ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the impact of victims' participation in the criminal process, but perhaps the repercussions of the experience are even better gauged by measuring victim attitudes about various aspects of the system and its results in their cases. To understand the impact of the criminal process, beyond the particular victimization and post-victimization experiences thusfar described, it is necessary to examine the specific outcomes of the process for victims, and their attitudes associated with pursuing their cases. The actual outcomes for crime victims who get involved in the criminal process may be no better than for those who decide to ignore their victimization, and certainly the results cannot be described as favorable for most victims. The displeasure is abundantly reflected in victims' attitudes about the justice system and its officials. And, obviously these negative views will have, at least in the minds of most respondents, a restraining effect on their future willingness to become involved in the criminal process.
