Victim Impact(Sociology)

Victim impact assignment

1. Research the parole process in the state of Florida. Briefly state Florida’s parole process.

Based on the parole process of Florida, the decision is always predicated based on the objectives analysis of each and every individual’s case, it carefully considers the given risks to the perspective of the parolee that may pose to the entire community, if by any chance it is released before the expirations of prisons terms and conditions. The final decisions are always made when the members of the parolee fully realize that 98% of all the entire intimates will highly be returned to any event in the community.

2. Identify 3 things that the criminal justice and paroling systems can do to be more sensitive to the needs and concerns of victims.

It would be more convenient if all convicts are convicted at the same time and in the same courtroom. It is very inconveniencing for a victim to visit each and every of her rapist trails, and thereafter reliving the moment by narrating her story. For instance, in the case of Joanna, she had to go to all the 5 rapist trails and therefore narrates how the whole scenario went down to every rapist trail. Secondly, the criminal justices should increase the victims’ participation. The victims should be given enough time to be heard. Based on the sentencing process victims always have no voice in it, the only thing that they can do is to sit and listened to what it is being said. Lastly, education should be imposed on the traumatic effects that are of crime victimization. Generally, it is very vital to aid victims that have such horrible events.

3. What is the impact of crime on victims and survivors and their family? Make sure you think about both the positive and negative impacts. Also, in your answer consider the following 3 types of impact:

The immediate negative impact is considered very traumatizing and shocking. The life of the victim completely changes together with that of their families. In this stage victims likely to gauge themselves guilty, while they are not. Based on the positive impact, there are no hours after the person is sexually assaulted.

Based on the short-term negative impact it is still considered traumatizing, this is the stage whereby the victims always slips to depression. The act of sexual assault is the victim’s fault thus feeling so vulnerable and worthless. This is the stage whereby no one is trusted, but only the victim’s family does. Bringing family closer is the only thing that this stage does, and the victims’ family is the most important during horrible times.

The long-term impact has a negative impact that is being reflected for months and even years after Joanna was raped and assaulted, she still goes to court to tell her story thus relive the moment, this act is much traumatizing. The positive impact of the long-term impact is that it creates time for everybody to heal and the past being put behind.

4. in what ways, can participate in the criminal justice system is traumatic for victims and their family?

It is very traumatic because the victim together with his family keeps on reliving the scenario that happened, each and every time they entered the courtroom. For instances the Joanna Katz who was assaulted and raped by five strong men, and instead of all her hearing done at the same time, they are instead held at different times and days. Thus three of the hearing was done in one year while the other two were held in a period of the next one year based on different specified dates. It is bad to imagine telling a story on how you were assaulted and raped, while rapists are also in the same courtroom within a period of different days. This act is very traumatizing to Joanna together with his family.

5. How can participating in the criminal justice system be beneficial to the healing process of victims and their family?

It is very hard to understand sitting in the same courtroom with individuals who raped and assaulted you. Despite that, the benefits of this act come out of hearing the sentencing of the individual of the people who assaulted you, and it is clearly shown to you how long they are going to rot in jail. I admit it is a very long process, but to some extent, it creates the healing process of the assaults. The criminal justices always try to bring justice to a clear picture of the victim and the family despite them taking a lot of time prosecuting the court case.

6. How was the parole process traumatic for the Katz family?

The most traumatic act affecting the Katz family based on the parole process is that all the 5 of Joanna’s attackers are firmly available for their parole for a period of years, despite them receiving a sentenced period of 30-35 years in prison. The district attorney had multiple requests that all the parole hearing be done together, but the requests were denied, therefore Joanna’s and his family had to travel over 200 miles different times in a year, just to attend to each attackers hearing hence bringing back the memory of the whole act and how it happened.

7) What was helpful about the parole process for the Katz family?

The most helpful thing about the parole process for the Katz family is that all the parole hearing that concerns different offenders are all held in on the same day, there is no need of traveling to go and attend each and every hearing of each attacker. Also, there is a creation of closed two way TV systems, therefore it is not necessary for the victims to go and attend the hearing physically. Lastly, the attackers’ information is always given to the involved victims earlier to the hearing.

8. How can the justice system enhance or reform its process to better facilitate the effective participation of crime victims and survivors and at the same time ensure their sensitive treatment?

There are different ways whereby the justice system can enhance its main processes, first by providing all the involved victims with a set of professionals who are strictly specialized in backing the victims and also taking care of the victims who needs some help. It will sound good and healthy if the victims are allowed to participate in parole decision hearings in the courtroom. Lastly, the justice system can be enhanced by conducting victims survey, thereafter professional can guarantee eminence victims assistance.

9. Browse through the National Center for Victims of Crime’s website and list the rights of crime victims.

a) Right to be well informed

b) Right to be well protected

c) Right to apply for compensation

d) Right to restitution from attackers

e) Right to speed up the trail

f) Right to enforce the victims’ rights

10. State your reaction to this film.

I strongly believe those five men who attack’s Joanna and her friend rot in prison and never by any chance have an opportunity to attain freedom because what they did is an awful act to any female. Joanna’s is a very strong lady; she bravely did what she did so that she can survive in that horrible situation. She strongly tells the attackers that she was an HIV victim. The whole film was informative based on that; it has changed the look of the criminal justice system forever. According to nature, bad things must first happen before the good things happen, that is how changes were made in the criminal justices system. The world which we are living today has a lot of bad acts, but all in all the whole story ended up very well with justice being fully satisfied.

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