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Abstract

This Survey fills an important gap in our knowledge of the treatment of crime victims in Western Europe - the extent to which such persons are entitled to compensation from the State. The focal point is the Council of Europe Convention of 1983 on the Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes, which makes provision for the payment of compensation by the State to persons who have suffered personal injury or impairment of health as a result of crimes of violence, and to the dependants of persons who have died as a result of such crimes. The Survey consists of 16 national reports written by reporters from the countries concerned, explaining the extent to which crime victims are entitled to compensation from the State when such compensation is not forthcoming from the offender. Each report also includes the text of the relevant legislation setting out the detailed provisions of the State compensation scheme. A summary of the salient features of the different schemes, and of the extent to which the European Convention has been implemented in principle and in practice, is provided in a general overview compiled by the Editor. All the material is in English.

The countries covered by the Survey are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom (with separate reports on Great Britain and Northern Ireland).