NCJ Number
45450
Date Published
1977
Length
18 pages
Annotation
THE SERVICES, COSTS, AND BENEFITS OF THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OREGON, VICTIM'S ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ARE EVALUATED FOR ITS FIRST 18 MONTHS IN OPERATION.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM IS A PART OF THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE; IT BEGAN OPERATION ON JULY 1, 1975. ITS GOALS HAVE BEEN TO PROVIDE DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF CRIME, BOTH IN TERMS OF INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR CASE AND IN TERMS OF ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR PROBLEMS; AND TO IMPROVE THE TREATMENT OF VICTIMS AND WITNESSES BY MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S STAFF. ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY THE PROJECT HAVE INCLUDED PROVIDING A NOTIFICATION SYSTEM TO INFORM VICTIMS AT EACH MAJOR POINT OF THEIR CASE AS TO WHAT OCCURRED AND WHAT THE SENTENCE WAS; ACTING AS A REFERRAL CENTER TO APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY SERVICE AGENCIES; PROVIDING A SOURCE OF VICTIM/WITNESS ADVOCACY, COUNSELING, AND SUPPORT DURING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS; ASSISTING VICTIMS AND WITNESSES WITH THE SCHEDULING OF THEIR CASES; AND ACTING AS AN INFORMATION CENTER TO INCREASE COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEMS OF CRIME VICTIMS. PROJECT OPERATION IN THE AREAS OF INFORMATION, ADVOCACY, COMMUNITY RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, AND VICTIM RESTITUTION IS SUMMARIZED AND ILLUSTRATED WITH SPECIFIC CASE STUDIES. A COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT THE BENEFIT TO THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES AS GREAT AS THE COST OF OPERATING THE PROGRAM. A DATA SHEET IS PROVIDED WHICH SUMMARIZES THE PROJECT'S ACTIVITIES. (VDA)