Assignment:
Professional Standards and the Future
Victims' rights have advanced significantly over the last many decades, but the journey is far from over. The ethical treatment and rights of victims remain important issues in the field of victimology. Many states have passed victims' bill of rights statutes that seek to deliver victims fair treatment under the law. The provisions of the bills include being handled with fairness, dignity, and respect; being notified in a timely manner about judicial proceedings related to the crime; and protection from harassment, among several other rights. This week, you examine how victims' rights affect specific roles in the criminal justice system, and how that relationship may change professional standards.
In addition, you analyze how technology or media changes the role of the victim.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Analyze the effect of crime victims' rights on the roles and standards of criminal justice professionals
- Predict how the roles of victims might expand in the criminal justice system
- Analyze how technology and media affect the role of the victim
Discussion: Professional Standards and the Future
As victims' rights have become more prominent and relevant to actions taken and decisions made throughout the criminal justice system, consider how various roles may or may not change in response. Some of these changes may be logistical or operational, but others may necessitate a shift in how professionals interact with victims, changing the concepts of professional standards, ethics, and the influence of technology and media. In this Discussion, you critically reflect on these issues.
To prepare:
Select a criminal justice role that is affected by victim's rights.
Post a response to the following:
1. Explain how crime victims' rights affect your selected role and the role's professional standards.
2. How might the continuing evolution of the victim change the professional standards of the criminal justice role you selected?
3. Explain how technology or media has changed or will change the role of the victim.