CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN CRIME VICTIM NEEDS AND AVAILABLE PUBLIC SERVICES

• NCJ Number: 45423
• Journal: Social Service Review Volume: 50 Issue: 3 Dated: (1976) Pages: 482-490
• Author(s): W G DOERNER; R D KNUDTEN; A C MEADE; M S KNUDTEN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Chicago Press
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS STUDY INVESTIGATES THE TYPES OF PROBLEMS CRIME VICTIMS EXPERIENCE AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT ITSELF AND AS A RESULT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM INTERVENTION.

Abstract

MOST OF THE 826 VICTIMS INTERVIEWED DID NOT RECEIVE ANY HELP WITH THEIR PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY WERE UNAWARE THAT SUCH RESOURCES EXISTED. AN ANALYSIS OF COMMUNITY AGENCIES SHOWS THAT MOST SERVICES ARE UNABLE TO HANDLE THE MORE SERIOUS VICTIM PROBLEMS, WHICH ARE TYPICALLY FINANCIAL. DESPITE THIS GAP, VICTIMS GENERALLY FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD RECEIVE SOME FINANCIAL COMPENSATION FOR THEIR LOSSES. IF THESE FINANCIAL NEEDS CONTINUE TO BE NEGLECTED, FUTURE VICTIMS MAY ELECT NOT TO COOPERATE WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BECAUSE SUCH INVOLVEMENT WOULD ONLY CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR FINANCIAL LOSS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED.)