NCJ Number
77304
Date Published
1976
Length
60 pages
Annotation
This supplement to the final report on the Fremont Police Department's Victim Service Project in California contains a limited impact assessment of the project based on surveys of burglary victims and of sworn department personnel, field service officers, and communications technicians and on property release data and citizen evaluation responses.
Abstract
The victim survey was administered by phone to 200 people who had been burglary victims in Fremont in December, January, or February 1976. The police survey was administered to 85 police employees. Responses from both indicate a high level of acceptance and satisfaction with the Victim Services Project. Victims felt the police to be fair, understanding, and helpful. Those who received the burglary or collision booklets or the followup letter were grateful for the help and for the information contained in them. Police employees felt that the victim services training program was useful in understanding the needs of victims, and most reported distributing the booklets. The survey also found that police employees do not fully use the Citizen Service Representative (CSR) as a resource but usually refer citizens to the CSR for information and assistance. More officers would distribute the booklets, release property from the field, and use the CSR if obstacles they perceived were removed. Overall, the property release program has resulted in a steady decrease in the amount of items booked into the department, a large increase in the number of items returned to owners, and a decrease in the length of time returned items were held by the department. Recommendations include development of a followup victim services training module for presentation in squad meetings for each shift, expansion of the regular department roll call training program to include court processes and sources of community assistance agencies, and reduction in size of the Community Resources Manual and distribution to patrol officers. The survey questionnaires, the subpoena request form, and mailers from the burglary and collision booklets are appended. Data tables are provided.