The Search for Parallel Justice–Separate Path for Offenders and Victims

Source: (1999) Community Corrections Report. 7(1):7-8, 12.

In this article, Susan Herman begins from the perspective that – given the nature and extent of victimization and the inherent inadequacy of the criminal justice system – a new approach to serving victims must be developed. Two strands have been growing in the evolving response to victims of crime: a services strand, and a rights strand. Yet both strands accept the status quo of the criminal justice system. Herman contends that we need to change the status quo by constructing a approach that envisions justice for both the offender and the victim. Then it is essential to decouple the pursuit of justice for victims from the administration of justice for offenders. In essence, there must be two distinct visions of justice – one for victims and one for offenders- pursued on separate paths.