NCJ Number
104972
Date Published
1987
Length
289 pages
Annotation
This British study examines the problems of crime victims and assesses the effectiveness of the rapidly expanding volunteer groups that offer victim services.
Abstract
The results of a 1984 survey of all victim support programs in England and Wales revealed a rapidly expanding movement, with strong growth in the number of programs, the size of areas covered, the number of volunteers, and number of referrals received. Data from interviews with crime victims and from the 1984 British Crime Survey address the long-term and short-term effects of victimization and victims' needs for support and assistance. An examination of the 'filtering processes' whereby the number of victim clients for services is narrowed to those actually contacted or visited suggests that 'automatic' referral systems are more effective than 'selective' systems in providing a regular flow of cases. Some problems in the internal structure of victim service schemes include confusions in the roles of coordinator and committee members, the excessive load carried by coordinators, and the loss of volunteer morale. Interviews with a sample of 265 victims of rape, robbery, burglary, and 'snatch' theft explored the effects of the crimes on the victims, the help they received from victim programs, and their reaction to a visit from a volunteer. 18 tables, appended miscellaneous findings, and 173-item bibliography.