Launching a National Strategy for Enhancing Response to Victims: A Logical Step

• NCJ Number: 250762
• Journal: Police Chief Dated: October 2007
• Author(s): Suzanne Jordan; Irina Romashkan; Serena Werner
• Date Published: October 2007
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article; Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance); Legislation/Policy Description; Instructional Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article presents an overview of the International Association of Chiefs of Police's (IACP's) project entitled "Enhancing Law Enforcement Response to Victims: a 21st Century Strategy," which is intended to assist the U.S. law enforcement community in adopting a philosophy that gives high priority to crime victims' interests and needs.

Abstract

This IACP project was conducted with funding and collaboration from the U.S. Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). The IACP obtained input from the field by engaging a national multidisciplinary advisory group and the convening of four national information-gathering forums of law enforcement leaders and trainers, victim advocates and service providers, and crime victims. This resulted in the development of a draft document published in 2005 that became the model for testing at three pilot sites that represented large, medium, and small local law enforcement agencies. Although distinctive policies and practices emerged at each of the three sites, all three agencies began to see the benefits of their efforts to improve polices, procedures, and training related to improving services to crime victims. Based on lessons learned from the pilot program, the IACP finalized the draft strategy and developed two companion documents. The "Implementation Guide" provides operational "how to" approaches, and the "Resource Toolkit," which contains sample documents, materials, and templates developed by the pilot sites. The final strategy will be introduced to law enforcement leaders at the 114th Annual IACP Conterence in New Orleans. This article outlines seven critical needs of victims that law enforcement must address, the benefits of improved response to victims, implementation challenges, the role of law enforcement leaders, partners in responding to victims, establishing victim response goals, and collecting baseline information on the current response to victims. 4 notes