This handbook offers practical guidelines to the law enforcement and criminal justice authorities on how to assess the impact of criminal proceedings on suspects and accused. It explains how the proceedings can affect the personal and social life of suspects and accused, provides summaries of court cases showing how criminal justice authorities are addressing this issue in practice, and offers references to research works for further reading. Enclosed in the handbook is an impact assessment questionnaire, which allows the law enforcement and criminal justice authorities to assess the degree to which the proceedings can affect the social status of suspects or accused.