• 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  

 

Summary

 

Working according to the principles outlined in the United Nations the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice For Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power (1985), this Module provides an overview of the importance of providing victims with timely, sensitive, and effective service responses that ensure that victims are treated in a manner that upholds their dignity and seeks to restore their well-being. Justice for victims is understood in broad terms, to include both formal justice responses that uphold victim's rights and needs, and the mechanisms and informal supports within families, institutions, and societies more generally. Structured in eight parts, the Module covers: foundational concepts relevant to justice for victims, as well as brief history of victimology; the impact of crime, with a focus on trauma; the rights of victims; the importance of disaggregated data that includes victims; victims' participation in the criminal justice process; victim services; current developments regarding justice for victims; and victims and international law - including international human rights law and international criminal law. The exercises and case studies in this Module are designed to promote an understanding of the formal and informal strategies necessary to promote the well-being of victims of crime.

 

Next: References

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