“VICTIMS OF CRIME” -- THEIR PATHETIC PLIGHT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

"CHAMPIONING THE CAUSE OF HUMANITY & HUMAN RIGHTS"
 
POLICE  WATCH  INDIA               E-NEWS
SERVICE
We Police The Police                                                Mob. no. 9810887820
A
Global Online Media Release                                                                            WEEKLY NEWS LETTER
Official Website : www.policewatchindia.org                                                           198TH EDITION
We Fear No One & We Favour No One.                                                                 Dated : 11th December, 2011
The world is watching
 
To,
Shri P. Chidambaram,
Union Home Minister,
Govt. of India,
New Delhi.
 
SUB : "VICTIMS
OF CRIME"  --  THEIR PATHETIC PLIGHT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN
SERIOUSLY.

Dear Mr.
Chidambaram,

The criminal justice process can be an intimidating and
frustrating experience for victims of crime. From the moment some victims call
police, they may find themselves faced with a spiral of events that is
seemingly out of their control. They may perceive that police do not respond
quickly enough, for example, and when police do arrive, victims may believe
that police are not sensitive enough to the experience they suffered. 
 
Victims often find it difficult to understand why their
property cannot be recovered or, if recovered, why it cannot be immediately
returned. Victims of violent crime are fearful that their aggressor will be
released on bail; if convicted and imprisoned, they are fearful that he will be
released on parole.
 
It is a reality in law that the Constitution of India
protects the right of suspects and defendants but not the rights of victims.
Statements & confessions of Criminals/Offenders/Accused before the Police
bear no value in the Courts. Defendants have the right to an attorney during
every critical stage of the court proceedings, including arraignments, pretrial
hearings, trials, and sentencing. Victims are not represented by lawyers unless
they choose to hire a lawyer during a civil proceeding. Although it can be
argued that the prosecutor is essentially the lawyer for the victim, the
prosecutor is technically the lawyer for the government and may pay very little
attention to the physical, financial, or emotional needs of victims. Victims
often have to take time off from work or other obligations to appear in court,
and when cases go to trial, they are subjected to the scrutiny of the media and
grueling cross examination in a courtroom in which they must be confronted by
the defendant. As a result, victims have often complained that they are the
forgotten component of the criminal justice process or are twice victimized,
once when the crime first occurs and again when they encounter the criminal
justice process.
 
Although the above reality strikes many citizens as
unfair, it occurs because suspects and defendants have so much to lose from the
criminal justice process, in which the awesome power of the state is brought to
bear against the individual. A person accused of crime stands to lose his or
her freedom, sometimes for life. Under the law, if we are ready to take away a
person's freedom—in some cases even his or her life—we must "do it right" by
providing the protections in accordance with the Constitution. The law does not
plan to take away the freedom of the victim, and hence the victim's rights are
not guaranteed in the Constitution.
 
Violence harms its victims both physically and
psychologically. It traumatizes victims, bystanders, and family members alike.
It can trigger paralyzing anxiety and fear, long lasting depression, or deep
anger. Although
a substantial amount of effort has been devoted to finding
the best ways to treat violent offenders, little research has been conducted on
the best ways to treat the victims of violence to minimize their psychological
problems. Standard treatments for depression and anxiety may be inappropriate
in these cases. Programs to treat victims have been shown to be most effective
when they are delivered in natural locations, such as schools, community
groups, health care environments, and when they are culturally relevant and
age- and sex-specific. Therapies that are more specific to different types of
victimization have yet to be developed.
 
The psychological impact of criminal violence on its
victims is substantial and far reaching. In fact, in many cases, the
psychological trauma experienced by victims of crime may be more troubling to
the victim than the physical injury or the loss of property. Psychological
reactions to criminal victimization can range from mild to severe. Mild
reactions to stress are characterized by a variety of symptoms, including minor
sleep disturbances, irritability, worry, interpersonal strain, attention
lapses, and the exacerbation of prior health problems.
 
It is time that the RIGHTS
OF VICTIMS OF CRIMEare guaranteed by the Constitution of India
so that at least a part of what they have lost is recouped by them. HUMAN RIGHTS & HUMANITY DEMAND THIS GUARANTEE
& THE LEGISLATORS HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS URGENT NEED.
 
Setting up of  "CRIME  VICTIMS  CLAIM  TRIBUNAL"   (C.V.C.T.)somewhat
similar to theMOTOR
ACCIDENTS CLAIM TRIBUNAL (MACT) would be step in the right direction.
 
On our part
i.e. POLICE WATCH INDIA'S
part we have already made a humble beginning by setting up "RIGHTS OF VICTIMS"
FOUNDATION OF INDIA
http://www.rightsofvictims.org/. 
 
WE EXPECT ALL OUR SUPPORTERS BOTH
SILENT & VOCAL TO LEND THEIR PATRONAGE & SUPPORT WITH ALL THEIR MIGHT
IN WHATEVER WAY POSSIBLE FOR THIS NOBLE EFFORT TO SUCCEED.
 
ANY BODY
& EVERYBODY CAN BE A VICTIM OF CRIME AT ANY GIVEN POINT OF TIME & THERE
ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE.
 
All News Letters are posted on our
Official Website: www.policewatchindia.org. Do visit it regularly.
 
Regards
POLICE WATCH INDIA(Regd. NGO).
Rajendra Dhar
Hony. Editor-in-Chief, Legal Advisor 
& Chief Investigator.
Mob. No. 9810887820. 
 COPY
BE SENT TO ALL POLICE OFFICERS & OTHERS CONCERNED.