Source: (2001) Criminal Justice 1 (February): 27-58.
With the rise of the victims’ rights movement in recent decades, many policy reforms have been enacted and much research has been conducted. In this article the author investigates the relationship between policy reforms and research. Is there a connection between policy and research, and if so, to what extent is there a connection? To answer these questions, Sebba examines conceptual issues regarding the symbiosis between criminological research and criminal policy, and issues related to research on victims in particular. Based on the analysis, Sebba arrives at two conclusions. (1) Factors other than empirical research results play more significant roles in policy formulation; research findings are generally used to buttress policies advocated for those other reasons. (2) From research evaluating victim-oriented policies, it appears that those policies are only moderately effective in achieving their intended goals.
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