NCJ Number
220925
Journal
THE POLICE CHIEF Volume: 74 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2007 Pages: 40-43
Date Published
October 2007
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article notes the importance of a police focus on services to crime victims and a strategy for providing such services.
Abstract
Over the last decade, there has been a trend in the recognition that police have had an imbalance in the resources devoted to apprehending and processing suspects compared to the resources used in addressing the needs of crime victims. Recently, the International Association of Chiefs of Police mounted a project to develop a comprehensive and systemic model for providing victim services through all aspects of a police agency's work. This model advocates making the needs of crime victims a priority in all aspects of agency operations. Significantly improving victim services may require additional resources, which can be difficult for police agencies at a time of increasing budgetary constraints. Even without additional funds, however, police agencies can improve their services to victims. Some agencies have trained volunteers to supplement services to victims already offered by paid personnel. After being victimized by a crime, the police are usually the first service providers to contact the victims. Police should be prepared to assess victim needs and then, either through direct action or referrals, ensure that they receive the resources and services that can help them deal with the harms caused by the crime as well as the events involved in the investigation and processing of the case by the criminal justice system.