NCJ Number
245394
Date Published
May 2001
Length
148 pages
Annotation
Based on survey responses from 39 State correctional administrators and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (an 80-percent response rate) regarding correctional agency services for crime victims, this report presents related findings and recommendations, followed by draft policies for consideration in the development of a policy manual for victim services programs in State correctional agencies.
Abstract
An overview of the survey findings indicates a promising beginning for the provision of victim services by State corrections departments. The 80 percent of State directors of corrections who responded to the surveys have already initiated Victim Services Units (VSUs). The majority of VSUs were established in the past decade, suggesting the broad importance of victim's services and response mechanisms within corrections departments; however, relatively few departments have assigned more than one staff person to the VSU mission and there is a limited range of victim programs and services by correctional agencies. More detailed survey findings address mission statements; the structure and staffing of corrections-based victim services; and victims' rights and related services. The latter topic encompasses victim notification, restitution, victim protection, victim impact statements, and information and referral services. Other issues addressed in the survey include public outreach on victims' behalf, allied professional outreach, staff training, responding to correctional workplace violence and staff victimization, and victim/offender programming. Most of the 13 recommendations developed from the survey findings can be implemented with the resources available through the Policy Manual that is being developed in conjunction with the "Action Partnership for Corrections-based Victim Services Project." Draft policies for consideration in a policy manual on correctional victims services address the Division of Victim Services, Victim Advisory Councils, victim restitution, victim notification, victim protection, victim confidentiality, child victim visitation, impact of crime on victims, victim involvement at executions, and victim and community outreach.