Victims and Defendants Rights Extended by the Term Paper

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victims and defendants rights extended by the Criminal Justice System. Followed by introduction is the comparison of both sides detailing the rights of victims and defendants by the Criminal Justice System. Conclusion given at the end shows that the Criminal Justice System has more rights to the defendants; however, rights for victims are also increasing in several states.

It has been during the last two decades that the rights of crime victims started to be known in the law. Earlier, none of the crime victims had rights during the criminal justice process. For example, they did not have any right that could notify them of court trial or the arrest or release of the defendant. Further to that they had no right to be presented during the trial or other hearings, or to make a statement to the court at sentencing or at other proceedings (Emmet County).

But now, nations have approved many laws that give protection of their rights. Additionally, around 32 nations have included crime victims' rights in their state constitutions. While this constitutional rights for victims stay a principal objective of the crime victims' movement (Emmet County).

Generally, the amendments have allowed victims rights to: be communicated about the proceedings and events, like the discharge of the defendant; attend the trial and other hearings; sit in judgment at serious points in the criminal justice system, for instance sentencing or parole hearings; and finally be rewarded compensation from a convicted offender. However, few countries amendments include lesser rights, while others have broader ones (OJP, 2001).

On the other hand, the possibility of defendants' rights amendments also differs from country to country as many are restricted to victims of felonies or victims of violent offenses, while, a few extend specifically to victims of juvenile offenders. However, most countries give the legislature final authority to describe the scope of the amendment (Philip, 2001).

In general, the defendant's rights to: remain silent, right to confront witnesses, special confrontation rules for child sexual assault cases, right to a public trial, jury trial, be represented by an attorney, right to adequate representation, right to a speedy trial and be placed in double jeopardy (Philip, 2001).

The above introduction on victims and defendants shows that countries are progressing in getting them rights. However, still more rights are offered to the defendants by the criminal justice system.

Crime Victims Rights in Criminal Justice System

Below are some constitutional rights given to the victims by the criminal justice system.

Victims Constitutional Rights

The advocates of victim have been working in order to give crime victims' rights constitutional protection that could elevate the strength, permanence, and enforceability of victims' rights. Additionally, a constitutional amendment at the federal level would also provide a measure of consistency to the rights of crime victims (Philip, 2001).

To list few rights of crime victims such as:

To be treated with justice and respect for their self-respect and solitude during the criminal justice process.

Through the criminal justice process, he/she is fairly protected from the accused.

The right to make a statement to the court at sentencing (NCVC, 1998).

To be informed about the sentence, verdict, imprisonment and release of the charge.

The right to compensation

The name of the person in the office of prosecutor office along with the information about his/her case

Crime victims also have the right to notice of:

The right to have present at all the proceedings of court, subject to the system of proof, an advocate or other support person of the victim's preference.

Emergency as well as medical services from the police agency who is investigating the case (NCVC, 1998)

The right to the appropriate disposition of the case followed by the arrest of the accused.

The right to be there at the trial and all other hearings of the court on the similar basis as the accused, except the victim is to give evidence and the court determines that the victim's proof would be affected materially if the victim hears other evidence at the trial.

All scheduled court proceedings, which also includes sentencing

The right to be notified of court hearings (NCVC, 1998).

To be informed with the prosecution.

In addition, a crime victim may also:

Before the trial and before the jury is selected, the victim can discuss with the prosecutor

Make either an oral statement to the pre-sentence investigator, or have a written influential statement to be included in the pre-sentence investigation report At the time of sentencing make an oral statement to the judge (NCVC, 1998)

Strength

The guaranteed constitutional rights are much stronger as compared to rights that are just set out in law. Thus, no country law is applicable if it infringes a provision of a nation's constitution as well none of the state laws or state constitutional provision or federal law has the right to break a provision of the United States Constitution (NCVC 1999).

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Protecting the rights of crime victims in any nation and federal constitutions places those rights on almost same level with the rights of criminal defendants. However, there are few instances where the rights may be argued to conflict, for instance, where a victim's right to be present at the trial is said to disturb with a defendant's right to a justice trial (NCVC 1999). However, the defendant's right would not be in any case be overshadowed by the rights of crime victims; as courts would be obligated to evaluate any argued or actual conflict of rights on a case-by-case basis in order to balance the benefit of both (NCVC 1999).

In addition, victims' rights would also be reinforced by the increased awareness that comes with constitutional protection as not just judges, defense attorneys, prosecutors and other actors in the criminal justice system would be more informed about victims' rights, but even the general public would also be accustomed with the rights of crime victims (NCVC 1999).

Permanence

Victim advocates also work to include victims' rights into constitutions in order to give them the rights a degree of permanence. Ordinary law can be altered at any point of time by the legislature. However, in compare, it is comparatively difficult to modify the constitution of a country or the United States. Thus, once crime victims' rights are included into a constitution, they are probably to stay there for an indefinite period (NCVC 1999).

Enforceability

Generally providing victims' rights constitutional protections makes those rights enforceable. Therefore, if an official or a state agency disobeys a constitutional right, a court usually has the right to order that official or agency to meet the terms with the constitution (NCVC 1999).

Uniformity

Furthermore to the abovementioned reasons for the rights given to crime victims, an added reason victim advocates seek to place victims' rights in the United States Constitution is "uniformity." As every nation has legal rights for crime victims, as well as and more than half have state constitutional provisions, these rights differ greatly in capacity and strength. Thus, a victims' rights amendment to the United States Constitution would give a basic base of rights for every crime victims (NCVC 1999).

The Process

In many countries, each house of the legislature by a 2/3 majority passes a constitutional amendment. This is usually done at least twice, regularly with a legislative election between votes. Also, identical language is approved every time; where the amendment is then presented to the voters for ratification at a general election. Hence, in many states the procedure of adopting a constitutional amendment takes quite a few years (NCVC 1999).

Defendant's Rights

The Defendant's Right to Remain Silent

The United Sates Constitution in the criminal justice system provides that a defendant cannot "be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself." In other words, the defendant has the right to "sit mute." Hence, the prosecutor cannot call defendant as a witness, nor can a judge or defense attorney compel the defendant to be a witness if the defendant decide to be silent (City of Jackson).

The Defendant's Right to Confront Witnesses

Another right of the defendant given by the "confrontation clause" of the Sixth Amendment is right to "be confronted by the witnesses against" them. This right is the right to cross-examine witnesses, in other words, the right to demand the witnesses to be at the court, "look the defendant in the eye," and subject themselves to questioning by the defense. This right of defendant prevents clandestine trials, but excluding limited exceptions, forbids prosecutors from showing a defendant's guilt with written statements from missing witnesses (City of Jackson).

Special Confrontation Rules for Child Sexual Assault Cases

Legislators in recent years have been apprehended about defendants who get away with the punishment for sexually assaulting young children as they are scared to be a witness in the defendant's presence. Thus, to tackle this issue, many countries have passed particular rules that authorize judges in particular situations to permit children to be a witness by means of closed circuit television (City of….....

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