Victimization and Criminal Justice System: Some Fundamental Challenges
Abstract
The Criminal Justice System (CJS) is accepted as a solution to problematic situations in society that can be criminalized. Yet, we have enough reasons to doubt its usefulness and effectiveness. Moreover, our belief in its function is not supported by any facts. This paper can only resonate if it touches upon areas of your knowledge, be it experience, be it taught knowledge by education, or experience shared by peers or parents, in all areas of knowing, if we strive to get the achievement for victims.
This paper aims to examine where we fundamentally went wrong in our basic notions of CJS; from crime to punishment, and rehabilitation of offenders and from victimization to justice, and victim support for victims. Professionals are trained to think and behave in particular ways; some of that training has led to faulty learning. The article examines some of these fundamental challenges that professionals in CJS and victim support face; the belief that victims are revengeful, the professional language they use, and the limitations of scientific knowledge. They need to pause and reflect on what they have learned. The best way to do the work as professionals are, they should always be passionate, professional, precise, doubting their possible prejudgments, and if possible, have the integrity to admit their own mistakes and not accept the cover-up of mistakes of their colleagues at the expense of clients or unrealistic research results.
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