NCJ Number
101410
Date Published
1984
Length
16 pages
Annotation
After identifying burglary victim needs, this paper suggests ways in which the British criminal justice system and the larger society can meet these needs.
Abstract
Burglary victims suffer the loss of property and money; possibly physical injury; symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, particularly anger; emotional upset among family and friends; inconveniences due to case processing; and difficulties in accessing specialized services. Police officers should be trained to respond to victim needs. This should include providing victims with cards that contain the phone numbers of key service agencies as well as the case file number and the responding officer's name. Every community should have a victim support center to coordinate victim services and provide training for persons involved with victims. General services required by burglary victims are repairs of damage to the residence, medical help for posttraumatic stress, and crime prevention information. Police investigators and prosecutors must inform victims of case progress and minimize inconveniences to the victim as a witness. Legislation should facilitate victims' recovering civil damages from offenders, and judges should give priority to restitution orders. Sentencing should respect the harm done to the victim but also support reconciliation between victim, offender, and the community. 34 references.