Concern for crime victims has been a growing political issue in improving the legitimacy and success of the criminal justice system through the rhetoric of rights. Since the 1970s there have been numerous reforms and policy documents produced to enhance victims' satisfaction in the criminal justice system. The Republic of Ireland has seen a sea-change in more recent years from a focus on services for victims to a greater emphasis on procedural rights. The purpose of this book is to chart these reforms against the backdrop of wider political and regional changes emanating from the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights, and to critically examine whether the position of crime victims has actually ameliorated. The book discusses the historical and theoretical concern for crime victims in the criminal justice system, examins the variety of forms of legal and service provision inclusion, amd concludes by analysing the various needs of victims which continue to be unmet.
Autorentext
Shane Kilcommins is Professor of Law at the University of LimerickSusan Leahy is Lecturer in Law at the University of LimerickKathleen Moore Walsh is Lecturer in Law at the Waterford Institute of TechnologyEimear Spain is Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Limerick
Klappentext
This book interrogates the position of the victim of the criminal justice system in Ireland. It assesses how increasing accommodation of victim interests impacts on the criminal justice system and the extent to which these changes depart from classic ideas of justice. Concern for crime victims has been a growing political issue in improving the legitimacy and success of the criminal justice system through the rhetoric of rights. Since the 1970s there have been numerous reforms and policy documents produced to enhance victims' satisfaction in the criminal justice system. Ireland has seen a sea-change in more recent years from a focus on services for victims to a greater emphasis on procedural rights. The purpose of this book is to chart these reforms against the backdrop of wider political and regional changes emanating from the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights, and to critically examine whether the position of crime victims has actually improved. The book begins by discussing the historical and theoretical concern for crime victims in the criminal justice system, and how this has changed in recent years. It then moves on to examine the variety of forms of legal and service provision for victims in the Irish system, concluding with an analysis of the practical obstacles to the full realisation of victims' rights.
Inhalt
Introduction1. Epistemic Shifts in knowing the Victim of Crime2. The Re-Emergence of the Victim in Ireland 3. The Juridification of Victims Inclusion in Ireland 4. Social Provision for Victims of Crime in Ireland 5. Continued Problems Conclusion