Victims of serious crimes who always feel dejected because they feel that more sympathy is being offered to the offenders can now put aside those feelings.
This is due mainly to the fact that the Government has now put in place a Victims' Charter which will focus on the well-being and welfare of victims.
Citizens' rights
The booklet, which is entitled 'Towards a Victims' Charter', and is produced by the Ministry of Justice, says in its policy statement that the "Government of Jamaica is committed to the continued improvement and strengthening of the Criminal Justice System to ensure that the rights and privileges of all citizens are preserved and protected, thereby engendering confidence in and respect for the rule of law."
The Victims' Charter will also address the needs of victims of crime with a view to bringing balance to the manner in which victims and offenders are treated.
It states further that "The aim of the Victims' Charter is to address the status of victims of crime and to institute policies, programmes and initiatives that will support such victims and provide them with fair and just treatment throughout criminal justice proceedings; justice for victims and witnesses of crime must be assured, while safeguarding the rights of accused persons and convicted offenders."
Citizens have over the years taken the law into their hands by beating or chopping to death persons who commit certain crimes.
Curb vigilantism
The Government has set out the objectives of the Victims' Charter and states that one of the objectives is to instil public confidence in the Criminal Justice System, through appropriate education, training and information dissemination, so that citizens will refrain from developing and utilising alternative community justice.
Steps will be taken to repair the harm done to the victim by providing restitution and, in so doing, restore community harmony. Initiatives will also be put in place to promote victim support and victim protection.
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