FOCUSING ON THE VICTIM

• NCJ Number: 54487
• Journal: Police Magazine Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 24-33
• Author(s): J BLACKMORE
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: Criminal Justice Publications, Inc
• Sale Source: Criminal Justice Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: BACK ISSUES ALSO AVAILABLE

Annotation

AN OVERVIEW OF VICTIM/WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS INCLUDES PROFILES OF PROJECTS IN BROOKLYN, N.Y., AND PIMA COUNTY (TUCSON), ARIZ.

Abstract

REFORM IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TRADITIONALLY HAS MEANT BROADENING THE RIGHTS OF DEFENDANTS. BUT CONCERN THAT SUCH REFORMS HAVE NEGLECTED THE RIGHTS OF VICTIMS HAS LED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF VICTIM/WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IN MORE THAN 100 CITIES. THIS MOVEMENT WAS SPEARHEADED BY THE SCORES OF RAPE CRISIS CENTERS THAT SPRANG UP IN THE LATE 1960'S AND EARLY 1970'S. IN 1974, LEAA LAUNCHED A CRIME VICTIM INITIATIVE. STARTING WITH EIGHT DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS, LEAA FUNDED MORE THAN 400 LOCAL AGENCIES, AT A COST OF $400 MILLION, TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO VICTIMS. ONE OF THE ORIGINAL DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS, PROJECT TURNAROUND IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WISC., PROVIDED A PARTICULARLY EXTENSIVE RANGE OF PROSECUTOR-BASED VICTIM/WITNESS SERVICES AND BECAME A MODEL FOR PROJECTS IN 33 STATES. A PROJECT IN WORCESTER, MASS., ADDED AN ASSORTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO THE COURT-RELATED SERVICES PIONEERED IN MILWAUKEE. DIFFERENT TYPES OF VICTIM/WITNESS SERVICES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TO MEET LOCAL NEEDS. FOR EXAMPLE, A SAN ANTONIO, TEX., PROGRAM ENLISTED THE SERVICES OF A FAITH HEALER TO PROVIDE CRISIS COUNSELING TO VICTIMS WHOSE BELIEFS RENDERED THE EFFORTS OF REGULAR PROGRAM COUNSELORS USELESS. ONE OF THE OLDEST AND MOST RESPECTED VICTIM/WITNESS PROGRAMS IS THAT IN BROOKLYN, N.Y., WHERE BOTH COURT AND SOCIAL SERVICES ARE OFFERED. THE BROOKLYN PROGRAM ALSO OPERATES A DISPUTE CENTER, WHICH PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE TO COURT ACTION IN FELONY CASES INVOLVING RELATED COMPLAINANTS AND DEFENDANTS, AS WELL AS A VICTIM RESTITUTION PROJECT. THE PIMA COUNTY, ARIZ., VICTIM/WITNESS PROGRAM IS THE ONLY PROJECT THAT INCLUDES A REGULAR CRISIS INTERVENTION PATROL. PROGRAM COUNSELORS PATROL TUCSON IN RADIO CARS AND ARE DISPATCHED BY POLICE TO ASSIST CRIME VICTIMS. DETAILS OF THE HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY, AND SERVICES OF THE BROOKLYN AND TUCSON PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED. AN ACCOMPANYING NOTE ON DEVELOPMENTS IN VICTIMOLOGY OFFERS COMMENTS BY VICTIMOLOGISTS, PSYCHIATRISTS, AND PSYCHOLOGISTS ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AFTERMATH OF VICTIMIZATION. (LKM)