NCJ Number
131182
Date Published
1989
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Data were collected to examine the effects of harm to victims on decisions regarding arrest, prosecution, and sentencing and the effect of these decisions on their perception of the criminal justice system.
Abstract
Five types of offenses were studied: homicide, sexual assault, robbery, burglary, and aggravated assault. Data sources were personal or telephone interviews with victims, police, prosecutors, and judges and the victim responses to mailed questionnaires. The eight sites represent regional variation in population sizes and types of victim services offered. The collection includes data from victim, police, prosecutor, and judge files. The victim file contains information on personal characteristics, results of victimization, involvement in case processing, use of victim assistance service, satisfaction with case outcomes, and opinions about the court system. The police file includes personal background information, screening recommendations on scenario cases, communications with victims, and opinions about the role of victims in the criminal justice systems. The prosecutor file contains variables on personal background, screening decisions on the scenario cases, sentencing recommendations on the scenarios, contacts with the victims, and opinions on the role of victims in the criminal justice system. Data are provided in the judge files on personal background, sentencing recommendations on scenario cases, communications with victims, sources of information regarding victim harm, and opinions about the role of victims in the criminal justice system.