. Other papers in this report discuss victim support services in the United Kingdom and victim protections and rights in Germany and Thailand. Footnotes, references, appendixes