Guiding Principles for Crime Victims

Crime victims and survivors have an integral role in the U.S. criminal justice system and in efforts to promote individual and public safety. The overall effectiveness of the criminal justice system relies significantly on victims’ willingness and ability to participate in justice processes.

Through national criminal justice and public safety reform efforts, victims, survivors, and those who support them have contributed to the following seven “guiding principles” for sentencing, corrections, and public safety.