Improving the Justice System: Victims of Crime Workshop

This report showcases the outcomes of the Improving the Justice System: Victims of Crime workshop in June 2014. This one-day workshop brought together Government and non-Government organisations who work with, and represent victims of crime in NSW to create a clear program of reform for the system to better serve victims of crime

Violent video games and attitudes towards victims of crime: an empirical study among youth

Previous research has indicated that playing violent video games may be associated with an increase in acceptance of violence and positive attitudes towards perpetrators of crime. This study is the first to investigate the relationship between playing violent video games and attitudes towards victims of crime. A total of 206 young people (aged 12-24 years) completed measures of attitudes towards victims and violent video game exposure. The results suggest that exposure to violent video games is associated with less concern being reported for victims of crime. Young people who play more violent video games reported less concern for general victims and for culpable victims, and these effects cannot be explained by gender or age differences. The results are discussed in relation to relevant research in the area, along with recommendations for future research

ACT victims of crime referral project: final report

This report presents the findings of a project funded by Victim Support ACT and ACT Policing to examine the experiences of victims referred by police to support services and the operation of the referral process in the ACT. Since the completion of the report in 2009, Victim Support ACT and ACT Policing have used it to facilitate better access to support services for people affected by crime. Following the establishment of the Victims Advisory Board in 2011, the Victims of Crime Commissioner sought the support of the Board to progress matters that had been raised in the report. The Commissioner was of the view that the Board, having a function to develop and maintain protocols and procedures for the treatment of victims by agencies involved in the administration of justice, was well placed to assist Victim Support ACT and ACT Policing to progress these issues. To assist the Board to perform this function, the report is now being published to allow public access to the information

Crime Victims\u27 Compensation- Title I of the Proposed Victims of Crime Act of 1973: An Analysis

This comment analyzes and explains the major provisions of Title I of the proposed Victims of Crime Act of 1973, proposed federal legislation to compensate victims of criminal acts. The comment discusses the scope of compensation, limitations and requirements for recovery, and procedures for the disposition of claims

Compensation for Victims of Crime

Compensation for Victims of Crim

Understanding the relationship between crime victimisation and mental health: a longitudinal analysis of population data

Being a victim of violent crime has a damaging effect on mental health, particularly for women, according to this report. The needs and experiences of victims of crime have become increasingly recognised as an important aspect of criminal justice and public policy. In Australia, victim support services grew from community-based organisations and lobby groups. With the passage of time, these services have become increasingly formalised, with the State progressively assuming a greater role in advocacy and service provision for victims of crime. While we know that many Australians will experience an incident of crime in their lifetime, the effect of this victimisation on health has not been sufficiently explored. This is unfortunate given the demand for victim support services; close to 6,000 applications for counselling assistance in 2011/12 were received by the Victims Compensation Tribunal, New South Wales. As such, it is timely to examine more closely the nature of the relationship between becoming a victim of crime and an individual’s subsequent mental health.   &nbsp

Improving wellbeing for victims of crime

Being the victim of a crime constitutes a profound and lasting trauma for individuals and their communities. Depending on the circumstances of their victimisation, crime victims have little choice but to live with painful feelings, memories and ongoing physical and emotional experiences that can make wellbeing difficult to achieve. Additionally, victims of crime continue to report that their experiences of, and interactions with criminal justice systems in the pursuit of justice and recovery has not restored agency or dignity, and instead add to their feelings of powerlessness, anonymity and trauma. For governments, the policy challenge is how the criminal justice system can play an active role in helping victims regain wellbeing, and particularly of agency and control in their lives. This paper offers a case study of a project undertaken by the criminal justice system in (anonymised), using a human centred design approach to create design directions that will better meet victims' needs. The paper will present the workshop methodology and outline the policy directions that resulted