--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For far too long, victims' rights have…" description: "\"For far too long, victims' rights have been discussed only in the context of sentencing. Sentencing is very important, but the debate obscures somethin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/keir-starmer-4888_crime_for-far-too-long-victims-rights-have-bee_310614.jpg" --- # For far too long, victims' rights have been discussed only… ![“For far too long, victims' rights have been discussed only in the context of sentencing. Sentencing is very important, but the debate obscures something much more fundamental: most victims have so little faith in our criminal justice system that they do not access it at all.” quote by Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/keir-starmer-4888_crime_for-far-too-long-victims-rights-have-bee_310614.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/keir-starmer-4888_crime_for-far-too-long-victims-rights-have-bee_310614.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/keir-starmer-4888_crime_for-far-too-long-victims-rights-have-bee_310614.jpg) > “For far too long, victims' rights have been discussed only in the context of sentencing. Sentencing is very important, but the debate obscures something much more fundamental: most victims have so little faith in our criminal justice system that they do not access it at all.” [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The focus on sentencing overlooks victims' broader distrust of the justice system, leading many to avoid it entirely. **In simple terms:** Victims often lack faith in the system, so they stay away. Key Takeaway Address systemic trust issues, not just punishments. Themes justice victims' rights trust systemic reform Mood concerned determined Type political advocacy When to use this quote - policy reform - community outreach - legal aid improvements - victim support services Key Concepts legitimacy access to justice public confidence Questions to Reflect On - How can we rebuild trust for victims? - What systemic changes would encourage victims to engage? A Different Perspective Changing sentencing alone won’t rebuild trust without broader reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Criminal justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminal-justice/) [Criminal justice system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminal-justice-system/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-system/) [Little faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-faith/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Rights Discussed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-discussed-2947722/) [Sentencing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentencing/) [Sentencing Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentencing-important-2947721/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Too long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-long/) [Victims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victims/) [Victims Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victims-rights-2947720/) ## Related quotes > [If we were to allow the Chris Grayling and his cronies to tear up the Human Rights Act and withdraw from the European Convention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/if-we-were-to-allow-the-chris-grayling-and-his-cronies-to-tear-up-the/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) > [Significant cuts to funding for the police, for the Crown Prosecution Service, for probation etc, have put the long-term viability of our criminal justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/significant-cuts-to-funding-for-the-police-for-the-crown-prosecution/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [“Sentencing enhancements won't get police to investigate crimes they don't take seriously to begin with. They won't stop police from harassing trans women on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-whitlock/sentencing-enhancements-won-t-get-police-to-investigate-crimes-they/) [Kay Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-whitlock/) > [I believe indeterminate sentencing can be extremely useful, but I also believe that any such system should always take into consideration the special knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kennedy/i-believe-indeterminate-sentencing-can-be-extremely-useful-but-i-also/) [Robert Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kennedy/) > [We need to change sentencing laws that disproportionately hurt people of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-northam/we-need-to-change-sentencing-laws-that-disproportionately-hurt-people/) [Ralph Northam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-northam/) > [In response to the advocacy of groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving, most states adopted tougher laws to punish drunk driving. Numerous states now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/in-response-to-the-advocacy-of-groups-like-mothers-against-drunk/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [Anyone who thinks it's smart to cut immigration is sentencing Australia to poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/anyone-who-thinks-it-s-smart-to-cut-immigration-is-sentencing/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [I'm intending to work on juvenile justice reform, sentencing reform, reentry, drug treatment, access to mental health care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/i-m-intending-to-work-on-juvenile-justice-reform-sentencing-reform/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [“Accelerated Rehabilitation had a scientific sound, as if Pierre would rehabilitate faster and faster in an elliptical path until evaporating in a blue flash…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-drury/accelerated-rehabilitation-had-a-scientific-sound-as-if-pierre-would/) [Tom Drury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-drury/) > [No funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-weller/no-funding-for-alternative-sentencing-instead-of-more-prisons/) [Jerry Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-weller/) > [Locking people up without reducing the risk of them committing new crimes against new victims the minute they get out does not make for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/locking-people-up-without-reducing-the-risk-of-them-committing-new/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [Mandatory sentencing guidelines have become as complicated and detailed as the IRS code!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-h-greene/mandatory-sentencing-guidelines-have-become-as-complicated-and/) [Harold H. Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-h-greene/) > [It's kind of like sentencing. A lot of people say that we have a heavy sentence for this crime and a light sentence for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-s-kind-of-like-sentencing-a-lot-of-people-say-that-we-have-a-heavy/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The thing that happens is that politicians run on tough-on-crime rhetoric. You appeal to the public and say, 'Let's put more money into taller…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-jarecki/the-thing-that-happens-is-that-politicians-run-on-tough-on-crime/) [Eugene Jarecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-jarecki/) > [The federal sentencing guidelines should be revised downward. By contrast to the guidelines, I can accept neither the necessity nor the wisdom of federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/the-federal-sentencing-guidelines-should-be-revised-downward-by/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) ## More by Keir Starmer > [We have to call out terrorism for what it is, and I have always done that, and the Labour Party has always done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/we-have-to-call-out-terrorism-for-what-it-is-and-i-have-always-done/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [If you lose your job because there has been an influx of labour from another country, that is a legitimate cause for concern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/if-you-lose-your-job-because-there-has-been-an-influx-of-labour-from/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [When I was the director of public prosecutions between 2008 and 2013, I had staff working at the Eurojust HQ in The Hague 24/7.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/when-i-was-the-director-of-public-prosecutions-between-2008-and-2013/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [As we exit the E.U., there must be a new approach to immigration that has the consent of the British people and is managed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/as-we-exit-the-e-u-there-must-be-a-new-approach-to-immigration-that/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [So if you want a really effective criminal justice strategy, you don't build bigger prisons, you invest money in young kids - and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/so-if-you-want-a-really-effective-criminal-justice-strategy-you-don-t/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [I think the first what would happen in the immediate wake of a hard Brexit is a lack of confidence in UK economy. Business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/i-think-the-first-what-would-happen-in-the-immediate-wake-of-a-hard/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [Surveillance legislation fit for the 21st century, which strikes the right balance between privacy, security and democracy is a prize worth fighting for, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/surveillance-legislation-fit-for-the-21st-century-which-strikes-the/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [Labor party wants to make the economy fairer for everybody with a new industrial strategy and by investing in different parts of the UK.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/labor-party-wants-to-make-the-economy-fairer-for-everybody-with-a-new/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [In the absence of honesty from the Conservative party leadership, it is Labour's duty to spell out the very real consequences of a no-deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/in-the-absence-of-honesty-from-the-conservative-party-leadership-it/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [Just when we need a strong government, what do we see? Division. Chaos. And failure. No credible plan for Brexit, no solution to prevent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/just-when-we-need-a-strong-government-what-do-we-see-division-chaos/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [I believe Britain's response to Brexit must be based on core progressive values: internationalism, cooperation, social justice and the rule of law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/i-believe-britain-s-response-to-brexit-must-be-based-on-core/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [There is a world of difference between not disclosing fine detail and relying on broad and generalised assertions. The first may be understandable; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/there-is-a-world-of-difference-between-not-disclosing-fine-detail-and/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [The key to understanding the impact of the Human Rights Act in the U.K. is to appreciate that civil liberties and human rights are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/the-key-to-understanding-the-impact-of-the-human-rights-act-in-the-u/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [You don't win elections by telling people what you're against. We're very good at listing things we don't much like about what the Tories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/you-don-t-win-elections-by-telling-people-what-you-re-against-we-re/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [Britain outside the E.U. would be less able to respond with the speed and strength we need to tackle complex and growing cross-border threats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/britain-outside-the-e-u-would-be-less-able-to-respond-with-the-speed/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) [Explore all 105 Keir Starmer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) ## More Crime quotes > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [“Crime and punishment can be summed up in two classifications: there are bad people and there are people who get into bad situations. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/crime-and-punishment-can-be-summed-up-in-two-classifications-there/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [“The jailers, the Court, everyone in that building – it wasn’t about justice; it was about obedience and intimidation…about maintaining order. Fear accomplished that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/the-jailers-the-court-everyone-in-that-building-it-wasn-t-about/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [Taking notes while watching Forensic Files and Snapped. I don't want to make the same mistakes the criminals do! ;)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/taking-notes-while-watching-forensic-files-and-snapped-i-don-t-want/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Nations sometimes flourish by denying the crimes that brought them into being. Only when the original invasion, occupation, extermination or usurpation has been safely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/nations-sometimes-flourish-by-denying-the-crimes-that-brought-them/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [“a crime to fell a tree and light it on fire, where coals of hardened shit warmed and stunk up homes,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/a-crime-to-fell-a-tree-and-light-it-on-fire-where-coals-of-hardened/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/) [Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/) > [History is the study of the world's crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/history-is-the-study-of-the-world-s-crime/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Too much virtue can be criminal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/too-much-virtue-can-be-criminal/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [The federal prison population increased by almost 800 percent between 1980 and 2013, often at a far faster rate than the Bureau of Prisons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-yates/the-federal-prison-population-increased-by-almost-800-percent-between/) [Sally Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-yates/) > [ \[P\]rogress, however, has not sufficiently infiltrated the Interior Ministry, affording protection to those who participated in the Bytyqi murders and other egregious Milosevic-era crimes. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avis-bohlen/p-rogress-however-has-not-sufficiently-infiltrated-the-interior/) [Avis Bohlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avis-bohlen/) [Browse all 8,359 Crime quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For far too long, victims' rights have been discussed only in the context of sentencing. Sentencing is very important, but the debate obscures something much more fundamental: most victims have so little faith in our criminal justice system that they do not access it at all.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Keir Starmer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/for-far-too-long-victims-rights-have-been-discussed-only-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Crime" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/for-far-too-long-victims-rights-have-been-discussed-only-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/keir-starmer-4888_crime_for-far-too-long-victims-rights-have-bee_310614.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/keir-starmer-4888_crime_for-far-too-long-victims-rights-have-bee_310614.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/keir-starmer-4888_crime_for-far-too-long-victims-rights-have-bee_310614.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For far too long, victims' rights have been discussed only in the context of sentencing. Sentencing is very…” — Keir Starmer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Keir Starmer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For far too long, victims' rights...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/for-far-too-long-victims-rights-have-been-discussed-only-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/for-far-too-long-victims-rights-have-been-discussed-only-in-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```