Model Victim Service and Witness Assistance Programs (From Helping Crime Victims: Research, Policy, and Practice, P 120-143, 1990, Albert R Roberts - NCJ-125461)

• NCJ Number: 125466
• Author(s): A R Roberts
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 24 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Descriptions of three victim/witness assistance programs represent the three primary auspices for such programs: police agencies (Family Crisis Intervention Team of Rochester, N.Y.); nonprofit criminal justice/social services agencies (Crime Victim Centers of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.); and prosecutors' offices (Victim/Witness Services of Milwaukee County, Wis., and the Victim/Witness Division of the Greene County Prosecutor's Office, Xenia, Ohio).

Abstract

The program descriptions encompass organizational structure, funding sources and amount, number of victims served annually, the background and role of staff, and the types of services provided. According to the 1985 national survey of victim/witness assistance programs, programs affiliated with police departments or community agencies are more likely to provide crisis intervention and home visits to crime victims than are prosecutor-based programs. Prosecutor-affiliated programs often provide notification of case status, court advocacy, child care for parent witnesses, court escort, and protection from intimidation. Services provided by nonprofit criminal justice/social service agencies may include crisis intervention, emergency financial assistance, repair or replacement of broken locks and doors, help in relocating, and cognitive therapy. 38 references.