Some Random Thoughts about Victimological Movement in the World with Special Reference to India

Abstract

Historically, priority of the criminal justice system was always to establish the guilt of the accused and provide a punishment to the offender. Even after the advent of scientific criminology, focus was on all aspects of the offender, to the complete neglect of the victim. Victim was always treated as a witness, and victim justice has been a struggle throughout the world. Many scholars and criminal justice administrators recommended urgent measures to improve the conditions of victims, particularly after the historic Report of President’s Task Force in 1982 in the USA. Since then a victimological movement emerged which culminated in the creation of UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, 1985. In this article, the emergence of victimological movement, its impact and the subsequent developments in India are discussed.