NCJ Number
101226
Journal
Justice System Journal Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Dated: (Winter 1985) Pages: 325-338
Date Published
1985
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This article will outline the efforts made to develop a program to improve South Dakota's criminal justice system's response to the plight of victims and witnesses.
Abstract
South Dakota has taken a unique approach in its concern for victims. Rather than reacting to outside pressure, we have developed a process to examine our justice system as a whole from the inside. The process, established by the Chief Justice of South Dakota, has enabled us to evaluate the needs of victims creatively and, because we, as members of his committee, are all involved with the system, we can more effectively change it from within. It is my hope that others might find our process useful in developing similar approaches in other areas for the benefit of victims, witnesses, and the justice system. (Publisher abstract)