A report by a committee of MPs said that victims of violent crimes were put off claiming compensation by complex forms and too much bureaucracy.
Source: Compensating Victims of Violent Crime, Fifty fourth Report (Session 2007-08), HC 251, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Committee press release | BBC report
Date: 2008-Nov
A study found that a pilot scheme giving families of murder victims a chance to tell the court how the death had affected them had proven to be a success. Families welcomed it as an opportunity to have their voice heard in court, and felt a sense of positive and active involvement in the trial. Families reported the process of preparing and delivering the statement to be therapeutic.
Source: Anna Sweeting et al., Evaluation of the Victims' Advocate Scheme Pilots, Research Report 17/08, Ministry of Justice (020 7210 8500)
Links: Report | MOJ press release
Date: 2008-Oct
A new book examined the nature of criminal victimization, and victims' experiences of the criminal justice system.
Source: Pamela Davies and Peter Francis (eds.), Victims in the Criminal Justice System, Polity Press (01243 843291)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Jul
An article examined the 'construction' of the victim and the victim's role within the trial process in England and Wales. It looked at arguments which claimed that the role of the victim was to inject emotionality into the conflicts leading up to and culminating in the criminal trial.
Source: Paul Rock, 'The treatment of victims in England and Wales', Policing, Volume 2 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Jun
A new book said that the idea of victims' rights was inherently elusive, and that there was considerable ambiguity as to the origin and substance of such rights.
Source: Jonathan Doak, Victims' Rights, Human Rights and Criminal Justice: Reconceiving the role of third parties, Hart Publishing (01865 517530)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-May