NCJ Number
103959
Date Published
1986
Length
47 pages
Annotation
This guide to establishing a victim-witness program within a district attorney's office addresses program design and implementation, service options, restitution, and victim compensation.
Abstract
After outlining benefits of a victim-witness program for prosecutors, the handbook suggests organizing a task force composed of representatives from other agencies as the initial step. Other planning phases include assessing resources, identifying victims' needs and what they should expect from the prosecutor, defining the program's scope, and deciding what services to provide. Funding, housing, and staffing considerations are also discussed. The following services that a victim-witness program can offer are described: referral and followup, crisis intervention, brochures and booklets, notification systems, courtroom accompaniment and victim waiting rooms, transportation, property return, preparing victim impact statements, and preventing witness intimidation. The handbook's final chapter surveys operational and policy issues that prosecutions interested in establishing restitution programs should consider, victim compensation procedures and eligibility, and Federal and State funding for victim assistance programs. Appendixes contain a list of national victim assistance resources, job descriptions and forms from an existing program, a glossary, and a directory of victim compensation programs.