Victims marginalized participation in the administration of criminal justice in Tanzania: a case study of Dodoma

This study centres on the role of victims of crimes in the administration of criminal justice in tanzania, particularly the victim’s participative role in the criminal process. The study reveals that victims’ participation in the administration of criminal justice in Tanzania is marginalized. It has been found out that the main reason for victims’ marginalized participation is that the administration of criminal justice in Tanzania is conducted and controlled by the state. The victims’ role is relegated to that of informant and a witness. The study has found out that victims marginalized participation in the criminal justice cause information deficit to both the criminal justice system and the victim. The absence of victims in the criminal process causes lack of valuable information, which may be important for decision makers in the criminal justice system. The absence of victims in the criminal process also causes the victims to be ignorant of the procedure and reasons for criminal justice decision ¬making. This has negative effect on the quality of justice and the victims’ perception of justice at the end of the process. In order to reduce this problem, it is recommended in this study that victims should be afforded active participation in the administration of criminal justice. However, since victims do not have party status in the public administration of criminal justice, the study recommends that appropriate strategy need to be put in place, which would avoid potential conflict between different actors in the criminal justice process. In undertaking this study, this work has been divided into several chapters. Chapter one gives the general introduction and theoretical background of the study. Chapter two explores the development and reasons for development of public system of administration of criminal justice. Chapter three examines participation of victims at different stages of criminal justice in tanzania. Chapter four is devoted to examining whether there is a need for victims’ active participation in the criminal justice. Conclusion and recommendations are given in chapter five.