Twenty-five years ago, the rights of crime victims and the psychological effects they suffered from their victimization were largely ignored by the criminal justice system, the media, and the public. Public consciousness began to emerge as a result of the women's, civil rights, gay rights, and anti-war movements, and victim activists began to organize self-help groups. While the criminal justice and legislative systems were beginning to recognize the need to compensate victims of crime for their monetary losses, victimology had yet to emerge as a specialty within the field of criminal justice. To anticipate what the future might hold for enhanced victims' rights, the article explores three tendencies: the trend toward greater formal rights, the trend towards the privatization of criminal justice functions, and the trend towards differential case handling. 39 references