NCJ Number
45994
Journal
CRIME PREVENTION REVIEW Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (JANUARY 1978) Pages: 10-14
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
AID TO VICTIMS AND WITNESS (AVW) OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE AND WELL-DEVELOPED PROGRAM OF SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES AND WITNESSES THROUGH A NETWORK OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND GROUPS
Abstract
BY UTILIZING DIVERSITY AND EMPHASIZING INTERAGENCY PARTICIPATION AND CONSENSUS, AVW ENABLES SAN MATEO COUNTY'S (CALIF.) 16 POLICE DEPARTMENTS, SHERIFF, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, AND PROBATION DEPARTMENT TO OFFER A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES ON A 24-HOUR-A-DAY BASIS TO ANY OF THE 600,000 RESIDENTS WHO BECOME VICTIMS OR WITNESSES. AMONG SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH AVW ARE FREE EMERGENCY COUNSELING, SUPPORT SERVICES, IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL AID, FOOD AND SHELTER, EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION, HOMEMAKER SERVICES, INTERPRETATION SERVICES FOR NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING INDIVIDUALS, CRIME SCENE CLEANUP, PACKAGED CLAIMS FOR THE VICTIM INDEMNIFICATION FUND, ESCORT AND PROTECTION SERVICES, ADVANCE SUBPOENA NOTIFICATION, AND EXPLANATION AND INFORMATION. FIRST BEGUN IN 1975 AS A BRANCH OF PROBATION, THE PROGRAM HAS ESTABLISHED ITS CREDIBILITY AND ENLISTED SUPPORT FROM THE EXTENSIVE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE. AVW DOES NOT COMPETE WITH OTHER AGENCIES BUT RELIES ON MUTUAL AFFILIATION AND COOPERATIVE EFFORT AND EXPERTISE IN SOLVING THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS CONFRONTING WITNESSES AND THE VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES. EXTENSIVE AND SPECIALIZED PROFESSIONAL AND VOLUNTEER COUNSELING AND SUPPORT SERVICES ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO RAPE VICTIMS, BATTERED WIVES, ABUSED CHILDREN, AND ASSAULT VICTIMS. COUNTY SOCIAL AND WELFARE SERVICES MAY BE CALLED IN. NUMEROUS VOLUNTEER GROUPS AND CITIZEN GROUPS PROVIDE CASH GRANTS AND SPECIALIZED SERVICES. CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE. WHEN RESOURCES ARE NOT ALREADY AVAILABLE, AVW FILLS IN AND INNOVATES AS REQUIRED, AND FOLLOWUP AND LONG-TERM SERVICES ARE ALSO SUPPLIED. AVW HAS DELIVERED SIGNIFICANT ASSISTANCE TO MORE THAN 1,150 VICTIMS AND 6,000 WITNESSES, AND HAS GROWN INTO 3 REGIONAL OFFICES AND 3 WITNESS FACILITIES. THROUGH AVW EVERYONE BENEFITS. CRIMINAL JUSTICE BENEFITS IN A NUMBER OF WAYS: POLICE DEPARTMENTS RECEIVE ON-THE-SCENE AND LONG-TERM AID; VICTIMS ARE AUTOMATICALLY INFORMED OF THEIR MANDATED RIGHTS; WITNESSES ARE MORE INFORMED AND EFFECTIVE; ATTITUDES TOWARD THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE IMPROVED; THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS SENSITIZED TO COMMUNITY NEEDS; AND RESTITUTION IS LESS OFTEN NEGLECTED IN REPORTS AND PLEA NEGOTIATIONS. RESOURCE AGENCIES BENEFIT THROUGH AVW REFERRALS WHICH BROADEN THEIR OUTREACH CAPABILITY AND JUSTIFY THEIR EXISTENCE. (JAP)