S57-04 Zurich victim protection charter (original) (raw)

TOWARDS COHERENT EUROPEAN CRIME VICTIMS POLICIES AND PRACTICES

2019

This study explores the latest developments on the European scale of the policies and practices towards victims of crime. Due to many economic and political factors a lot of people are in movement and exposed to the risk of becoming victims of crime. During the last decade the statistics already records enhanced victimization of the global European society. These have provoked numerous legislative actions and practical initiatives in order to ensure safety, to prevent falling victims to crime and to protect better victim's rights and needs. The European Protection Order Directive, Victims' Directive and Convention against domestic violence, are among the most advanced legal acts worldwide. However, it is observed that their implementation in Europe is asymmetric and sometimes problematic. This paper explores the role of the national governments and specialized agencies and mainly the deficits in their activities leading to the non-usage of victims of all the existing opportunities. The newest supra-national acts aiming at the acceleration of transposition and ratification of these important for the building of victim-friendly environment documents, are discussed. Practical recommendations for a more effective victim protection are developed.

Same, Same but Different: Preventing Crime and Preventing Victimisation

Global Advances in Victimology and Psychological Studies

In 1985, the international community agreed tackle the causes of crime to prevent victimisation. Since then, that community has identified the reduction of crime and violence as integral to achieving the sustainable development goals. Contrary, factors associated with globalisation and the pandemic have led to increases in certain crimes, thus increases in criminal victimisation. Preventing crime is necessary to prevent victimisation. Prioritising people’s safety, so they do not become victims, is crucial, and given should be a greater priority internationally and domestically. Drawing on findings from crime prevention programmes designed to prevent victimisation, the author argues that victim assistance must be a key element of preventive activities. However, while crime prevention and preventing victimisation, on the one hand, are ‘same, same’, on the other hand, they are ‘different’.

Victimization and Safety in Luxembourg - Findings of the "Enquête sur la sécurité 2013

2015

This report presents the main findings from the "Enquête sur la sécurité 2013". The main objectives of this victimization survey were to measure the prevalence rates of common crimes and to survey attitudes concerning crime and safety. Data were collected from June to August 2013 using computer-assisted telephone interviewing. The target population included people aged 16 years or older living in private households in Luxembourg. In addition, only people with a fixed (landline) telephone number were contacted, and participants were required to speak one of the four interview languages offered (Luxembourgish, French, German, and English). Out of the 8,064 eligible people, 3,025 contacted and interviewable target persons participated in the interview, which corresponds to a response rate of 37.5%. Victimization rates According to the data, 52.0% of the population had fallen victim to at least one of the following crimes in the past 5 years: burglary, attempted burglary, car theft, theft from a car, motorcycle theft, bicycle theft, card/online banking abuse, robbery, theft of personal property, harassment, consumer fraud, bribe-seeking/corruption, sexual violence, or physical violence. At the household level, the most prevalent crimes were card/online banking abuse (11.6% of the Luxembourgish households in the past 5 years), burglary (9.7%), attempted burglary (9.2%), and theft from a car (8.4%). The most prevalent crimes at the individual level were consumer fraud (17.6% of the population), harassment (17.0%), and theft of personal property (12.8%). Emotional impact of crimes Victims were asked whether the crime had an important emotional impact on them (e.g., difficulty in sleeping, fear, or loss of confidence). The victims of physical violence (35.2%) confirmed that victimization had an important emotional impact, followed by the victims of sexual violence (31.1%), burglary (25.2%), and robbery (20.3%). Suffering an important emotional impact was more likely for women, elderly people, people with a low educational level, unemployed people, and victims of violent crimes. The emotional impact of crimes was correlated with other variables, and victims who suffered an important emotional impact differed from non-victims in many ways. They were more likely to say that "the courts do a bad job", and they were more likely to feel unsafe in their local area after dark. Victims who had suffered an important emotional impact were also more likely to fear sexual harassment, being physically attacked, and terrorism. In addition, they were more likely to believe that victimization (burglary, robbery, theft) in the next twelve months was "fairly/very likely".

Procedures for preventing juvenile violence in Switzerland: The Zurich model

New Directions for Youth Development, 2011

The penal code in Switzerland is strongly oriented toward the prevention of crime. Hence, most cases involving severe acts of violence trigger a psychiatric evaluation that includes a risk assessment. The threshold for court-ordered treatment is low and follows a rather pragmatic approach: On the basis of a psychiatric expert opinion, the court can order a specifi c therapeutic or confinement measure. Treatment can be ordered regardless of criminal responsibility. The court’s decision depends upon the determined risk for reoffending and whether there are treatment strategies available to reduce this risk. In most cases, the courts order outpatient treatment that can follow a period of treatment during incarceration, during a suspended sentence or period of probation, or even while awaiting sentencing.

The development of international policy in relation to victims of crime

International Review of Victimology, 2013

This article addresses the development of international policy in relation to victims of crime. It starts with an outline of the 1985 United Nations (UN) Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power. It demonstrates that compliance by Member States with the provisions of the Declaration is still unsatisfactory, despite serious efforts by the UN to promote its standards and norms. A similar trend is described on a regional level in Europe. In 2001, the European Union adopted a Framework Decision (a legally binding instrument) on minimum rights for crime victims in the criminal justice system. Evaluations undertaken in 2004 and 2009 have proved that none of the Member States fully complied with its content. In the article it is argued that a lack of compliance is usually followed by the adoption of an even stronger legal instrument, containing even more ambitious rights for victims of crime. It is questioned whether this is the most productive app...

Help seeker and perpetrator prevention initiatives-KJ0422340ENN

Publication Office of the European Commission, 2023

This publication is a Scientific Information Systems and Databases report by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission's science and knowledge service. It aims to provide evidence-based scientific support to the European policymaking process. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the European Commission. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use that might be made of this publication. For information on the methodology and quality underlying the data used in this publication for which the source is neither Eurostat nor other Commission services, users should contact the referenced source. The designations employed and the presentation of material on the maps do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the European Union concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.