91172.pdf

186 / Court and the Legal System—Civil Forensics

The general welfare perspective offers a position that undoubtedly causes some

substantial debate. To remain true to our efforts to support victims and advocate

for victims' rights, we must also support those offenders for whom victimization

played an important and decisive role in their lives. If the young man whose repeated

assaults on Regina Palmer was abused himself for the majority of his childhood,

should we then support him as a victim as well? This, of course, is not to suggest

that such persons should not be punished for their crimes, but that we should not

overlook the reality that many of today's offenders are or were themselves victims.

As such, closer attention to victims before they progress to the status of offender is,

perhaps, an effort that could significantly reduce the number of persons victimized

at the hands of these individuals. Again, we must make some preliminary choices

between compensation for those existing victims and preventative efforts to reduce

the number of future victims. This is a debate that haunts all sectors of the system

of justice today.

Suggestions for Future Research

Our efforts toward research in the increasingly significant areas of victims' rights and

victim compensation must lead us to new and more effective practices. The previous

section discussing the general welfare perspective encourages us to determine where

our resources are best allocated. This is a question that remains unanswered. While

there is certainly research that attempts to determine the effectiveness of crime

prevention techniques, this research is far from complete. It remains to be seen

whether employing human and financial resources in programs that are aimed at

prevention and rehabilitation are worthwhile. Certainly, this is an area open to those

interested in forensic psychology and the relationship between human behavior and

the system of justice.

Additional concerns were raised by the process of compensation itself. Recall

that we previously discussed exactly where the line should be drawn. Current de-

cisions delineating to whom we deliver compensatory aid are far from conclusive.

Should such programs be better publicized? If so, where would the necessary re-

sources come from that would assist the increased number of persons asking for

relief? These and other questions represent important concerns for our system

of justice and those inquiring into how such an institution could and should be

improved.

VICTIM-OFFENDER MEDIATION

Introduction

Victim—offender mediation programs were created and are utilized in nearly 100
jurisdictions throughout the United States (Umbreit, 1993). There are more than