| Since the mid-1980s of the past century, several International Protocols have been issued defining basic minimum rights victims should have in the criminal justice system1. Many subsequent publications have demonstrated that it is extremely difficult to actually achieve the objectives of these Protocols. Quite often, the legal provisions (the law on the books ) are adapted, but the law in action remains more or less unchanged. More research is therefore needed with regard to effective implementation strategies: what works, and why? In the area of criminal procedure, projects will be carried out in order to find the best way of balancing the rights of victims of crime and the rights of the accused. In the same context, it is of paramount importance to learn more about the phenomenon of repeat victimization . A relatively small number of victims appear to be suffering from a disproportionately high percentage of cases of criminal victimization. It is obvious that this issue is both theoretically and practically challenging as it has direct implications for policy-making. In addition, there is a volatile debate on restorative justice and mediation. Many victimologists have argued that restorative justice is a new paradigm which is destined to replace the repressive paradigm of the current criminal justice system. INTERVICT aims to make a major contribution by analysing the epistemological status of restorative justice as a concept and as a means to reform existing practices. The same is true for the actual meaning of procedural justice . To what extent is victim satisfaction determined by the outcome of a proceeding or by the way the victim has been treated during the procedure preceding the outcome or decision? Lastly, but not least, INTERVICT will include extensive studies on the position of the victim in private law (both substantive and procedural law). This is an area of research which has been remarkably neglected by the international community of victimologists. By contrast, the Tilburg University Department of Private Law has undertaken many projects e.g., on cases of personal injury yielding knowledge on how to minimize transaction costs and to reduce the adverse effects of civil litigation. These projects will be further elaborated within the framework of INTERVICT. |
