The focus is on changing research interests (the move from criminology to victimology), the establishment of victim assistance programs, legislative reforms, and changes in criminal justice procedures. The issue of victimization is briefly addressed from an international, human rights perspective. The underlying theme is the extent to which the emergence of victim movements and victim policies have been co-opted by repressive criminal law trends that serve political interests. The author concludes that crime victims are not being treated adequately in the current climate of criminal justice policymaking. 11 references