NCJ Number
242402
Date Published
2012
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This fact sheet, from the Council of State Governments and the American Probation and Parole Association, presents information on promising victim related practices in probation and parole.
Abstract
It is essential for probation and parole agencies to establish partnerships and collaborative initiatives with victim assistance agencies in order to more effectively assist victims and survivors of crime. These initiatives and partnerships can be defined using four key terms, described more clearly in the fact sheet: cooperation, coordination, collaboration, and partnership. The fact sheet highlights the purpose of partnerships; identifies three categories of victim assistance programs that are important to probation and parole agencies - community-based, system-based, and State coalitions and associations; and presents a list of different types of organizations that are can form partnerships with probation and parole agencies. Next, the fact sheet highlights the key elements required for collaboration and partnerships: updating the agency mission statement, creating an agency victim advisory council, creating a victim assistance program, understanding victims' rights, informing and educating victims and the public, training staff, designing community service projects, using social media, and observing commemorative days. This fact sheet highlights the need for community corrections agencies to establish partnerships with community-based victim services programs in order to strengthen their ability to meet the needs of victims and survivors of crime. 2 figures and 2 references