Who is often forgotten in processing of criminal defendants?

• A. Victims
• B. Prosecutors
• C. Police
• D. Defendants

Answer: (A)

In the flow of criminal justice processing, the person most affected by the crime—the victim—often doesn’t receive sustained attention. The system tends to center on the roles and rights of police, who investigate; prosecutors, who decide charges and pursue the case; and the defendant, whose due process protections are paramount. Victims can become less visible as the case moves through investigation, charging, and trial, leading to what many describe as secondary victimization—feeling uninformed, overlooked, or sidelined in decisions and proceedings that directly affect them.

Efforts to involve and support victims—such as informing them of proceedings, providing restitution, and allowing victim impact statements—help, but gaps remain. This is why the correct answer highlights victims: they are often the group most forgotten in the routine processing of criminal cases, despite bearing the direct harm of the crime.