The criminal courts confront a double bind with regard to victims. On the one hand, victims are valued for the cases they bring to the system; their misfortunes become the raw material of the court process. On the other hand, individual victims represent a potential source of irrationality in the process. The personal and often emotional involvement of victims in the crime experience can generate particular demands for case outcomes that have little to do with the public interest.
-Members of the courtroom work group may perceive that the victim's demands for public justice actually mask a desire for

Question

The criminal courts confront a double bind with regard to victims. On the one hand, victims are valued for the cases they bring to the system; their misfortunes become the raw material of the court process.  On the other hand, individual victims represent a potential source of irrationality in the process. The personal and often emotional involvement of victims in the crime experience can generate particular demands for case outcomes that have little to do with the public interest.
-Members of the courtroom work group may perceive that the victim's demands for public justice actually mask a desire for

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The victim's demands for public justice may be perceived as a desire for private vengeance because they may have a personal desire for revenge against the offender. However, the criminal justice system is not designed for private revenge but rather for public justice. Therefore, the victim's desire for public justice may actually hide their desire for private vengeance.

The Criminal Courts Confront a Double Bind with Regard to Victims