Helping Crime Victims : Research, Policy, and Practice

Prepared for use by informed citizens, victims' solicitors, social workers, criminal justice administrators, government officials and legislators, Helping Crime Victims offers the reader practical ideas and realistic strategies in the form of procedural guides and workable programme components and services that seem effective in meeting the needs of crime victims.

Nominated for the 1992 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Outstanding Book Award Where can victims of violent crime turn for assistance? What legislation exists to protect victims′ rights? Are effective treatment programs available to help victims of violent crime? These are but a few of the fundamental questions professionals--as well as victims themselves--are asking in light of the rapid escalation of violent crime. Helping Crime Victims offers the first up-to-date, authoritative overview of victim/witness assistance and survivor services. It thoroughly discusses the development of victims′ compensation, family violence intervention programs, and victim/witness assistance programs. Also examined are programs designed to improve service delivery and lessen the traumatic experiences to victims of violent crimes, such as rape, domestic violence, murder, robbery, and assault. An appendix offers a directory of 184 existing programs, including the staffing pattern and specialized types of victim services. Helping Crime Victims truly is a sourcebook geared to providing program directors, victim advocates, criminal justice professionals, clinicians, family therapists, criminologists, and researchers with a far better understanding of the policies, programs, and treatment alternatives developed to help victims cope and recover. Students in the field of victimology will also find this volume invaluable for their studies. "This is one of the most comprehensive and informative books published in the field. . . . Roberts provides the first national survey of the organizational structure and functions of 184 victim assistance programs. He offers insights into the strengths and shortcomings of existing programs, most of which were developed by responsive prosecutors and police chiefs. Roberts was able to summarize masses of data into concise and readable conclusions. . . . He also provides detailed descriptions of four model victim assistance programs. . . . All law enforcement administrators, grant writers, and program development specialists will find this book to be extremely valuable. . . . This volume makes an outstanding and practical addition to the field of criminal justice. The book′s strengths lie in the excellence of writing, the geographic representation of the survey (respondents from all 12 regions of the United States), its careful attention to detail, illuminating program descriptions, and the thorough bibliography at the end of each chapter. . . . Robert′s book is highly recommended for all police administrators, prosecutors, acquisition librarians, criminal justice editors, and legislators." --Law Enforcement News "The book . . . provides a comprehensive overview of current approaches and assistance strategies. . . . highlight[s] the most effective policies and procedures currently in use. . . . Helping Crime Victims is a well-organized, well-written exploration of victim/witness assistance programs. Readers--ranging from those with no prior knowledge of the subject to practitioners in the field--will find this book most informative and useful." --FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin "This stimulating, thought-provoking, practical, and valuable volume provides an in-depth examination of the latest issues, legislation, policies, treatment programs, and services to aid victims of violent crimes. *This incisive new book is the first to specifically address the strengths and weaknesses of victim/witness assistance programs, violent crime compensation, family violence intervention and restitution programs nationwide. . . . I have been searching for a book like this for years. It fills a major gap in the professional literature available for victim advocates. Helping Crime Victims is an indispensable reference that should be read by all professionals. . . . *Every criminal justice, mental health, family violence, and victim assistance professional should order a copy immediately." --Judith Moore, Indianapolis Police Department "[Roberts] is clearly one of the new victimologists who rejects the focus on victim facilitation of the crime and shared responsibility, and instead focuses on how to ease the pain of victims through effective assistance programs. . . . This book fills a significant gap in the field, by systematically reviewing the principle methods and approaches employed in victim and witness assistance. I am confident that victim advocates, service providers and researchers, regardless of their discipline perspective, will be better prepared after reading this book to critically assess and further enhance victim and witness assistance services in the decade of the nineties." --from the foreword by Dr. Jane Nady Burnley, Office for Victims of Crime, U. S. Department of Justice "As the NOVA Information Specialist for the past six years I have read a great deal of material in the field of victim issues. . . . Dr. Al Robert′s new book Helping Crime Victims is of value because it consolidates a variety of these issues in the pages of one text . . . . Dr. Roberts has provided legislative, historical and program information while also addressing the topic of victim needs emphasizing specialized services for the elderly and children. I applaud Dr. Roberts research efforts and his skill in presenting this important topic to the public." --Michaela M. Cohen,