NCJ Number
185131
Journal
Trial Volume: 36 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2000 Pages: 84-89
Date Published
July 2000
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article identifies and describes resources to which crime victims' attorneys may direct their clients in the context of a civil action against alleged offenders.
Abstract
After reviewing the reasons why crime victims may pursue a civil suit against alleged offenders, the article instructs the attorneys of crime-victim plaintiffs in the resources available to help meet crime victims' needs. Among the sources of victim financial support discussed are State crime-victim compensation programs and court-ordered restitution. The general parameters for State victim compensation programs are summarized, and their limitations are identified. The characteristics of court-ordered restitution are explained, and the role of the attorney in securing such restitution is described. Following the overview of the financial resources that may be available to crime victims, the article focuses on the guidance and emotional support that may be available to crime victims. In these areas, victim service providers are either system-based or community-based. System-based victim service professionals are usually employed in prosecutors' offices, although they may also work in police departments, courts, or probation offices. These services usually focus on guiding and supporting victims in the context of criminal case processing. Community-based providers, on the other hand, tend to focus on victim needs that have arisen because of the emotional impact of the crime. The article concludes with a description of resources available to help attorneys represent crime victims in civil suits, such as special practice sections of many State trial lawyer organizations and the National Crime Victim Bar Association.