Note
Presented at the C.I.A.J. 1995 Annual Conference, Public Perceptions of the Administration of Justice, OCT. 11-15, 1995, Banff, Alberta.
Summary
This paper explores some aspects of the issues concerning
victim participation in the criminal justice system in
Canadian law and compares them with corresponding practices of other democratic countries: The United States, England, Germany, Sweden, and Japan. The review of these jurisdictions is not exhaustive and is intended only to give an overview of the various responses to the demand for a reconsideration of the treatment of the victim in the criminal justice system. Its purpose is to review some of the Canadian reaction to the victims’ movement, compare it with that of some other countries, and suggest some future direction for victim treatment which might improve the effectiveness and public perception of the administration of criminal justice. The paper will not make recommendations for change in the treatment of victims, only attempt to suggest how consideration for change could take place.