The invisible victim : the criminal justice system's forgotten responsiblity /

Victims of violent crime are curiously neglected, argues psychologist Reiff, who directed one of the first victim-assistance programs in the country (in the South Bronx). His book is largely an account of that program and its failures (it could not give aid but only refer victims to other social-service agencies) and is thus intrinsically limited--especially by comparison with J. L. Barkas' Victims of last year. But the book has other drawbacks. Pointing out that victims of violent crimes (especially battered women and rape victims) tend to be blamed for their own victimization, Reiff argues that they deserve the same sympathy and immediate relief we give to sufferers of natural disasters. Further, he argues that society is obliged to make restitution to citizens it fails to protect. He describes the current fate of crime victims--""launched on a career of social injustices, of callous post-crime victimization by the police, the courts, the legal profession, and the human service systems of the nation""--and proposes a crime victim's ""bill of rights."" He raises this important issue, however, only to bury it in jargon (""This mandate was operationalized in two major undertakings"") and scattergun ""solutions"" ranging from credit cards for the elderly to creation of a whole new social work army of ""victim's advocates."" An overblown and under-thought account that provides some questions but no answers. On every score, then--including identification with the victim, not the agency--Barkas is the better choice. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.