crime victims

Tough love : a critique of the Domestic Violence, Crime & Victims Bill 2003

Pamphlet looking at the magnitude of domestic violence problems in England and Wales and what risks and benefits the proposals contained in the Domestic Violence, Crime & Victims Bill will present. It considers the dangers of introducing an inflexible system to deal with the wide range of domestic violence offences and offers a different, more flexible approach.

The meaning of crime

This resource is one of the units on the Open University's OpenLearn website, which provides free and open educational resources for learners and educators around the world. This unit examines what a crime is; how we as a society define 'crime'; the steps that lead from a crime to a conviction, and the factors that may affect that process.

Manifesto for change

Document from Victim Support in Scotland calling on the Scottish Parliament to continue its commitment to the Scottish Strategy for Victims and its key objectives of providing emotional and practical support, information and greater participation for victims. Specific actions it calls for include establishing a Victims Fund and appointing a Victims Commissioner.

Tutorial: Introduction to Restorative Justice

Restorative justice is a theory of justice that emphasizes repairing the harm caused or revealed by criminal behaviour. It is best accomplished through cooperative processes that include all stakeholders. Restorative justice theory and programs have emerged over the past 20 years as an increasingly influential world-wide alternative to criminal justice practice. This tutorial provides an overview of the movement and of the issues that it raises.

Prevalence and structural correlates of gender based violence among a prospective cohort of female sex workers

This study examined the prevalence and structural correlates of gender based violence against female sex workers in an environment of criminalised prostitution in Canada. The results demonstrate an alarming prevalence of gender based violence against female sex workers. The structural factors of criminalisation, homelessness, and poor availability of drug treatment independently correlated with gender based violence against street based female sex workers.

Restorative justice action plan 2012

The Home Office's Restorative Justice web page outlines the Government's Restorative Justice Strategy. Restorative justice provides an opportunity for victims, offenders and sometimes representatives of the community to communicate about an offence and how to repair the harm caused. Victim participation is always voluntary, and offenders need to have admitted some responsibility for the harm they have caused.

Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003

This Act of Scottish Parliament is in twelve parts: protection of the public at large; victims' rights; sexual offences; prisoners; drugs courts; non-custodial punishments; children; evidential, jurisdictional and procedural matters; bribery and corruption; criminal records; local authority functions; and a miscellaneous part which includes sections on offences aggravated by religious prejudice, wildlife offences and anti-social behaviour strategies.

The public inquiry into the shootings at Dunblane Primary School on 13 March 1996

This report sets out the findings of the Cullen Inquiry following the shootings at Dunblane Primary School by Thomas Hamilton on 13 March 1996. The aim of the Inquiry was to clarify the exact circumstances leading up to and surrounding the incident, and to provide recommendations to safeguard the public against the misuse of firearms and other issues raised by the investigation.

Key recommendations include improved school security; the certification of firearms; and the vetting and supervision of adults working with children.

Reducing the risk : improving the response to sex offending

The aim of this Report was to develop a cohesive framework for dealing with sex offending. Some of the 73 recommendations build on the policies and processes already in place in order to strengthen existing measures aimed at protecting communities from sex offenders. Other recommendations support the introduction of new measures and new arrangements which will help to deliver a safer environment.