Crime victims as witnesses and criminal justice in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Rights and protection

Abstract

This work is focused on the victim and the other actors who take responsibility for criminal justice policy - or those working in a criminal justice system. These responses may be different forms of secondary victimization from others - including formal agencies such as the police and courts. This paper presents the process of secondary victimization in the work of the Department of support and protection of victims of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In succeeding chapters the focus will switch from victims as the subject of academic scrutiny to victims as the object of policy-makers to promote interests and needs of the victims. State authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina had a lot of trouble when adopting a law that provides rights to victims of crime and enables them to actively participate in all phases of criminal proceedings. The program of assistance and support to witnesses in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a new way to help witnesses and victims witnesses, because the legislation was not enough to guarantee the rights of victims in criminal proceedings. Instead, in this program, the idea of assistance to and participation of the victims emerged as ideas for the protection and support of victims - witnesses.