Alternatives for detention and punishment

Abstract

The term alternatives for detention covers a wide range of possibilities to avoid detention. It is often forgotten that in cases of an offence there are two parties: the suspect /offender/ and the victim /the injured party/. Especially in penal cases the state takes the rcsponsibility to handle the case. The state, not the victim, is responsible for identifying, prosecuting and punishing the offender. The principal parties are the offender and the state, each represented by others who speak for them. What about the victim, the injured party? He stays behind, hurt, with feelings of frustration and powerlessness.