NCJ Number
107789
Journal
Professional Psychology: Research and Practice Volume: 18 Issue: 4 Dated: (August 1987) Pages: 316-325
Date Published
1987
Length
10 pages
Annotation
In interventions to help victims, service providers should be guided by theory and research and anticipate that multiple actors will influence the way in which victims cope with their experience.
Abstract
Careful and deliberate intervention initiated early by persons first in contact with a victim, followed in some cases by later professional corrective intervention, are parts of an overall system of potential interventions. As service providers, educators, and researchers, psychologists can demonstrate leadership in developing theory, creating new knowledge, and designing and evaluating interventions. To be effective, psychologists must collaborate with practitioners in the health, mental health, and criminal justice systems to demonstrate the value of research and evaluation for improving services to victims. Theory-based field trials of victim services should supplement other forms of research to develop better ways of helping victims of crime. (Author abstract)