Keep Me Informed: What Matters for Victims as They Navigate the Juvenile Criminal Justice System in Philadelphia

• NCJ Number: 205046
• Journal: International Review of Victimology Volume: 10 Issue: 2 Dated: 2003 Pages: 117-136
• Author(s): Patrick J. Carr; Kim A. Logio; Shana Maier
• Editor(s): David Miers, Leslie Sebba
• Date Published: 2003
• Length: 20 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Pennsylvania Cmssn on Crime and Delinquency
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study reviewed the research on the average experiences of victims of juvenile crime and examined the effectiveness of the Pennsylvania legislation involving the victims of juvenile crime in the overall judicial process.

Abstract

Victims of crime have often been overlooked in terms of both criminal justice system resources and generally in terms of criminological research. However, there has been a shift in emphasis to include victims in the criminal justice equation which has been accompanied by an effort to accord victims a number of rights. In the City of Philadelphia’s Family Court, the Victim and Community Services (VACS) unit of the Probation Office was established in 1997. VACS provides services to victims of juvenile crime and oversees community service orders. This paper begins by addressing the lack of research on the average experiences of victims of juvenile crime, followed by an examination of the experiences of a sample of victims of juvenile crime in Philadelphia during a time when several reforms had been implemented to involve victims more in the conduct of their cases. Telephone surveys were conducted with individuals who were victims of juvenile crime in Philadelphia County during the period May 1999 through the end of April 2000. In addition, a number of focus groups with victims were conducted. Overall, the study showed that victims want to be treated fairly and informed about their case. The results were similar to previous findings in Britain that information is crucial for victims. The victims in this study felt more involved in the prosecution of their case if they had a positive interaction with police at the outset and positive interaction with the district attorney during the case. Due to the modest sample size of the study, the findings were considered more suggestive than conclusive suggesting the need for additional research to investigate the experiences of victims of crime generally and specifically as they negotiate the criminal justice system. References