NCJ Number
251533
Date Published
2015
Length
1 page
Annotation
This web page provides access to the features, teaching materials, faculty involvement, and promotion of student involvement in a college and university curricula that incorporates multidisciplinary educational approaches for integrating crime victim issues into the instructional material of various courses.
Abstract
This material stems from the U.S. Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime's goal of increasing the role of educators and educational institutions in addressing issues faced by crime victims. "Integrating Crime Victims' Issues Into College and University Curricula" aims to broaden students' awareness of crime victims' issues and knowledge of appropriate responses, so as to increase the number and diversity of students exposed to and educated in crime victims' issues. The approach is based on the premise that adding a victim-issues component to existing courses and programs will prepare students to respond appropriately to their own and others' criminal victimization. The curricula material was developed using rigorous standards adopted by experts in the criminal justice and medical fields. Material was pilot-tested with college students to determine its effectiveness, and the final material was peer reviewed by education leaders in criminal justice. Even when a course is not directly about a crime victim issue, victimization issues arise in class and can impact student work. The materials enable faculty from diverse disciplines to educate themselves more fully about crime victims issues and responding appropriately to victims. These materials can also assist in adding victim issues to existing courses and programs, developing new victim-oriented courses and programs, and increasing the availability of victim-oriented field placements.