NCJ Number
184052
Editor(s)
Anne Seymour,
Morna Murray,
Jane Sigmon,
Melissa Hook,
Christine Edmunds,
Mario Gaboury,
Grace Coleman
Date Published
June 2000
Length
875 pages
Annotation
This document provides an overview of the National Victim Assistance Academy.
Abstract
Violent crime in America has become a national crisis and, as a result, America’s mental health, health care and public safety systems are seriously challenged. The mental health impact of violent crime can be seen in the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder among women with a history of violent victimization and individuals who have lost a family member to homicide. Chapters discuss the scope and impact of crime in America, the foundations of the rule of law in the U.S., the four somewhat diverse movements that predated the victims’ rights discipline and set the stage for its emergence, and the history of the victims’ rights discipline in five distinct stages. In addition, it describes the emergence of new organizations dedicated to assisting crime victims and the challenges facing the field. Learning objectives, a statistical overview and brief descriptions of significant legislation relative to victims’ rights. References