...Victims’ Rights and Vengeance Terence Goodman CJA/ 324 July 8, 2013 Keith Lima Victims’ Rights and Vengeance From the civil rights era of the 50’s and 60’s, I feel that victim’s rights have come a very long way. I know monetary compensation can never make up for a person civil rights being violated but that will help with any financial burden they may or potentially will have in the future. Programs like President Reagan’s National Victims’ Rights Week are good for spreading awareness to the situation while helping victims navigate the criminal justice system. A major contributor to victims’ rights can be credited to the success of the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA). I see this as a success because it helps gives victims a voice in which they can come together and enforce their rights so change can be made to better theirs and others circumstances. Not only is this program important for helping to fight for their rights but it also serve as a means of helping individuals get back on their feet. In my opinion, since “we the people” are the ones that write and enforce the laws, I think in some cases vengeance should be taken into consideration. Why not change a few laws to cater to the family of an individual that has fallen victim to a senseless crime. For example: is it fair that a person goes to jail for 20 years for taking an innocent persons life? No! There should be new laws set in place for the victim’s family with the assistance of law enforcement to enact...
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...Victims and Vengeance Ryan Cirilo CJA 324 March 25, 2013 University of Phoenix Victims and Vengeance Victim’s Rights In today’s justice system the victims have a lot of rights that they never had in the past and they are able to be heard. I never knew that victims had any rights when it came to the suspect’s trial. The only thing I was sure of was that the victims had the right to testify and have the court here their story. It is like the victim is part of the trial just as much as everyone else and has the exact same rights as well. I agree with victim’s rights because everyone should have the right to know what happens to the person that violated them and hope to see them get what they deserve. Giving the victims these types of rights might help certain ones cope with the situation that happened to them and it will help them get through it. It gives the victim power that they never had against the suspect. I do believe that the Crime Victims’ Rights Act of 2004 has been successful because it has given victims an opportunity to make a difference in the suspect’s case and to give them some power. The Act gave the victim’s rights such as to be present and public proceedings, to be heard at proceedings such as plea bargains, and to enforce their rights. I think one of the rights that stood out to me from the Act is the victims have the right to have their own attorney and seek to assert their rights to be present and participate in the criminal proceeding. The...
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...Victim Typologies Primary Victimization: One person targeted: - consists of a situation with personalized or individual form of victimization whereby an individual or group selects a specific person to target for victimization. A typical victim of this could be a hate crime where a specific person is picked out for victimization on the basis of their race or skin color. Domestic abuse case is also an example where the husband or boyfriend targets his wife or girlfriend. Domestic violence typically occurs within the household involving spouses or former spouses or some people in a current relationship. This is even possible among blood relatives. Regarding hate crime, this could be directed at a person or even property, the motivation stemming from the offender’s bias towards the victim. Secondary Victimization: Impersonal Target – involves an impersonal target being victimized. This could consist of a business or corporation victimizing an individual. An example of this could be a customer using their credit card in a department store only to find out that their personal information was sold out to a third party. Also, a person could use their social security number in applying for a loan only to find out that such information was sold to a third part and the customer is now being harassed to pay a loan that they may not have received to begin with. Secondary victimization involves an indirect act stemming from an organization to the victim. Tertiary Victimization: Public...
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...Victims Rights Cindy Brister Ethics in Criminal Justice/CJS211 Edward Hastings August 3, 2015 In America there is a law that is called victims rights. Within those laws gives the people whom are victims of crimes certain rights. A victim is someone whom was hurt, injured, harmed, or killed due to a crime, accident, or any other event or action. Victims rights is a law set in place by the government that allows the victim to be able to have information, protection, and a limited role in the criminal proceedings. While every state varies a little on the victims right they all are in place to protect a victim in a crime. Victim's right's is great law that is put in place to help victims deal with crimes that are committed against them. The victim did not asked to be violated and should be protected at all cost. They should have a voice and be heard. Victims rights consist of right to be treated with dignity, respect, and sensitivity. They have the right to be informed of what is going on with the criminal proceedings. They have the right to protection such as police escorts, witness protection programs, relocation, and restraining orders. Victims also has the right to apply for compensation. Such as medical or counseling expense, lost wages, funeral expenses. Victims has the right to restitution from an offender. Such as lost wages, property loss, insurance deductibles.They have the right to prompt return of their personal property. They have the right to a speedy trial. And they...
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...considered the study of victimization which includes connections between both victim and the offender as well as the interactions between the victim and our criminal justice system which can include the police, courts, and correction officials. It’s also important to know that victimology is not limited to the connection between the victim, offender, and the criminal justice system, but it can also involve connections between social movements and many forms of human rights violations (Stevens, 2003). Victimology was born in the 1940’s after two criminologist from Europe named Von Hentig and Mendelson, also known as the fathers of victimology began studying victims of crimes. Their theory was that the victim’s behavior as well as their attitude was the cause of the crime to be committed. During its birth, the focus of victimology was on how the victims were equally responsible for certain crimes with the offender (Carson, 2009). By the 1960’s the focus of victimology shifted towards the rights of victims due to movements such as the Civil Rights movements and the feminist movements. From the 1970’s to the 1990’s victimology turned towards ways to stop future crimes from happening, help victims of crimes to become organized and empowered, and to better understand the population of victims. Today, crime victims still remain the focus of victimology. However, victimology has drastically expanded to include victims in many areas such as terrorist attacks, hate crimes, discrimination, war...
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...Cemarcia Green Housatonic Community College DS099 Professor Audia Creator vs Victim It is not what happens to each of us that determines how much we enjoy life, but rather our reaction to what happens. Though we may have no choice in unexpected events that happen to us, we most certainly have a choice in how we interpret what happens, and in what we choose to do about it. We can always choose to be either a Victim or a Creator. This key choice makes all the difference in how much joy we experience in life. Each of us is faced with challenges every day of our lives. And with each challenge, we make choices in how we react. By choosing to become more conscious of how we react to challenges, we can shift our actions towards creating what we really want in our lives. Rather than following habitual, reactive patterns which cause us to behave like victims, we can recognize and transform old habits to create the life we really want. Yet to do this, we must first find the courage to look at some of the disempowering, often unconscious things which cause us to play the victim role, and then choose instead to empower the creator in ourselves. You are given many opportunities in life to choose to be a victim or to be a creator. When you choose to be a victim, the world is a cold and harsh place. "They" did things to you which caused all of your pain and suffering. "They" are wrong and bad, and life is rotten as long as "they" are around. "They" might be one or more individuals...
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...in recent years and how they appear to be more effective than previously used victim impact panels. The reason the circles work better is because all individuals involved can face each other. Circles historically have been used to listen to ideas and make decisions. The panels did not have the personal interaction that the circles have shown to have. The idea of restorative justice is that you can use dialogue and discussion in order to try to solve delinquency problems before going to court. Results are measured by how much preparing has been done rather than how much punishment has been inflicted. The idea of the courts is often to punish and victims and suspects never speak to each other face to face. In the victim impact panels both parties have a chance to speak their mind. Because children often have a narrow view of the world and are unable to put themselves in peoples shoes, putting a face and personality to a person they harmed is often effective to turn the bad behavior around. Dan talked about how the victim offender conferencing is voluntary on everyone's part and that more offenders say no than the victims. They are often too embarrassed. The idea is that the door is open at all times and anyone is free to leave, that way no one feels they are being held against their will. The most important aspect of the conference is safety. If safety cannot be insured than a VOC should not be conducted. Accountability for the juvenile offender means taking responsibility and...
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...Victims and Crime Evaluation Paper Criminal Law/CJA/354 An alarming amount of innocent people become victims of crime every year, and the victim’s rights are every bit as important as the offender’s rights. There are certain tendencies that appear within patterns of crime and victimization, such as adolescents are most likely to be victimized, men become crime victims more often than women, and African Americans experience more crime than other racial groups (Newmark, 2008). Victims of crime suffer from physical, emotional, psychological, and financial issues. Some of the issues victims of crime face are physical injury, fear for personal safety, medical expenses, counseling expenses, feelings of fear, grief, shame, and anger, and lost income. Victims of crime needing assistance may believe they are overlooked or even revictimized by the criminal justice system, a system that may appear to be more concerned with the criminal’s rights than with the needs and rights of the victim. This paper will address the role the prosecutor, defense attorney, criminal, and victim play within the criminal justice system and how victimization affects each. The Prosecutor The prosecutor plays a critical role in the criminal justice system and serves many functions throughout the criminal justice process. Some of these functions are as follows: * Investigating * Helping the police build a case against the person(s) * Bringing charges against a person(s) * Arranging...
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...Victims’ Rights and Vengeance My personal stance on the current state of victims’ right in America is that even though rules have been changed in different states to protect the victims’ right there are still some things that need to be improved to help their safety. More should be done to help improve the safety of victims’ and their families from harm. There are so many victims that are unable to voice their words on things they see because they are afraid of something happening to them or their family. I do believe that the 2004 Crime Victims’ Right Acts has been successful because if it was not for Victims’ Right Acts, the victim and family would suffer greatly and victimizing will continue. The right to be reasonably protected from the accused, the right to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any public court proceeding, or any parole proceeding, involving the crime or of any release or escape of the accused has helped victims since 2004 (Justice,2013). In my opinion it is not good to try to get revenge on someone because it can come back and hunt you or hurt you. When someone tries to get revenge back, that person is just as bad as the person who did harm first. Now, when it comes to children being harm by someone it is very hard not to react against the suspect with revenge because you want to see that person pay. Depending on your actions can cause the suspect to get acquitted or cause harm to the family. I do agree with the actions of Survivors Network of those...
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...Victims’ Rights and Vengeance Rudy Vasquez CJS/211 June-06-2016 Victims’ Rights and Vengeance In today’s justice system victims of crimes and family members who have been affected, have more rights than they have ever had in the past and they are able to let their concerns, pains, and emotions be heard. In 2002, a cousin around the same age of myself was shot multiple times on a busy street in central Fresno and a few short hours later, died in the hospital. At the time of the trial I was stationed in Japan and was not able to attend the court proceedings, because of my distance, my family asked me to write a letter to the judge. I was under the impression that it was just in case the judge was able to get around to it that he or she would. I wrote my emotional letter and eventually the case ended with the accused being sent to prison for a few years. In 2012 while I was deployed in Afghanistan, a horrible thing happened to a very young niece of mine. A family member was sent to jail, multiple families were torn apart, and months of court dates followed. I returned towards the end of the court proceedings, and the lawyer asked multiple family members to write letters of describing the emotional stresses that have occurred and how lives have been affected by this act of misplaced and horrible misuse of trust and if they would be able to read them in court in order to help with sentencing. Everyone let their emotions flow and sadness and grief took the...
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...Victims’ Rights and Vengeance Amanda Furniss CJS/211 August 11, 2015 Melissa Andrewjeski When it comes to Victims’ rights and vengeance, a lot has changed since victims’ rights first came about to the justice system. I believe that when it comes to a case, trial, and the decisions that are made, the victim has many rights. I do believe that the victim has the right to be kept up to date on any info concerning the suspect, any charges, any new trial dates, and any changes to the case. I also believe that the victims’ opinion on what the sentencing to the suspect is and should be important and considered when deciding the suspects sentencing. Not necessarily charging the offender with what the victim wants but taken into consideration. By the victims’ rights law allowing the victim to be present for the case proceedings, and plea bargains it gives the victim a voice in the case. The victims’ rights law allows the victim to voice their case to the court on the situation. It involves the Victim in the case now more than what the victim was back in the past. With all the changes that have been made to the Victims’ Rights Act, I can say I am happy with the changes. I feel as if the victims’ voice actually matters. The victim has the right to be heard just as much as anyone else. The 2004 Criminal Victims’ Rights Act opened more possibilities for the victim and I believe it has been more successful for the most part. I am on the fence though, with the part where...
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...“The Victims” Response 1) What are the main ideas in the poem? When I read “The Victims,” by Sharon Olds, the main ideas that came to my mind were vengeance, karma, and the effects of divorce on children and parents. The poem starts being written from a child’s perspective, and it ends with a grown up point of view. It seems that not only the child has suffered the father’s abuse, but the mother and siblings too. Throughout the poem, the children in that family are taught to hate their father while the mother takes everything away from him until he is reduce to be a beggar. The poem ends with the same person reflecting on who the real victims were in the story. 2) What about the structure/movements of the poem? The poem has two very well differentiated parts: the first part that is written in past tense, and the second part, which is written in present tense. The poem starts hating the father and being happy when the mother divorced him, and it ends feeling some kind of sympathy towards the father. The author accomplished this shift in the poem thanks to the descriptions and the change of tense, but most importantly, thanks to the comparison of the father to bums. Another thing that I noticed about this poem is that every phrase in each line is not complete; it’s like the author chose to cut the phrase to jump to the next line. I mean, the ideas and phrases in the poem are complete, but Olds cut them to create some kind of “mystery”. This resource or device made...
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...Susan Herman’s idea of “parallel justice” for victims is a good idea. Criminal justice is extremely offender-oriented and the criminal justice system doesn’t focus much on helping the victim adjust back to normal life after whatever traumatic event they go through. Our system focuses on the offender and making sure the offender can adjust to life after whatever punishment they get and we make sure that they do not end up back in the criminal justice system. Susan Herman’s idea of parallel justice for victims has many potential strengths having the safety of the victim be the primary concern and focusing on the victim is something that the criminal justice system definitely needs to work on as soon as possible. I also believe that every victim of a crime should be offered immediate support, compensation for losses, and practical assistance. The third point is the most important I believe, having the victim explain what happened to them and the impact of the crime had on their lives and what resources that they are going to need to get back into their everyday life. Finally, victim needs should always be met and they should be met as quickly as possible. Focusing our criminal justice system and its resources on the victim a little more rather than the offender is a step that must be taken soon. The victim deserves to be able to get back into normal life and feel safe and be compensated for any damages, psychically and emotionally, that they have received from the offender, and they...
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...Effects on Victims of Cyber Bullying Bullying has become more common throughout recent years and a specific type of it stands out the most. Cyber Bullying is this specific type of bullying that many teenagers around the world actively participate in using the INTERNET, email, instant messaging, and mobile phones. It occurs daily and it is the easiest, most convenient form of bullying since it is the primary way of communicating for many teenagers. Cyber bullying can cause serious health risks since it can have many negative effects to the victims’ lives such as high risk of depression, more health problems, and increased suicidal thoughts. First of all, cyber bullying causes high risk of depression since it makes victims feel insecure about themselves. Cyber bullying puts victims in a situation where they feel like they will never be good enough. It can be so harsh especially over instant messaging because the bully would not feel any sympathy towards the victim. This contributes to depression and therefore can have long-term effects on the victim. “Cyber bullying may be even harder on the victims than physical beatings or name calling and causes great risks of depression” (Reuters, 2010). At such a young age, kids do not know any better than to listen to what bullies have to say and believe that whatever they say must be true. This is why the risks of depression are so incredibly high. The worse the cyber bullying gets, the harder it becomes for the victim to...
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...An issue of whether consent was given as seen in rape cases is a widespread disagreement between opposing parties arguing yes vs. a typical victim-blamers. Victim blamers usually argue it’s the victim’s fault because of the way they were dressed, the time or location being heavily opposed to the victim’s favor and the victim should’ve been wary, therefore it’s the victims fault. In essence, those who blame the victim, try to pin the rape as a result of something the victim did rather than blaming the rapist. When in reality, it’s the rapist who is the only one at fault. However, many who are typically strong against victim blaming fail to see the difference between ignorant victim blamers who do everything in their power to see the victim at...
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