NCJ Number
45950
Date Published
1977
Length
39 pages
Annotation
THE CHARACTERISTICS AND NEEDS OF VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, WIFE BEATING, CHILD ABUSE, AND OTHER VIOLENT CRIMES ARE DISCUSSED, WITH REFERENCE TO DATA ON CLIENTS OF DADE COUNTY, FLA., VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
Abstract
THE DISCUSSION, WHICH IS DIRECTED TO SOCAL WORKERS, TOUCHES ON THE DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, MOTIVATION IN SEXUAL ASSAULT AND OTHER VIOLENT CRIMES, VICTIM-OFFENDER RELATIONSHIPS, AND THE IMPACT OF VIOLENT OR PERSONAL CRIME ON THE LIFE OF THE VICTIM. PARALLELS ARE DRAWN BETWEEN THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND THOSE EXPERIENCED BY VICTIMS OF SPOUSE ABUSE. THE EXPERIENCE OF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT OR SPOUSE ABUSE VICTIM IS CONTRASTED WITH THAT OF THE VICTIM OF A MUGGING, ROBBERY, OR OTHER VIOLENT CRIME. CHARACTERISTICS OF VICTIMIZATION -- SUDDENNESS, ARBITRARINESS, UMPREDICTABIITY, FEAR OF DEATH OR MUTILATION -- ARE DISCUSSED. REACTIONS TO THE STRESS OF VICTIMIZATION, INCLUDING DISRUPTION OF NORMAL PATTERNS, REGRESSION, AND WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT ADVICE, ARE NOTED. A HIERARCHY OF THE VICTIM'S PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS IS OUTLINED, WITH A VIEW TO THE ROLE OF THE SOCIAL WORKER. A 3-PAGE 'FACT SHEET' ON BATTERED WOMEN IS APPENDED. (IKM)