The Victims’ Rights Clause Confuses the Civil and Criminal Systems

 Posted on August 03, 2015 in Victim Rights

Both the United States and Illinois have two different justice systems: the criminal justice system and the civil justice system. When you are charged with a criminal offense your case is supposed to be handled in the criminal justice system. However, over time some of the important distinctions between the two have become blurred. This is particularly clear when it comes to so-called victims’ rights provisions, like those found in the Illinois Constitution.

The Traditional Difference between the Criminal and Civil Justice Systems

The criminal and civil justice systems are different. The civil justice system is wherein civil lawsuits are filed by ordinary individuals. This system exists to address grievances that exist between private people, between a private person and a company, or between two companies. In contrast, the criminal justice system is meant to have nothing to do with private wrongs. Within the criminal justice system, a person may be accused of committing a crime against the state. That is why these cases are prosecuted by a “state’s attorney” rather than some private attorney hired by the accuser or his or her family. Each system has its own burden of proof and its own mechanism of justice. While in the criminal system, imprisonment is available if a person is found guilty, in the civil system the liable person is held responsible by being ordered to pay money to the injured person.

A Convolution of the Systems: The Victims’ Rights Provisions

Serious crimes can have long-term or even permanent effects on crime victims and their families. No one denies that, and that is part of why the civil justice system exists: for those people to get a day in court and to potentially obtain justice where it is appropriate. However, the criminal justice system in Illinois has become victim-centric as well. Well-meaning voters and legislatures have enacted laws and constitutional provisions that protect “victims’ rights.” These provisions have given accusers rights to impact the freedom of the defendant before he or she has even been found guilty of a crime. These provisions commonly act as a reason to keep the accused (and presumed innocent) defendant locked up before a trial has even been held or guilt determined. This does not only hurt the defendant, however. It also leads to jail overcrowding that is expensive for taxpayers and dangerous for the men and women who work in our prison systems. It also encourages people to plead guilty who may not be guilty, as a guilty plea can all too often lead to a faster release than a not guilty verdict due to bail policies designed to make crime victims feel satisfied rather than to serve the purpose of bail; that is, to insure the defendant’s appearance in court. Accusers are not parties in criminal cases, so giving them so much control in these cases is inappropriate and detrimental.

Call the Law Offices of Christopher M. Cosley

If you or someone you love has been charged with a crime, you will need the help of an experienced Rolling Meadows criminal defense attorney like Christopher M. Cosley. Call us today at 847-253-3100. We will advocate for you and fight for a positive outcome in your case. The prosecution has the power of the entire state on its side; you deserve to have an experienced advocate on yours.