HI
1. What does prison offer crime victims? Are victims satisfied by prison as justice? Why or why not? What types of need might a crime victim have and what types of sanctions might meet these needs?
Increasingly, the rights of victims are being recognized in a formal fashion. There is a strong movement that prisons are offering crime victims to formalize victim's rights, either through statute or constitutional amendment. While the specific rights afforded to crime victims will vary from state to state, typical victim's rights laws grant victims the right to be informed of all court proceedings relating to their case, the right to be informed of any plea offers extended to the defendant, the right to make a statement to the court at the time of sentencing, the right to an order that a convicted defendant pay restitution for losses they suffered as a result of criminal activity, the right to be informed of the sentence received by the convicted defendant, and, if the defendant is sentenced to prison, the right to be informed if the defendant is released on parole. You may also be entitled to submit a statement to the parole board. Some states have victims' compensation funds, which provide some financial compensation to crime victims, and which may also provide funds for counseling.
I believe that restorative justice is a great option for victims to get closure on parts of their lives that have been impacted by events that brought harm by others. I agree to some extent that some criminals should not have the chance to use restorative justice as an option, but as victims if it helps them heal and move on with their lives I