ABSTRACT
This chapter offers a global discussion on victims' rights legislation in the US and Europe, with the aim of identifying and addressing some of the issues embedded in the implementation of the legislation. It provides a brief analysis of legislative protections and guidelines for crime victims at the state level. Like America, Europe has made considerable efforts in the area of protecting victims and expanding their rights, leading to the enactment of much legislation and promotion of best practices. Member states of the European Union (EU) are obliged to follow and adhere to the EU Directives and Recommendations for establishing protections and guidelines for victims in their respective criminal justice systems. This obligation is to ensure uniformity in victims' rights legislation across all member states. The chapter identifies and discusses specific issues hindering the implementation of victims' rights legislation across cultures. It develops a conceptual framework of the role of victims in the criminal justice system.
