Secondary Victimization and Psychological Trauma: The Role of Police, Prosecutors, and Courts in Victim Recovery: A Comparative Analysis of Pakistan and Selected Advanced Jurisdictions

Abstract

Secondary victimization is the additional psychological, emotional, and social harm that victims experience through insensitive or inadequate treatment by criminal justice institutions after the original offence. This study argues that trauma-informed, victim-centred reforms are essential to protect victims' dignity, promote recovery, and strengthen justice, particularly within Pakistan's criminal justice system.