Victims’ insecurity and criminal policy: The role of victim’s support services

Christina Zarafonitou, Professor of Criminology, Department of Sociology, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens-Greece

Published in

Rivista di Criminologia, Vittimologia e Sicurezza, VIII (1), pp. 121-134

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ABSTRACT

This paper focuses on the necessity for establishing procedures, services and institutions for the support of crime victims, emphasising the importance of such factors for prevention and victim protection, as well as for the planning and implementation of a rational criminal policy. The latter cannot be practically realised if exaggerated attitudes of punitiveness and vengefulness prevail. The regulating role of the state is taken into consideration, as well as the importance of the partnership between central government and decentralised institutions of local communities.