NCJ Number
180840
Journal
Crime Prevention and Community Safety: An International Journal Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Dated: 1999 Pages: 21-34
Date Published
1999
Length
14 pages
Annotation
In the context of recent developments in Great Britain, this paper assesses the evolving policy for victim services in one British probation service through the perceptions of the victims who received support and the probation officers and victim support workers who provided it.
Abstract
The research was based on cases handled by the Devon Probation Service and filed at headquarters before June 1998. Data from the records were analyzed and used as a sampling frame from which to draw samples for interviews. This material was supplemented with information from questionnaires distributed to probation officers and victim support workers who had personal experience with the procedures currently used. At the time of the research, 260 incidents had been recorded, involving 192 offenders and 274 victims. Of these victims, 31 percent were contacted by the probation agency and agreed to a visit. The survey focused on victims who had received a visit from a probation officer as part of Devon's current policy. Ultimately, feedback was received from only 14 victims, however. Generally, victims were positive about the visits they received from representatives of the two agencies; they felt that both probation and victim support staff had a contribution to make to their situation. Probation officers and victim support workers concurred in viewing the visit as beneficial to victims and evidence of a successful policy. Victims felt they should have been involved in a more comprehensive network of support and were critical of the restrictions on the information they received. This study concludes that by generating a better awareness of the service among victims before it occurs, by containing expectations within determined boundaries, and by instilling greater confidence with improved joint training, delivery of the victim service by probation will be accepted and welcomed by all concerned. 26 notes