NCJ Number
60327
Date Published
1979
Length
106 pages
Annotation
AN OVERVIEW OF VICTIM/WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES, AS EXEMPLIFIED IN FOUR PROGRAMS SELECTED ON THE BASIS OF THEIR EVALUATION REPORTS, IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE MONOGRAPH OPENS WITH REFERENCE TO A 1977 SURVEY IN WHICH 71 VICTIM/WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WERE IDENTIFIED. MOST OF THE PROGRAMS SHARED TWO MAJOR GOALS: ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE BY SATISFYING THE EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF CRIME VICTIMS AND WITNESSES; AND INCREASING THE WILLINGNESS OF VICTIMS AND WITNESSES TO COOPERATE WITH POLICE AND PROSECUTORS AFTER THEY HAVE REPORTED A CRIME. THE PROGRAMS PROVIDED SERVICES IN FOUR CATEGORIES: PUBLIC EDUCATION, VICTIM COUNSELING, WITNESS SERVICES (BASIC INFORMATION, CASE-SPECIFIC INFORMATION, WITNESS MANAGEMENT SERVICES, RELATED SUPPORT), AND FINANCIAL REMUNERATION (VICTIM COMPENSATION, RESTITUTION). THE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE 71 PROGRAMS (LOCATION/AFFILIATION, BUDGET, PERSONNEL, BENEFICIARY, SERVICES) ARE SUMMARIZED, AS ARE THE FEATURES OF FOUR PROGRAMS SELECTED FOR DETAILED ANALYSIS. THE PROGRAMS ARE THE VICTIM/WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROJECT IN BROOKLYN, N.Y.; PROJECT TURNAROUND IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WIS.; THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROJECT IN MULTNOMAH COUNTY, ORE.; AND THE VICTIM-WITNESS ADVOCATE PROGRAM IN PIMA COUNTY, ARIZ. THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THESE PROGRAMS ARE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL. HIGHLIGHTS OF EACH PROGRAM'S EVALUATION FINDINGS ARE REVIEWED, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR EVALUATORS WHO MONITOR AND ASSESS VICTIM/WITNESS PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED. A DESCRIPTION OF NEW YORK CITY'S GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY ESTABLISHED SOLELY TO SERVE CRIME VICTIMS IS ALSO PROVIDED, AS ARE CASE STUDIES OF FOUR PROGRAMS AND A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY.