Victim involvement in criminal matters: “Levelling the playing field.â€?

Source: (2001) Paper presented at the Australian Institute of Judicial Administration Magistrates’ Conference. Melbourne, Australia, 20-21 July.

Rasmussen states that victim involvement in criminal justice is not new but a reemergence. The victim used to be central in addressing crime and other wrongdoing. Only in fairly recent history, with the rise of formal and state-centered criminal justice systems, did the victim recede from central significance. The reemergence of victim involvement is only “levelling the playing field,â€? in Rasmussen’s terms. On this basis, Rasmussen traces recent criminal justice history in Britain and Australia in relation to victim involvement and victim support. She also focuses on her experience working with children who are victims of crime.