형사절차에 있어서 피해자가 확인되어 절차가 진행되지만 형사사법관련자들은 피해자를 금방 잊고 만다. 그들은 증언하지만, 형사사법절차에서 이들의 중요성을 간과하며, 그들의 아픈 상처를 대수롭게 생각하지 않는다. 피해를 입었다는 사실을 잊을 수 없고, 수사절차 및 형사공판절차에서 진술함으로써 받게 되는 심리적인 상흔을 이기기 힘들다. 피해자들은 범죄 그 자체로부터 상처입고, 때때로 절차진행의 결과 그리고 재판의 결과에 감정적으로 큰 상처를 입거나 드믄 일이지만 후련한 느낌도 받는다. 수백년전 특히 중세 초기 유럽각국에서는 피해자와 상속인들은 형사절차와 양형절차에서 아주 중요한 역할을 담당하였다. 그들은 진술하고, 반대신문을 하였으며, 무죄를 주장하는 피고인에 대하여 판사와 함께 또는 배심원들과 함께 공격을 하였다. 피해자들은 법질서, 명예심 또는 복수심으로 이렇게 참여를 보장받았다. 물론 이러한 시대는 절대주의 시대의 도래와 함께 사라졌다. 오늘 날 피해자들은 증인과 마찬가지로 여러 가지로 어려움을 겪게 된다. 그들은 과연 절차에서 어떻게 대우받을 것인가. 절차에 대하여 법적으로 별로 아는 것이 없고, 절차의 경과에 대하여 아무도 알려주지 않는다. 절차가 지연되면서 여러 가지로 신경이 쓰이며, 일도 못하겠고, 시간낭비가 적지 않다. 피고인이나 그의 친지들의 눈초리가 두렵다. 진술하거나 반대신문하면서 또 다시 피해의 아픔을 느끼며, 억울하다는 생각을 지울 수 없다. 우리나라에서도 국회가 형사소송법 제12차 개정에서 이러한 어려움을 느끼는 피해자를 보호하는 여러가지 규정을 수용하였다. 그러나 충분하지 않다. 피해자의 참여권, 피해자의 절차를 고지받을 권리, 특히 양형단계에서 정상사실을 충분히 진술할 권리, 담당 검사와 상담할 권리, 법률에 따른 배상을 받도록 도움을 받을 권리, 공정하고 존엄스럽게 대우받을 권리의 실현이라는 점에서 보다 더 보완이 필요할 것이다.

Where There is an identifiable surviving victim, the victim is often one of the most forgotten people in the courtroom. Although victims might testify at trial, the criminal justice system frequently look over the importance of the role of victims, or even downplayed victims' experience, including the psychological trauma endangered both by having been a victim and by having to endure the criminal proceedings that finally result in judging the accused guilty or not guilty. Although the victim may have been profoundly affected by the crime itself and is often emotionally committed to the proceedings and trial outcome, the victim may not even be permitted to participate directedly in the trial process. Hundreds of years ago, during early middle ages in much of europe, victims or their survivors routinely played a central role in trial proceedings and in sentencing decisions. They testified, examined witnesses, challenged defense contentions and pleaded with the judges or the jury for justice, honor and revenge. This era ended with the rise of the age of absolutism. Today, victims, like witnesses, experience many hardships as they participate in the criminal court process. We can specify some kinds of hardships, as follows. Uncertainties as to their role in the criminal justice process, a general lack of knowledge about the criminal justice system, courtroom procedure and legal issues, trial delays that result in frequent trouble, missed work and wasted time, fear of the defendant or retaliation from defendant's associates, the trauma of testifying and cross-examination. Our National Assembly passed the 12th Revision Act of Criminal Procedure Act. The 12th Revision Act establishes some statutory rights of for victims of crimes, necessary to assert those rights in courtroom proceedings. But it is not sufficent to fully protect victims. The future Act must include the following rigths of victims. the right to be included in any such public proceedings, the right to be reasonably heard at any public proceeding involving release, plea, sentencing, the right to confer with the handling prosecutor, the right to full and timely restitution as provided by law, the right to be treated with fairness and with respect for the victim's dignity and privacy.

Where There is an identifiable surviving victim, the victim is often one of the most forgotten people in the courtroom. Although victims might testify at trial, the criminal justice system frequently look over the importance of the role of victims, or even downplayed victims' experience, including the psychological trauma endangered both by having been a victim and by having to endure the criminal proceedings that finally result in judging the accused guilty or not guilty. Although the victim may have been profoundly affected by the crime itself and is often emotionally committed to the proceedings and trial outcome, the victim may not even be permitted to participate directedly in the trial process. Hundreds of years ago, during early middle ages in much of europe, victims or their survivors routinely played a central role in trial proceedings and in sentencing decisions. They testified, examined witnesses, challenged defense contentions and pleaded with the judges or the jury for justice, honor and revenge. This era ended with the rise of the age of absolutism. Today, victims, like witnesses, experience many hardships as they participate in the criminal court process. We can specify some kinds of hardships, as follows. Uncertainties as to their role in the criminal justice process, a general lack of knowledge about the criminal justice system, courtroom procedure and legal issues, trial delays that result in frequent trouble, missed work and wasted time, fear of the defendant or retaliation from defendant's associates, the trauma of testifying and cross-examination. Our National Assembly passed the 12th Revision Act of Criminal Procedure Act. The 12th Revision Act establishes some statutory rights of for victims of crimes, necessary to assert those rights in courtroom proceedings. But it is not sufficent to fully protect victims. The future Act must include the following rigths of victims. the right to be included in any such public proceedings, the right to be reasonably heard at any public proceeding involving release, plea, sentencing, the right to confer with the handling prosecutor, the right to full and timely restitution as provided by law, the right to be treated with fairness and with respect for the victim's dignity and privacy.

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the role of the victim, psychological trauma of victims, the rights to be included in any public proceedings, the right to be heard at any public proceedings involving release, plea, sentencing and excecution, the right to fully and timely restitution as provided by law, the right to be treated with fairness and respect for the victim's dignity and privacy, criminal proceeding, sentencing decision