NCJ Number
106109
Date Published
1987
Length
5 pages
Annotation
After reviewing the stages and factors in a victim's reaction to crime, this pamphlet instructs police in various procedures and techniques for assisting crime victims.
Abstract
The stages of victim reaction to crime include the crime's initial impact as a crisis, the marshalling of resources to cope with the victimization, and reorganization which involves acceptance of the crime as just one of life's experiences. Factors in victims' reactions to crime include the perception of crime as a personal violation, which depends not only on the crime's severity but also on the particular meaning the crime has for the victim. Police services to crime victims include an appropriate police telephone response to victims when they report crimes, crisis intervention and psychological first aid, resource mobilization and information, and followup. Crisis intervention and psychological first aid include ensuring victims they are now safe, validating the victim's reaction as normal, allowing victims to ventilate their feelings, focusing on the offender's culpability rather than victim contributions to the crime, and preparing the victim for possible investigative outcomes and case proceedings. The pamphlet also reviews Federal efforts to serve crime victims, State initiatives, and police cooperation with other local victim assistance programs. Questions and answers on the material are provided.