Volume 2 Number 1, July 2006
Tokyo: Seibundo Publishing Co., Ltd.
ISBN 4-7923-9151-2 Price 1,500yen
- Editorial
- John P. J. Dussich
- Restorative Justice and the Victim: The English Experiences
- Martin Wright
Visiting Research Fellow, Sussex Law School, UK- Abstract
- Referral orders in England and Wales incorporate features of restorative justice and are used extensively with young, first-time offenders. With adults, two models of conferencing allow for victim-offender mediation and all programs have low victim involvement. Restorative justice developed in England concurrently with changes in criminal injuries compensation and victim support. A criminal court report, a government consultation document on strategy, the introduction by prosecutors of “conditional cautions,” and a self-imposed target of the Youth Justice Board reveal the current perspective of the government regarding restorative justice. The system proposed in this paper is designed to meet the needs of both victims and the community. The mediation process provides opportunities to identify motives of crime and other harms perpetrated by individuals and corporations. These motives may then be considered in formulating social policy. Restorative justice procedures, in this manner, may contribute to the advancement of social goals.
- Corrections-Based Restorative Justice Initiatives in the United States: Victim Impact Panels and Victim Awareness Education Classes
- Mario T. Gaboury
University of New Haven, West Haven, Connecticut, USA- Abstract
- Restorative justice programs are increasing at a phenomenal rate worldwide and are changing the nature of many criminal justice and corrections systems, including those in the United States. This paper reviews the current status of corrections-based victim services and restorative justice programming in the U.S. Two particular types of programs, Victim Impact Panels and Victim Awareness Education Classes, are described and analyzed. Although “minimally restorative” in that neither program bring victims into direct contact with offenders, these approaches provide important restorative and justice-related outcomes and have the potential to expose larger numbers of victims, survivors and offenders to potentially restorative experiences otherwise not available. As there is limited research in this area, an exhaustive literature search was conducted and a brief overview of available studies is presented. Recommendations for future research are also given.
- PTSD in Vietnamese Veterans Living in Vietnam
- Dang Duy Thanh
Hospital of Psychiatry of Khanh Hoa, Vietnam
John P. Wilson, and Steve Slane
DCleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA- Abstract
- A large research literature on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among American veterans of the Vietnam-America war draws attention to the absence of studies on PTSD among Vietnamese veterans (Cuu Chien Binh). This study investigated PTSD and other psychological symptoms in Vietnamese veterans of the Vietnam-America war. A range of questionnaires and standardized scales assessed the demographics of participants, their war zone exposure (WZE), combat roles (CR), and combat exposure (CE). Results indicated that 19.5% of Vietnamese veterans have probable PTSD, and levels of war-related stress symptoms in Vietnamese veterans are significantly lower than among American and Australian veterans. Further, it was found a participant’s PTSD level and other psychological symptoms significantly correlate with war-related stressors among Vietnamese veterans. The differences observed in symptoms levels between Vietnamese veterans and American-Australian veterans also are discussed.
- Psychosocial Consequences of Victimization in Rape
- G. S. Bajpai
Dr. H. S. Gour University, Sagar, Madha Pradesh, India- Abstract
- This empirical study analyzes the psychosocial consequences of rape victimization of women from urban and rural areas in the district of Sagar of Madhya Pradesh, India. The variables of anxiety, depression, neurosis, and self-concept were measured using standardized procedures. Data was also gathered on the social consequences of rape as expressed through general attitudes, stigma, and family mores. Controlling for social and cultural differences among subjects, the psychosocial impact of rape victimization on all variables measured was significant. In particular, it was found that the absence of a network of victim assistance and support in India leads many victims to rely on largely ineffective and informal family and community support systems. Analysis of existing legal provisions and relevant case laws substantiates the need for a comprehensive scheme of victim assistance in India to address the needs of victims and to facilitate their recovery.
- Sexual Harassment on a University Campus in India:
Perspectives on Victim Justice - Kumaravelu Chockalingam
Tokiwa International Victimology Institute, Tokiwa University, Mito, Japan- Abstract
- This empirical study of sexual harassment of female students at the University of Madras, India, reports on the nature, extent, and characteristics of victims and their reactions to sexual harassment, using an interview schedule specifically designed for the purpose. Results suggest high levels of sexual harassment at the University. The causes of sexual harassment and the implementation of immediate and long-term preventive policies are discussed. Greater awareness and sensitivity in the community and within law enforcement agencies prospectively could lower the incidence of harassment and improve the situation of victims. Far from being a non-injurious act of fun, sexual harassment has deep and long-term physical and psychological consequences.
- Peer Support Groups: Evaluating the Mere Contact/
Mere Sharing Model and Impairment Hypotheses - Frans W. Winkel
International Victimology Institute Tilburg, The Netherlands- Abstract
- Though widely adopted and commonly accepted instruments for assisting victims in coping with a victimization, Peer Support Groups (PSGs) have been little researched in the field of victimology. Research to date focuses on the beneficial psychological effects, in particular the amelioration of traumatic stress symptoms in the context of “mere contact” and “mere sharing” hypotheses. A more comprehensive model delineating pathways to both mental health impairment and enhancement is presented and empirically tested. Among PSG participants, both pessimism and a social comparison orientation appear to moderate PSG outcomes. A social comparison orientation refers to the disposition of an individual to engage explicitly in non-lateral social comparison processes as a way of determining how well one is coping compared to others. PSGs present a powerful trigger for comparison. The therapeutic validity of PSGs was challenged: no support was found for the contact/sharing hypotheses. Instead, analyses revealed various indications of deterioration. Optimists and high comparison-oriented pessimists were identified as particularly at risk. With regard to enhancing the coping skills of traffic accident victims, the deployment of PSGs needs re-consideration.
- The Development of Victim Support Services in Serbia
- Sanja Ćopić and Jasmina Nikolić
The Victimology Society of Serbia, Serbia- Abstract
- This is an overview of the development and work of victim support services in Serbia. Established in 2003 by the Victimology Society of Serbia, VDS Information and Victim Support constitutes the first victim support service provided in Serbia. The service aims to help primarily victims of violent and property crimes over the age of 14, as well as the victims’ family members. The service also offers information regarding the nature and exercise of victims’ rights, emotional support, and referrals to specialized institutions and organizations. Coordinators and volunteers provide services after being trained in accordance with standards set by the European Forum of Victim Services. Gaining the confidentiality and trust of victims, respecting a victim’s needs and feelings, and preserving a victim’s independence in making final decisions and solving problems, constitute core principles of service providers.
