VICTIM SERVICES AND THE POLICE

• NCJ Number: 49630
• Journal: CRIME PREVENTION REVIEW Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: (APRIL 1978) Pages: 1-7
• Author(s): J GOLDSMITH
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: California Office of the Attorney General
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

VICTIM PERCEPTION OF POLICE PERFORMANCE, THE POLICE FUNCTION AND POLICE-VICTIM RELATIONS, POLICE-VICTIM ESTRANGEMENT AND VICTIM SERVICES, AND PROGRAMS AND ISSUES IN POLICE-VICTIM SERVICES ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

A NUMBER OF SURVEYS INDICATE THAT THERE ARE SPECIFIC COMPONENTS OF POLICE PERFORMANCE WHICH IF REFORMULATED, MIGHT ENHANCE VICTIM SATISFACTION AND COOPERATION WITH POLICE. FINDINGS INDICATE A GENERALLY POSITIVE VICTIM PERCEPTION OF POLICE PERFORMANCE, BUT CRITICISMS OFFERED FALL INTO THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: POLICE ATTITUDE--INDIFFERENCE, LACK OF EMPATHY, OFFICIOUSNESS, CYNICISM, AND OTHER ATTITUDES OF DETACHMENT; TECHNICAL INCOMPETENCE--FAILURE TO DO ALL THAT THE VICTIM BELIEVED COULD BE DONE, OR TO DO IT COMPETENTLY; AND POOR FEEDBACK--FAILING TO INFORM THE VICTIM OF THE PROGRESS OF THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION. WHILE IN THE PAST THE PRIMARY POLICE FUNCTION HAS BEEN PERCEIVED AS THAT OF APPREHENDING CRIMINALS, THE SERVICE MODEL OF POLICE WORK IS BELIEVED TO BE PREVALENT TODAY. THIS INVOLVES AN APPRECIATION OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE POLICE TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF CRIMES AS WELL AS TO APPREHEND OFFENDERS. IT IS INDICATED THAT A POLICE DEPARTMENT PERFORMING OR CONSIDERING A PROGRAM OF VICTIM SERVICES MUST SOLVE CERTAIN PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE IN THE PAST BEEN THE SOURCE OF POLICE-VICTIM ESTRANGEMENT; E.G., LACK OF INCENTIVE FOR POLICE TO PERFORM VICTIM SERVICES, POLICE PERCEPTION OF THE VICTIM AS UNCOOPERATIVE AND UNRELIABLE, POLICE COLDNESS OR DETACHMENT AS A PROTECTION AGAINST EMOTIONAL INVOLVEMENT IN A VICTIM'S PLIGHT, AND LACK OF LONG-TERM INVOLVEMENT IN A CASE BY THE FIRST OFFICER WHO CONTACTS THE VICTIM. VICTIM-SERVICE PROGRAMS IN THE SACRAMENTO, CALIF., POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE ROCHESTER, N.Y., POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE BRIEFLY DESCRIBED. LEADERSHIP COMMITMENT AND LOCAL INTERAGENCY COOPERATION ARE INDICATED TO BE PRIMARY FACTORS IN THE SUCCESS OF ANY POLICE-VICTIM SERVICES PROGRAM. SUPPORTING DATA ARE NOT INCLUDED. REFERENCES ARE FOOTNOTED. (RCB)