• E4J University Module Series: Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

• Module 11: Access to Justice for Victims

• Introduction and learning outcomes

• Key issues

  • Topic 1: Understanding the concept of victims of crime and a short history of victimology
  • Topic 2: The impact of crime, including trauma
  • Topic 3: The rights of victims to an adequate response to their needs
  • Topic 4: Collecting victim data
  • Topic 5: Victims and their participation in the Criminal Justice Process
  • Topic 6: Victim services, institutional and non-governmental organization
  • Topic 7: A brief outlook on current developments regarding victims
  • Topic 8: Victims and international law, including international human rights law and international criminal law
  • Summary
  • References

• Exercises

• Case studies

• Possible class structure

• Core reading

• Advanced reading

• Student assessment

• Additional teaching tools

• Guidelines to develop a stand-alone course

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• First published in July 2019
  

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  This module is a resource for lecturers  

 

Key issues

 

Key Terms

The terms used in this module align with those provided in the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice For Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power:

"Victims" means persons who, individually or collectively, have suffered harm, including physical or mental injury, emotional suffering, economic loss or substantial impairment of their fundamental rights, through acts or omissions that are in violation of criminal laws operative within Member States, including those laws proscribing criminal abuse of power.

A person may be considered a victim, under this Declaration, regardless of whether the perpetrator is identified, apprehended, prosecuted or convicted and regardless of the familial relationship between the perpetrator and the victim. The term "victim" also includes, where appropriate, the immediate family or dependants of the direct victim and persons who have suffered harm in intervening to assist victims in distress or to prevent victimization.

The provisions contained herein shall be applicable to all, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, age, language, religion, nationality, political or other opinion, cultural beliefs or practices, property, birth or family status, ethnic or social origin, and disability' (United Nations General Assembly, 1985, paras 1-3).

 

The purpose of this Module is to introduce students to the key issues and principles that underpin the concept of justice for victims. The Module covers eight topics:

• Topic one - Understanding the concept of victims of crime and a short history of victimology
• Topic two - The impact of crime, including trauma
• Topic three - The rights of victims to an adequate response to their needs
• Topic four - Collecting victim data
• Topic five - Victims and their participation in the Criminal Justice Process
• Topic six - Victim services, institutional and non-governmental organization
• Topic seven - A brief outlook on current developments regarding victims
• Topic eight - Victims and international law, including international human rights law and international criminal law

 

Next:  Topic one - Understanding the concept of victims of crime and a short history of victimology

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