Directory Right or Mandatory Obligation to Participate: Psycho-Legal Dimensions of Victim-Person’s Participation in Criminal Justice System

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Published Jun 2, 2022
https://doi.org/10.54945/gavps.v1i1.8
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Volume 1, Issue 1, June 2022

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Nitish Rai Parwani
MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Oxford

Abstract

A crime is a wrong against the society and hence the state, acting under the social contract, prosecutes the accused. The injured or the victim person, while being entitled to some rights, is expected to act as a star witness in the trial. This paper analyses the role of the victim person in a criminal trial, and puts forward arguments rooted in legal philosophy, comparative law, psychology and sociology to argue that---though the victim's participation is necessary ascertaining 'harm element' of an offence and that victim is entitled to participatory rights including recording of Victim Impact Statement (VIS), Opinion statement and restorative justice negotiations--the participation of the victim person should be a directory right with an option of waiver, rather than a mandatory obligation to participate.

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How to Cite
Rai Parwani, N. (2022). Directory Right or Mandatory Obligation to Participate: Psycho-Legal Dimensions of Victim-Person’s Participation in Criminal Justice System. Global Advances in Victimology and Psychological Studies, 1(1), 39–47. https://doi.org/10.54945/gavps.v1i1.8
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