subject: Victim Support Ireland [print this page] Victim Support Ireland
In this country the growing consciousness that has emerged and the moves made to accommodate victims of crime by giving them a voice and more entitlements has been to a significant degree influenced by what has been happening in other common law jurisdictions, particularly the UK.
The State could no longer afford to marginalize victims of crime and ignore their pleas to have an input in the criminal justice process.
In my articles we will look at the establishment of the Victim Support model, court support services and the setting up of Rape Crisis Centres nationwide. The changes, which have taken place within the trial process itself to alter the perception of previously excluded victims of sexual offences and to extend to the families of victims of homicide the opportunity to state how violent crimes have impacted on them will also be discussed.
The publication of the victims charter here on the back of its release in the U K and what has flowed from that will be examined, as will the setting up of a compensation tribunal on a statutory basis. More recent developments such as the initiation of the Restorative Justice Model and the DPP's decision to provide families of victims with reasons for non-prosecution of crimes resulting in death will also be highlighted as examples of further moves to place an increased focus on victims of crime. But these moves to facilitate victims of crime in their struggle to have their rights placed on a statutory footing must to be analysed from the viewpoint that it's good PR for the State to be seen to accommodate them without really offering them much apart from symbolic gestures, in vast contrast to what is offered in the Fine Gael 2008 Victims Bill.
In the 1970s that an increased awareness in relation to the needs of victims of crime emerged. In the UK an organisation called Victim Support was set up in 1974, it has been described as the largest and best resourced voluntary victims' group and its growth has meant it has more influence politically. A national organisation with branches across the country and is an example of an organisation that provides services as well as taking on a campaigning role.
At the same time the police and the Probation Service in the UK were pushing for something to be done to help victims to recover following their victimisation, through practical, emotional and financial support.
In the US the Victim Support counterpart NOVA (National Organisation for Victim Awareness) was established in 1975. It's a non-profit making umbrella organisation which comprises victim and witness assistance programs, criminal justice agencies and professionals, mental health professionals, researchers, former victims and survivors and its committed to the recognition and implementation of victims rights and services (www.trynova.org/) Unlike the system in the UK, legislation has been passed which protects victims' rights, the 1984 Victims of Crime Act established a fund of compensation.
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