NCJ Number
66611
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 26 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1980) Pages: 202-205
Date Published
1980
Length
4 pages
Annotation
ESTABLISHMENT OF A NETWORK OF JUVENILE VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IS PROPOSED, BASED ON THE OBSERVATION THAT THE CURRENT LACK OF SUCH SERVICES PERMITS CONTINUATION OF THE CYCLE WHEREBY JUVENILE VICTIMS BECOME OFFENDERS.
Abstract
IN 1974, THE VICTIMIZATION RATE FOR YOUTHS AGE 12 TO 19 WAS 63 PER 1,000. THIS WAS HIGHER THAN THE RATES IN EACH SUCCEEDING OLDER AGE GROUP. MOREOVER, DATA SUGGEST BOTH THAT JUVENILE VICTIMS AND OFFENDERS SHARE THE SAME BACKGROUND (MALE, NONWHITE, AND BETWEEN 12 AND 19) AND THAT THEY ARE LOCKED TOGETHER IN A VICIOUS SOCIAL PROCESS. BECAUSE MOST YOUNG OFFENDERS ARE NOT PUNISHED, VICTIMS PERCEIVE THAT THERE IS LITTLE SUPPORT FOR LAWABIDING NORMS. VICTIMS TURN TO CRIME AS A MEANS OF RETRIBUTION. JUVENILE VICTIMS' AVOIDANCE OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AS EXEMPLIFIED BY LOW CRIME REPORTING RATES, MAY RESULT PARTLY FROM FEAR OF EXPOSURE OF THEIR OWN ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES. VICTIM ASSISTANCE SERVICES TO JUVENILE VICTIMS WOULD SERVE AS A MEANS OF REINFORCING CONVENTIONAL STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR. A DETAILED FEASIBILITY STUDY, USING INDEPTH INTERVIEWS WITH VICTIMS, OFFENDERS, SCHOOL STAFF, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL SERVICE PERSONNEL, IS NEEDED PRIOR TO ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ASSISTANCE SERVICES. AMONG ISSUES WHICH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ARE VICTIMS' PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL NEEDS, TYPES OF SERVICES NEEDED, PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS, STAFF, TYPES OF CLIENTS, POTENTIAL PROBLEMS, PREVENTION OF PROGRAM ABUSE, AND EVALUATION CRITERIA. THE PROPOSED VICTIM ASSISTANCE SYSTEM WOULD REPRESENT A SHIFT IN FOCUS FROM THE OFFENDER'S TRANSGRESSION TO THE VICTIM'S NEEDS IN ORDER TO BREAK THE CYCLE WHEREBY THE EXPLOITED BECOMES THE EXPLOITER. (CFW)