This book is intended as a critically informed guide to understanding the nature, extent, and impact of criminal victimisation. Its key focus is an appreciation of the contemporary pre-occupation with victimisation especially within the criminal justice system and as a consequence is centrally concerned to offer an overview of what can and cannot be done within the system to address this drive towards appreciating the victim. The book traces the experiences of the victim from their experience of crime, to their first contact with the criminal justice system and beyond. Whilst the coverage of this process offered by this book is informed by research, its aim is to offer an accessible insight for students and practitioners alike into understanding the impact of crime, considering both contemporary policy and conceptual issues.