NCJ Number
100928
Editor(s)
J Zambrowsky,
D T Davies
Date Published
1985
Length
137 pages
Annotation
Presentations from Canada's first national seminar on Victims' Rights and the Judicial Process (1985) focus on victims rights and services in the areas of pretrial, trial, sentencing, and restitution and compensation proceedings.
Abstract
Conference participants (victim advocates and legal professionals) reached consensus on victims' rights to be accommodated in the criminal justice system. They agreed on the importance of the system's recognizing and protecting victims' rights. Participants generally advocated the courteous treatment of victims by police and court officers, keeping victims fully informed at every stage of case processing, the provision of proper facilities for victims waiting to testify, instruction to victims on court processes, consultation between prosecutors and victims on plea negotiations, and the minimization of case delays. Seminar participants also supported procedures to ensure appropriate victim compensation or restitution and the submission of victim impact statements prior to sentencing. Conferees disagreed on means for implementing various victim services. The editors of this report recommend that a national consultation be held to address the implementation of measures and programs to ensure victim participation and victim services throughout case processing. The appendix contains findings and an analysis of victims' rights questionnaires administered to seminar participants and presenters.