Kent Roach's Model Analysis

Kent Roach “created a third model as a theoretical based for victims’ rights. He referred to it as the victims’ rights model and called for more laws and prosecutions, a greater role for the victim in the trial and more services and support for victims” (2008, p. 113). In his model, he identifies the difference between the punitive victims’ rights model and the non-punitive victims’ rights model. Roach describes that the “punitive approach as one resembling the crime control model because it focuses on the enactment of criminal law, prosecution and punishment as ways to control crime” (2008, p. 113). While the non-punitive model of victims’ rights according to Roach “looks away from the reliance on criminal sanction and punishment and toward the prevention of crime and the restorative justice” (2008, p. 114).
For example, the punitive approach will require the victim to be involved at sentencing and parole hearings as this will tend to lead to greater punishment. While the non-punitive approach relies on the needs of the victims and “seeks to minimize the pain of both victimization and punishment” (2008, p. 114). Roach also goes on to say that the non-punitive approach “would seek to shift the focus of importance away from traditional crime strategies” (2008, p. 114) and towards the victim, the offender, families and supporters. Therefore, I believe that the non-punitive approach will facilitate the victim’s role in the criminal justice process. As Volk and Schmalleger (2008) states that the victims in the non-punitive approach would play a significant role in determining how the offender should be dealt with. I would think that the victim would testify at the hearing and depending on the evidence and what is said; the punishment will be granted based on the information provided by the