Victims and Crime Evaluation
Omar Diaz
CJA354
March 17, 2015
Mr. Dale Jenereaux

Victims and Crime Evaluation
Victims of crimes often suffer from various aspects of the criminal acts that were committed against them.
The criminal justice system can also contribute to victimization against victims. Lipmann (2010) noted, victims also suffer post crime or secondary victimization. This includes but it not limited to loss of wages, medical expenses, property loss, disability and/or the need to relocate due to safety issues and/or inhabitable living quarters after the crime (Lippman, 2010). Over the year’s inauguration of victim’s rights and victim’s assistance, victims can often relive the horrible experiences that they went through by either having to testify in court or something as simple as nightmares. This is commonly known as pain and suffering.
In the adversarial criminal justice system, the prosecution develops a case against the defendant by usually working with the local district attorney’s office. The evidence presented in a case inevitably involves the victim through law enforcement investigations, the identification of the defendant, medical examinations and victim reports. Both the prosecution and the defense have certain obligations to the victim.
Each party within the criminal justice system can contribute to victimization. The defense has the responsibility to prove that their client was innocence and did not commit the crime. This can portray that the victim is making up stories and not tell the truth. The prosecution has a responsibility to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that all evidence points towards the defendant. During this process the victim may have to testify or sit in the court room and listen to everything that is being presented in court by both sides. The Judge has the responsibility to make sure that the defendant is receiving