Summary
Contents
Subject index
Drawing on a wealth of local, national and international sources, unpublished documents and original research, this book provides a theoretical and practical critique of victimology. The authors outline and discuss the issues facing victims today and address the fundamental question: How can we best ensure justice for victims, while at the same time preserving the rights of defendants? The search for answers raises other key questions: What are the risks of crime and do they vary from country to country? What is the impact of crime on the victim? How are victims treated by police, welfare agencies and courts? Why have governments become interested in victims? Can we learn from the experiences of policies in other nations? H
Perspectives on Victimology
Perspectives on victimology
Books are very much a product of the time in which they are written. This particular text was conceived at a time in which the relatively young (sub)discipline of victimology, and the victim movements variously associated with victimological thinking, were increasingly making their presence felt on the criminal justice policies of England and Wales. That presence, however, was felt not only in England and Wales. Influenced to a certain extent by North American initiatives, it was being felt across Europe. The social circumstances affecting this particular project, then, stem from not only the political and social events of the 1980s in England and Wales, but also from the rapid changes to the political map of Europe, both East and West, ...
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Section Overview
Victims’ Rights
Pending Case Updates
Victim Resources
Section Contact Information
The United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California is committed to ensuring that federal crime victims are afforded all rights to which they are entitled by law. The role of the Victim Witness Assistance Program is to ensure that victims and witnesses of Federal crime, who have suffered physical, financial, or emotional trauma, are informed of their rights, receive the assistance and protection to which they are entitled under the law.
The Victim Witness Assistance Program provides a variety of services and assistance to victims and witnesses. One of the functions of the program is to provide education regarding the criminal justice process and its participants. Victim Witness staff can also notify victims and witnesses of case events, is able to provide courtroom orientation, and can accompany victims to court proceedings if desired.
Staff members primarily work with victims involved in indicted cases, however, program staff also works closely with Victim Assistance staff from various federal agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who also provide services to federal victims for cases under investigation. Referrals to appropriate community organizations can be provided that can help victims access the services they need to recover from crime.
As a crime victim, you have the following rights under 18 United States Code § 3771:
- 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.
- The right not to be excluded from any such public court proceeding, unless the court, after receiving clear and convincing evidence, determines that testimony by the victim would be materially altered if the victim heard other testimony at that proceeding.
- The right to be reasonably heard at any public proceeding in the district court involving release, plea, [or] sentencing, or any parole proceeding.
- The reasonable right to confer with the attorney for the Government in the case.
- The right to full and timely restitution as provided in law.
- The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay.
- The right to be treated with fairness and with respect for the victim's dignity and privacy.
We will make our best efforts to ensure that you are accorded the rights described. You can seek the advice of a private attorney with respect to these rights.
If you have been identified as a crime victim under 18 U.S.C 3771 (e) “a person directly or proximately harmed as a result of the commission of a Federal offense,” and believe you were denied one or more of your rights afforded by the Crime Victims’ Rights Act of 2004, there is an administrative complaint procedure, as provided under 28 CFR, § 45.10. To file a complaint, you may complete the Complaint Form (PDF) or (Microsoft Word)(also available in Spanish). This form cannot be completed on-line; the form must be printed and completed then mailed or faxed to the designated contact person on the form. You may also contact the Office of Victims' Rights Ombudsman.
PENDING CASE UPDATESIn general, victims are provided individual notice of case updates through the Department of Justice’s Victim Notification System. In cases where the number of victims is so large as to make individual notice to victims impractical, the Government may use other methods to communicate with victims, including posting relevant information online. Click on the links below for more detailed information about a specific case:
United States v. Amplify Energy Corp., Beta Operating Company, LLC, and San Pedro Bay Pipeline Company
Potential Victims of GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INC. OF ZHUHAI, HONG KONG GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES SALES CO., LTD., and GREE USA, INC.
Sport Endurance, Inc. (“SENZ”) and FrogAds, Inc. (“FROG”)
Bank Robbery Victims
Child Victims
Civil Legal Aid
Computer Safety
Dealing With Crisis
Directory of Crime Victim Services
Domestic Violence Victims
Elder Abuse & Exploitation
Financial Crime Victims
Fraud Victims
Helplines: Toll-Free and Online Hotlines
Identity Theft
Interstate Stalking
Sexual Assault Victims
State Victim Compensation and Assistance
Understanding Restitution
Victim Notification System (VNS)
Violent Crime Victims
The United States Attorney's Office
Central District of California
Attn: Victim Witness Assistance Program
312 North Spring
Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Telephone: 1-888-228-0315 (toll-free)
Fax: (213) 534-7375