CJA324

Frank PfliegerCJA324

1

1/20/14 Victims Rights and Vengeance

What is your personal stance on the current state of victims rights in America?

Victims rights have come a long way over the years; victims can now have a voice and matter. Sadly some states are not as far along as others with the victims rights movement. Some states do not feel that victims rights within their state have solid teeth yet. The victims rights movement has a long road ahead of them and many states are fighting it every step of the way, but so far this movement has achieved great strides. I think it is a great improvement for victims and they deserve to be involved in these cases and definitely deserve the rights that have been created by the 2004 CRVA.

Do you believe that the 2004 Crime Victims Rights Act (CRVA) has been successful? Explain

I think the 2004 CRVA has been successful. This act gives victims the opportunity to be involved in the criminal justice process. Victims or the government on the victims behalf can assert their rights in court. The CRVA has dramatically increased the awareness of victims and their rights. The biggest way that the CRVA has been successful is that we are now aware of three times the amount of victims as we were before this act passed, which tells us that victims are more empowered to come forward. 188+143+88+110

Is there ever a circumstance in which you feel vengeance is appropriate, even when it means breaking a law? Explain your response

I feel that vengeance is never appropriate, getting even with the accused doesnt undo the crime at hand and basically vengeance is all about getting even with the perpetrator. Even if vengeance can be achieved without breaking the law, I still do not support it. We have a criminal justice system for a reason and taking the law into our own hands is never a good idea and often does not end well nor does it make you feel justified in the end. Even if it was an immediate family member or a friend that was harmed or even killed I still would not take matters into my own hands, no matter how much I might want to. I would choose to stay heavily involved in the case against the perpetrator and assert mine or my families rights under the CRVA when applicable.

Do you agree with the actions of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP)? Why or why not?

I am a little torn on this matter, however I agree with their actions about 70%. I feel when it comes to the safety of children nothing should be off limits, and in this case this goes way beyond just keeping them safe. Parents need to know who suspected attackers are, especially if they are priest, since so many people feel they are completely safe with priest. If there was a suspected rapist in or around my neighborhood I could easily see myself distributing leaflets to my neighborhood in an effort to make them aware.

On the flip side of that, there is a portion if me (30%) that can see things from the view point of the suspected priests. The ones that never have had charges filed, or convinctions or verifiable evidence within the church or legal system could have a chance at some type of future. The actions of SNAP could offer detrimental suspicion and negate the possibility of any type of a future. Gossip and speculation does not mean that someone is guilty and last time I checked our way was innocent until proven guilty.