NCJ Number
74258
Date Published
1980
Length
8 pages
Annotation
An integrated victim-witness program in Pima County, Ariz. which began under a grant from LEAA, is described in terms of its objectives; emergency, social, and court services; and evaluation schemes.
Abstract
The program contains a diversity of service components: crisis intervention teams linked with law enforcement officers, a social service referral component working closely with established community agencies, a dispute settlement program that acts as an alternative to the criminal justice system, and a victim-witness assistance component to assist victims as witnesses in the prosecution of criminal cases. The program provides a myriad of immediate and secondary support services to victims and witnesses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The program is administered by the office of the county attorney, and this location may have contributed to the program's initial credibility with established criminal justice and social welfare agencies in the community. A 2-year evaluation study determined that the program sufficiently satisfied the objectives of satisfying victim and witness needs, increasing victim and witness cooperation, and saving time for police and prosecutors. It was decided that the program deserves to continue operating at its present level of funding. A list of 14 references is included.