Abstract
This chapter reviews the increased policy focus on victims, dealing with remedies for victims of crime and more recent involvement in the sentencing process via victim impact statements as well as discussing the impact of punishment on offenders. Ways of reducing the impact of crime on the victim are considered, including compensation, and confiscation, restitution and forfeiture as well as focusing on the Victims Code and the victim’s surcharge. Conflicting approaches to the impact of punishment on the offender or the offender’s family, including financial penalties, are considered. This discussion covers justifications from penology and evidence—from research and appellate cases—of practice in the courts. Arguments for and against impact mitigation are examined with reference to a range of issues, including social deprivation, illness, disability, and age.
