Introduction to Handbook

Direct Assistance

For many years, little attention by the criminal justice system was directed to the victim of a crime. The major concerns of criminal justice officials were the offender and type of crime committed. This type of thinking was predominantly the product of public concerns regarding the offender.

As communities became more aware of the plight endured by crime victims the focus shifed to the needs of the victim. Also, an increase in victimization studies brought about statistical data which showed the need for the provision of victim legal rights, services and programs. Other studies indicate that a victim of a crime undergoes various levels of social, psychological, emotional and financial stress. Federal and state governments began to acknowledge the need to provide funding for the development of victim programs and servicces.

TYPES OF SERVICES FOR VICTIMS

Medical Care: Providing first aid at the scene of the crime.
Shelter/Food: Relocating of victim and witness to secure shelter, when they are unable to stay safely in their current lodgings, and providing them with an adequate food supply.
Financial Assistance: Allocating funds to meet the immediate financial needs of the victim.
On-The Scene Comfort: Providing funds to meet the immediate financial needs of victim.
counseling:
A. Mediation-assistance in resolving family or related disputes
B. 94-hour hotline service
C. Follow-up counseling assistance in ongoing problems of the victim/witness.
Transportation: Assisting in transportation of the victim/witness to and from court or other social services agencies.
Claims Assistance: Assisting in understanding and completing the insurance claims. and /or entitled reimbursement. Restitution - Collection of funds from the offender by the prosecutor, judge, parole officer, etc. Compensation funds available through various federal, state and private victim/witness organizations.
Other services include: day care, employer intervention, landlord/tenant intervention, advocacy and support services.

Information and Training

The victim of a crime undergoes several traumatic experices after a crime has been perpretrated against him/her such as financial hardship, medical expenses, time away from the job and psychological and emotional information and stress. One of the most disheartening expericnces of a crime, other than crime itself is the lack of concern and support rendered by the law enforcement officials and the community to the crime victim. This particular attitude may be due largely to the lack of public awareness and training on issues pertaining to victims of a crime.

It is therefore necessary for victim advocacy organizations to promote and assist in ongoing training to community groups, police departments, judges, prosecutors, social service agencies and other related service providers. Training information for these groups should include the following:

The history of the victims movement
Establishment of a community or agency based victim/witness program
Up-to-date services and programs available to victims
Current local issues affecting the rights of victims
Cultural awareness and sensitivity training
State and federal funding issues

As a direct link to their neighborhoods, community groups should be active in organizing neighborhood crime watch groups and victim/witness assistance services. In preparing to establish a community program, professional assistance, funding, training and educational materials can be obtained by contacting local victim/witiless agencies.

Once a community program has been established, it is critical that advertisement through news releases, newsletters and public service announcements be distributed in the community. Written and verbal information should reflect the total population's intellectual understanding as well as their language and/or dialect.

There should be an emphasis placed on establishing regular community-based training sessions to inform, update and recruit community members. Networking with neighboring community groups is essential in broadening community-based training, resources and services. This networking can be implemented by using various advertising methods which inform community residents about events in their neighborhoods and surrounding neighborhoods.

TECHNIQUES FOR ADVERTISING

LOCATION OF THE PROGRAM
Recommendation
Community programs are greatly needed in low income, high crime areas.
Programs can be established in neighborhood churches, local schools, and/or community recreational centers.

SERVICE AVAILABLE
Recommendation
Services common to community programs are: emergency shelters, emergency loans, referrals, counseling, etc.

CONTACT PERSON
Recommendation
Primary contact person should be well trained in all aspects of viictim/witness programs and services.
Most community programs utilize trained volunteer staff.

PHONE NUMBER
Recommendation
24-hour hotlille and toll free number.

HOUR OF AVAILABLITY
Recommendation
Flexible hours of operation.

Referrals

After an unpleasant crime experience, the victim in many instances will be in need of service(s). The first to respond to the victim is usually a law enforcement person. This individual will be responsible for providing the victim with printed information and/or referral to victim programs. An officer's attitude at this first point will help determine whether a victim will seek out available victim services.

Like the police, community groups also play an important role in the referral process. They are active offering many supportive serivces to a victim of a crime, such as counseling, child care, and court escourt. In addition to these services, minority community groups lend themselves to playing the part of mediators between residents and police officials. It has long been the feeling among minorities that police officials are insensitive to their needs and community concerns. As a result, minorities have developed a lack of trust for persons working in the law enforcement field. It is at this juncture that minority community groups can be very effective in assisting police officials in obtaining victim information, helping with referrals and other necessary tasks in relation to the victim's crime experience.

The referral is a critical element in the process of responding to the need(s) of the victim. With the vast array of programs and services, it is important that the referring agent accurately determines the type of service needed by the victim.

Often, the victim suffers additional undue stress and is further traumatized.

When all systems that incoporated victim programs and services work collectively, the needs of the victim can be appropriately met and services will not be replicated.

Shelters and Safe Homes

During the 1970's, rape crisis centers and 24-hour hot lines were established as a result of the women's movement. From this feminist movement many community based programs that address crimes against females were developed. Most were staffed by volunteers and financially supported by various public and private funds.

Today shelters and safe homes provide temporary refuge for crime victims. Other immediate services rendered consist group therapy, which assists victims in sharing common experiences and helps to restore selfworth, counseling, training and provision of food. These programs gear their services primarily to battered women and their children.

Findings from a 1982 Minnesota Department of Corrections Program for Battered Women study suggest that African American women utilized medical facilities more often than shelters or safe homes (Coley and Becket, 1988). Minorities are less informed about the availability of services provided by shelters and safe homes. Therefore, it is critical that minority community residents become informed and the encouraged to take advantage of these programs and services. Without the full utilization of these programs by victims of crimes, communities will continue to be unproductive and unresponsive to the needs of crime victims.

Shelters and safe homes can assist in minimizing the financial loss endured by:

Providing family counseling sessions
Encouraging job training opportunities
Providing financial loans
Assisting clients in job searches
Developing a link with other community service groups and actively working with these groups to promote additional programs and services
Crime Prevention Programs

Much of the history behind community non-involvement, as it relates to crime has always been to "mind one's own business and look the other way." Because of this type of attitude, some community members in urhan and heavily populated minority neigborhoods express little interest in development and maintenance of a safe and healthy environment in which live. this thinking is part a product of the small number of individuals who own community property; a high transient rate; a high unemployment rate: a high rate of illiteracy; low income levels; and high levels of single parent house-holds.

In essence, these community residents see very little value in their surroundings or themselves. As a result, all too often the community is deprived of the richness of maturing and prospering. In turn, what many communities fall prey to is the multitude of abusive acts carried out by its inhabitants. Community residents disrespect their neighborhood and each other, and all too often expose themselves to intraracial crime.

There are nevertheless many individuals who are held captive in these communities who are eager to make a difference. It will take, at the very least, one or two motivated community members to begin the process of revitalizing the community. In organizing a community group, there must be clearly identifiable goals and objectives. The process should include a plan of action and an organized medium in which to develop and sustain endeavors.
One such medium can be a neighborhood crime prevention program. There are many community- based programs that can be used to breathe life into a neighborhood that has been overtaken by drugs and crime. Some group activities for your community are:
- Survey your community to identify the type(s) of criminal acts thought to be prevalent in the neighborhood
- Identify your commullity needs as they relate to protection against neighborhood crime
- Determine the interest of community residents in sateguarding against neighborhood crime
- Distribute survey findings to community residents (include local businesses)
- Identify community businesses that would be responsive to donating meeting space, food, time, etc. to a neighborhood meeting
- Select meeting location, time, date and disseminate information to community members
TECHNIQUES FOR ESTABLISHING PROGRAMS
Suggestions:
(LOCATION) local school, business, church
(TIME) Atter business hours - - 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
(DATE) Weekday - (Monday - Friday)
- Develop agenda for the meeting to include suggested activity for your neighborhood
- During the meeting solicit volunteers to staff the program
- Encourage all community residents to get involved
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES:
(Suggested activities to encourage neighborhood unity)
- Observe National Victims Week - - established by President Reagan in 1981 to focus on problems of victims
- Organize neighborhood block parties
- Organize special activities for the elderly and young adults
- Encourage neighborhood businesses to contribute food, money, space, and other necessary items for these events
STAFFING
- Solicit community volunteers
- Develop volunteer staff profiles to include:
  
  - Job descriptions
  
  - Job titles
.OTHER PROGRAM AREAS
- Hold neighborhood "Job Fairs"
- Encourage local businesses to hire community residents
- Hold a "Stamp-out" Illiteracy Campaign by encouraging volunteers to set-up reading programs within the community
- Encourage businesses to recruit local young adults for interships
- Assist community schools in setting up after-school programs in an effort to reduce percentage of "Latch Key" children
- Develop a "Big Brother" program
- Use local business, state and ederal funds to restore old abandoned buildings
- Observe "Victim Rights" Sundays
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This document was last updated on June 26, 2008