THE CRIMINAL AND HIS VICTIM

The emergence of victim of crime as an object of study is largely the product of past sixty years. In 1937 Benjamin Meldelsohn started the scientific study of victims of crime, and introduced “the science of victim”, for which in 1947 he coined the term ”Victimology”(1956). Later on in 1948, the other or the second forefather Von Hentig , published his book:” The Criminal and his Victim”.

The concept of victim, one of the ancient of humanity emerges from the concept of justice. Victim belongs to all cultures because it is significantly connected with the idea and practice of sacrifice. May religions were fundamentally sacrificial. Early ritual literature from all religions of the world provides clues to the study of sacrifice and of its victims. Human, Divine, Animal or inanimate, Mythological and Epic sources provide ample evidence to the existence of different types of sacrifice and victims and they include clear symbolic elements that are connected to the rituals and process.

Societal and financial support for crime victims has a long history, dating back to Babylonian times and the establishment of the Code of Hammerabi, “An Eye for an eye, a Tooth for a tooth......”

Victimology  is  science  of  study  of  the  relationship  between  victims  and  violators  of  law  or  offenders.  Government  has  recently  reinforced  this  political  commitment  in  the  form  of  funds  for  the  National  Association  of  Victim  Support  Schemes (NAVSS).  In  1964,  when  the United  Kingdom  became  one  of  the  1^st  countries  to  establish  a  policy  commitment  to  victims  of  crime  in  the  form  of  criminal  injuries  compensation  Board.

The    victim is the forgotten man of our criminal justice system.  He  sets  the  criminal  law  in to  motion  but  then  goes  into  oblivion.  The  present  code  of  criminal  procedure  does  not  recognize  the  right  of  victim  to  take  part  in  the  prosecution  of  the  case  instituted  on  the  basis  of  police  report. The  victim  is  merely  a  witness  in  a  State  versus  case.  He  has  no  rights  to  prefer  appeal  against  the  order  of  acquittal  of  the  accused  by   trial  court  in   a  criminal  case  started  by  State.  The  State  reserves  the  discretion  not  to  prefer  and  also  to  withdraw  from  the  prosecution  even  in  heinous  offences.  The  victim  of  crime  becomes the  victim  of  our  criminal  justice  system  when  the  political  motivated  investigation  agency  or  prosecuting  agency  shows  lack  of  interest   or  apathy  in  the  matter  of  investigation  or  prosecution  on extraneous  consideration.

Legislation  conferred  jurisdiction  on the  criminal  courts  under  section  357(3)  of  the  code  of  criminal  procedure  for  awarding  unlimited  amount  of  compensation  to the  victims  at  the  time  of  passing  judgment  of  conviction. The  General  Assembly  of  the  United  Nation’s  has recommended  payment  of  compensation  to  the  victims  of  crime  by  the  State,  when  compensation  is  not  fully  available  from  the  offender or  other  sources. Payment  of  compensation  to  the  victims  of  crime  for  any  injury  caused  to  him  has  not  been  institutionalized  under the  Indian  Penal  Laws.  Nor  any  legal  right  to  be  compensated  has  been  created  in  favour  of  the  victim. In  case  of   irreversible  injury  monetary  compensation  is  the  sole  effective  remedy. In  India   there  is  neither  a  comprehensive  legislation  nor  a  statutory  scheme  providing  for  compensation  by  State  to  offender  to  victims  of  crime.

Right  of  the  rape  victim  to  receive  compensation  flows  from  Art.21  of  the  constitution.  Every  court  has jurisdiction  to   grant  compensation  not  only  at  the  final  stage  of  trial  but  also  to  award  interim  compensation  at  any  interlocutory  stage   of  trial. :    The   police,  court  and  lawyers  should  come  forward  to  provide  all  sorts  of  assistance  to  victims  of  rape.  Courts must deal with such cases with utmost sensitivity. The  court  should  examine  the  broader  probabilities  of  case  and  not  get  swayed  by  minor  contradictions  or  insignificant  discrepancies  in  witness  statements.  The  court  should  also  provide  adequate  financial  assistance  to  the  victim  of  rape.

Until recently, victims were not studied.  They tended to be seen as passive recipients of the criminal’s greed or anger, “in the wrong place at the wrong time.”  The study of victims, known as victimology, has resulted in theoretical and research studies, and an awareness of the victim has grown in the public consciousness.  There is now recognition that victims have traditionally not been treated particularly well by the criminal justice system.  Victims suffer not only during the crime, but that there are also sometimes physical and psychological complications.

The victim is essentially an inseparable part of crime. Therefore the phenomenon of crime cannot be comprehensively explained without incorporating the victim of a crime. Crime victim, despite being an integral part of crime and a key factor in criminal justice system, remained a forgotten entity as his status got reduced only to report crime and appear in the court as witness and he routinely faces postponements, delays, rescheduling, and other frustrations. All their means loss of earnings, waste of time, payment of transportation and other expenses, discouragement, and the painful realization that the system does not live up to its ideals and does not serve its constituency, but instead serves only itself. Many believe that the victim is the most disregarded participant in criminal justice proceedings.