NCJ Number
223505
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 35 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2008 Pages: 78,80,85
Date Published
June 2008
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article examines proactive strategies and effective responses utilized by various law enforcement and victim service agencies to reduce the impact of criminal victimization.
Abstract
In Los Angeles, CA, the Domestic Abuse Response Teams (DART) respond to domestic violence incidents by identifying social issues that exist within the family component and consider the psychological, sexual, and physical dimensions of the abuse. The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) developed the Youth Outreach for Victim Assistance (YOVA) project. Through the program, the peer mentors receive training on how to convey to teens that they are not alone and help is available. It addresses issues such as bullying, the dynamics of victimization, and outreach campaigns. In Virginia, an active shooter exercise was conducted at Marymount University in Arlington County showing that preemptive measures can be taken to prevent or minimize harm in an active shooter scenario. The commanding officer of the Special Liaison Unit, of the Office of the Chief for the State of Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department commands the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender (GLBT) unit and the Asian, Latino, and Deaf and Hard of Hearing units, recognizing the need for officers to spend substantial time with these underserved communities. Regardless of the locality where crime occurs, the impact on victims and survivors alters their lives and can sometimes change them forever. For these reasons, law enforcement professionals and victim services personnel must be proactive in utilizing practical strategies and effective response mechanisms to ensure that crime victims are treated with sensitivity, dignity, and the respect they deserve.