NCJ Number
226543
Date Published
June 2009
Length
48 pages
Annotation
This report explores creative and economical ways for rural law enforcement agencies to meet the needs of victims at the crime scene and during follow-up contact despite the barriers.
Abstract
In 2002, the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) began funding a demonstration initiative to support the development of models for enhancing or establishing victim assistance efforts in rural law enforcement agencies that might be replicated in other rural jurisdictions around the country. OVC awarded grants to the National Sheriffs' Association and the Alabama Attorney General's Office for the administration of a national pilot project and State pilot project. This report reviews the pilot sites' efforts, activities, approaches, challenges, and successes, and is meant to serve as a guide for other rural law enforcement agencies that want to undertake similar efforts. Participating rural law enforcement agencies and their community partners were allowed to provide assistance to more than 14,000 crime victims collectively during the grant period. The site initiatives helped these victims begin their healing, tap into community resources, and raise their comfort level in participating in the criminal justice process. These initiatives also allowed law enforcement officers in rural areas to spend more time focusing on their investigative duties and provided an in-house liaison to victims in each case. Using this report as a guide, rural law enforcement agencies are encouraged to consider the strengths and responses to crime victims and explore how to initiate an in-house victim services program or to expand an existing effort to address some or all of these gaps.