Constructing Victims' Rights: The Home Office, New Labour, and VictimsDespite plentiful discussion at various times, the personal victim has traditionally been afforded almost no formal role in the criminal justice process. Victims' rights have always met with stout opposition from both judges and the Lord Chancellor, who have guarded defendants' rights; the maintenance of professionally-controlled and emotionally unencumbered trials; and the doctrine that crime is at heart an offence against society, State, or Sovereign. Constructing victims' rights provides an account of how this opposition was overcome, and of the redefinition of victims of crime, culminating in 2003 in proposals for awarding near-rights to victims of crime. Based upon extensive observation, primary papers, and interviews, Paul Rock examines changes in the forms of criminal justice policy-making, observing how they shaped political representations and activities centred on victims of crime. |
Contents
Crime and Victims at the Turn of the Century | 1 |
The Home Office at the Turn of the Century | 61 |
Committees | 102 |
Copyright | |
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ACPO Alun Michael April Bill British British Crime Survey campaign Committee Conference consultation court Criminal Injuries Compensation criminal justice system cross-examination Crown Prosecution Service December defendant domestic violence draft election England and Wales European February Framework Decision Government Helen Reeves Home Office Home Secretary Human Rights Act Ian Chisholm implementation instance interests intimidated witnesses issues Jack Straw July June Justice and Criminal Labour Party legislation London Lord Chancellor's Department Meeting of Victim ment Ministers murder National November October offenders Ombudsman organizations paper person policy-making political Probation problems procedure proposals protection racial racist rape recommendations response restorative justice rights of victims role scheme sentencing September sexual Stephen Lawrence talk tion trial victim impact statements victim statements Victim Support victims and witnesses victims of crime Victims Steering Group Victims Unit Vulnerable or Intimidated vulnerable witnesses Youth Justice