Victims' Rights in the United States

Paper Summary:

This essay examines how victims' rights are viewed in the United States, compared with the rights of criminal defendants, and provides a discussion of the constitutional issues involved. A discussion of the incidence of victimization among young people and current trends is provided. An overview of victims' advocacy groups and an examination of what people can do when they become victims is also included. A summary of the research is provided in the conclusion. Also includes an appendix.

From the Paper:

"America has been characterized repeatedly as a land of laws. We cherish our Bill of Rights and the hard-earned liberties wrung from the tight grip of the state over the years. When an individual is accused of a crime in the United States, a vast bureaucracy of defense attorneys and court proceedings takes over which provides a wide range of benefits, services, privileges and rights for the accused. While universally characterized as underbudgeted and overburdened, the court system is still required to provide a certain level of legal defense for those defendants who cannot afford it. However, the victim of the crime (technically the proper term is "alleged victim" until the guilt of the defendant is established by a court of competent jurisdiction) is frequently overlooked while the bureaucratic gears grind out justice for the defendant. However, things are beginning to change and a national network of victim advocacy groups is taking shape. For example, in 1980, there were 27 victim compensation programs in the United States. By 1998, however, there were 50 state programs as well as ones in the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands."

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