NCJ Number
124715
Date Published
1989
Length
128 pages
Annotation
This futures study examines how crime victims will be handled by police officers of a medium-sized police agency in California at the beginning of the next century.
Abstract
Two crime victim assistance programs were studied, one in La Mesa, California, and the other in Glendale, Arizona. Ten people formed a nominal group technique panel to study the impact of crime victim assistance on law enforcement agencies by the year 2000. Criteria for selecting panel members were their department position, law enforcement background, and knowledge of criminal victim assistance needs in San Diego County. Five trends were selected as most relevant to the study increased legislative and court-mandated programs; increased expectation for local government assistance; increased police liability; drain on societal resources; and expectation of more private sector involvement. Probable events considered to be the most critical were a major earthquake or other natural disaster, an economic recession, a prominent individual becoming a victim, the enactment of adverse legislation, and the abolishment of Proposition 13 or other restrictive measures. Three policies were determined to be both economically and politically feasible: (1) in-house victim assistance programs, including a group of volunteer citizens to victim advocate; (2) agency mission statements focusing on crime victim assistance; and (3) department training in crime victim assistance. Strategic and transition management issues associated with implementing a crime victim assistance program are discussed. Appendixes contain the study forms and additional information on study techniques. 13 references, 11 tables.