NCJ Number
198948
Journal
International Review of Victimology Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: 2002 Pages: 197-209
Editor(s)
Susan Herman,
David Weisburd
Date Published
2002
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article describes ongoing efforts to influence prevention, intervention, and restitution activities for special populations of victims by the victims themselves.
Abstract
The victims' movement is described with an overview of its history in the United States since the 1970's, including the expanding role of victims as collaborative partners of police (including tribal police), prosecutors, and the courts. The incidence of domestic violence, the work of victim advocates, and the creation of the Violence Against Women Act are described as they effect collaboration between criminal and civil courts, law enforcement, prosecution, and enforcement agencies, medical and mental health agencies, domestic violence shelters, victim advocacy and services organizations, child welfare agencies, and the clergy. Community policing principles of integration of organizational change, problem-solving, and collaborative partnerships are reviewed, with the fundamental tenet being that law enforcement agencies develop a new relationship with the citizens of communities. Two communities are studied, Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Hopi Pueblo, in their collaborative efforts to serve domestic violence victims. Offender accountability is discussed with batterer counseling and re-education being identified as an essential part of the program. In conclusion, the authors emphasize the broad and long-term negative effects of domestic violence on victims, their children, abusers, and the community as a whole, and recommend community policing as the most effective problem-solving approach to respond to this problem. A source list of references is included.