This book examines the role of victims within the substantive trial procedure prior to the sentencing stage in England and Wales. Chapter 1 provides background on victims, victimology, and policymaking. Chapter 2 reviews contemporary questions raised by victimologists concerning the place of victims within an adversarial criminal justice system, such as victim rights; the provision of facilities, services, and support to victims; and the issues arising when victims give evidence in criminal trials, including vulnerable or intimidated victims. Chapter 3 examines the driving forces behind progression of official actions on crime victims to determine if such actions can be classified as a unified strategy. Chapter 4 explores one possible model or an important component of a model for victim-centered criminal justice. Chapters 5 and 6 provide the main empirical results. Data are organized in a chronological fashion following the victim through the trial process. Chapter 5 examines the support and facilities available to victims and other witnesses before the trial, while chapter 6 examines the trial itself, especially the evidence-giving process, and the position of the victims after the trial. Chapter 7 examines the issues and results presented in all the preceding chapters and offers analysis of the key issues regarding the role of the victims at the heart of criminal justice; based on all the data gathered for this project, best practices are discussed. Tables, figures, notes, references, and index