This book provides an introduction to key debates in the field of victims and victimology. Emergent and established themes in victim-centred research, policy and practice are outlined and illustrated with detailed case studies of important developments; including, for example, repeat victimisation, victim compensation, and probation-based victim contact work. While the mainstay of the text focuses on victim-centred criminal and social justice developments in England and Wales, examples are offered from around the world in an effort to explore the victim's 'place' in the context of wider political and policy debates. The book's eight chapters, together with its introduction and end comment, describe and comment on some of the most salient developments, in recent years, in so-called 'victim-centred' justice.

As numerous academic and political commentators have noted, the implications of introducing a victim’s perspective into the delicate balance between state and offender is likely to be a key issue in the future of criminal justice. This book seeks to outline the contours of the relevant debates drawing together contributions from prominent international and national commentators, from areas including criminology, law, philosophy, social policy, politics and sociology.