Victim assistance programs
Victim assistance programs are designed to address the often-overlooked needs of crime victims within the criminal justice system, which traditionally has focused more on defendants and societal interests. Originating in the early 1970s in urban areas, these programs initially concentrated on supporting women who experienced sexual assault. Over the decades, their scope has broadened significantly to include victims of various crimes, such as child abuse and domestic violence.
Typically, victim assistance programs provide a range of services, including counseling and support to help individuals cope with trauma, legal assistance for navigating the justice system, and advocacy efforts aimed at raising public awareness and promoting legislative reforms. Counseling services may encompass individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, and referrals for medical care or relocation. Legal aid can assist victims in understanding their rights and preparing for court appearances.
The establishment and expansion of these programs have been bolstered by federal legislation and funding, such as the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), which supports state and local initiatives for direct victim assistance. Advocacy organizations like the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) and the National Victim Center also play crucial roles in promoting victims' rights and enhancing support networks across the country.
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Victim assistance programs
Definition: Advocacy and support services, often funded or administered by government, that guide victims of crime through the legal system and help them cope with emotional distress
Significance: Victim assistance programs address a common criticism of the criminal justice system: that by focusing on justice for defendants and society at large, it overlooks the emotional, legal, and physical needs of crime victims.
The first victim assistance programs in the United States were created during the early 1970’s. They were located in large urban areas and focused primarily on sexual assault of women. These programs offered limited support services to women for whom the criminal justice system might seem intimidating and insensitive. Since that time, victim assistance programs have expanded in number and scope. By the mid-1990’s programs were in place throughout the country, addressing victims not only of sexual assault but also of child abuse, spousal battery, and other violent crimes.
Victim assistance programs typically offer services in three general areas: counseling and support, legal assistance, and public awareness and legislative reform. Counseling and support is perhaps the most common function, helping victims to cope with posttraumatic stress disorder, rape trauma syndrome, and other conditions caused by an assault. Individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, medical referrals, and relocation services are some of the resources typically available. Programs also offer legal assistance for crime victims who are testifying, seeking restraining orders, or otherwise facing the criminal justice system. Services include orientation to the justice system and courtroom assistance. Finally, victim assistance services act as advocates for crime victims generally, raising public awareness of certain crimes and how to prevent them, and advocating legislative reforms.
The federal government has promoted victim assistance programs through legislation and funding. The federal Law Enforcement Assistance Administration funded the creation of model victim assistance programs in 1974. The federal Victim and Witness Protection Act of 1982 established “fair treatment standards” for victims and witnesses of crimes. Two years later, the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) established a fund which provides grants to states to compensate crime victims, and for state and local programs that provide direct assistance to crime victims and their families. In 1994 the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act augmented the VOCA fund and authorized funding of more than $1 billion for fighting violence against women.
National nongovernment organizations also have been established for promoting victims’ rights and victim assistance. Two advocacy groups, the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) and the Victims’ Assistance Legal Organization (VALOR), were created in 1975 and 1981, respectively. In 1985, the National Victim Center was established to help promote the rights and needs of crime victims by working with thousands of local criminal justice and victim service organizations around the country.
Bibliography
Karmen, Andrew. Crime Victims: An Introduction to Victimology. 5th ed. Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth, 2004.
Office for Victims of Crime. New Directions from the Field: Victims’ Rights and Services for the Twenty-first Century. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, 1998.