NCJ Number
98262
Date Published
Unknown
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This video of Assistant Attorney General Lois Herrington's keynote address summarizes the findings and recommendations of the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, reviews Federal initiatives to facilitate more effective victim services, and offers suggestions for judges intended to improve court responses to victims' needs.
Abstract
The task force conducted hearings in six cities, receiving testimony from crime victims, criminal justice professionals, and medical professionals involved in treating crime victims. The task force generally concluded that the criminal justice system's treatment of crime victims is unacceptably insensitive, with relatively few resources devoted to meeting victim needs and involving them in case processing. Task force recommendations pertain to protecting victims/witnesses from intimidation, informing victims about and involving them in case processing, and developing programs to help meet victims' psychological and physical needs resulting from their victimization. Federal initiatives to improve services to victims include the establishment of an Office of Victim Programs, creation of a national clearinghouse on victim issues, development of model legislation for the States, sponsorship of training programs for criminal justice personnel, and funds for proven victim-witness programs. Judges can improve court victim services by receiving training in court response to victims, allowing victims/witnesses to be on call during the trial, providing separate courthouse rooms for defense and prosecution witnesses, granting continuances sparingly, using victim impact statements in sentencing, and increasing sanctions for child molesters.