NCJ Number
64782
Editor(s)
P LEMOINE,
P E GROSSER
Date Published
1978
Length
28 pages
Annotation
THIS INVENTORY OF LOUISANA'S CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE SERVICES IS DESIGNED TO AID CRIME VICTIMS, PROMOTE EFFICIENT RESOURCE USE, AND MEASURE SOCIETY'S CONCERN FOR CRIME VICTIMS.
Abstract
DATA ARE BASED ON A QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY OF LOUISIANA SERVICE AGENCIES BY THE LOUISIANA CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEM DIVISION OF THE LOUISIANA COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. THESE SERVICES REPRESENT A REVERSAL OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM'S LONGSTANDING PRIMARY FOCUS ON THE CRIMINAL RATHER THAN ON THE VICTIM. SURVEY GOALS WERE TO LOCATE SERVICES AND TO IDENTIFY THEIR NATURE, FUNDING, PERSONNEL, CLIENTS, AND EFFECTIVENESS. RESPONSES INDICATED THAT LOCAL AGENCY RECORDS WERE INADEQUATE FOR DETERMINING FUNDING, PERSONNEL, AND TYPES OF CLIENTS. A TOTAL OF 370 QUESTIONNAIRES WERE MAILED AND 245 (66 PERCENT) WERE RETURNED. IN ALL, 311 VICTIM SERVICES WERE LOCATED, OF WHICH 134 WERE LOCATED IN URBAN PARISHES. THE MOST IMPORTANT SERVICES, AS RANKED BY THE AGENCIES, WERE CHILD ABUSE PROTECTION, CRIME PREVENTION, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, CRISIS COUNSELING, RAPE VICTIM ASSISTANCE, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, REFERRAL ASSISTANCE, VICTIM/WITNESS ASSISTANCE, AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. VICTIM SPECIFIC SERVICES INCLUDED RAPE CRISIS CENTERS, CHILD ABUSE PROTECTION PROGRAMS, VICTIM/WITNESS PROGRAMS, SPOUSE ABUSE PROTECTION SERVICES, AND VICTIM ADVOCATE PROGRAMS. NONSPECIFIC SERVICES INCLUDED CRISIS COUNSELING SERVICES, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES, LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, REFERRAL ASSISTANCE, AND TEMPORARY LOAN SERVICES. THE SURVEY SHOWED THAT LOUISIANA IS TRYING TO AID VICTIMS BUT THAT VICTIM RESTITUTION PROGRAMS AND BETTER DATA ON EXISTING PROGRAMS ARE NEEDED. DESCRIPTIONS OF SEVERAL EXEMPLARY PROGRAMS, FOOTNOTES, DIAGRAMS, FORMS, AND A CHART SHOWING LOCATIONS OF LOUISIANA'S VICTIM SERVICES ARE INCLUDED. FOR A DIRECTORY OF THESE SERVICES, SEE NCJ-64781. (CFW)