NCJ Number
56688
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
AN ADDRESS BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF VICTIM ASSISTANCE INDICATES THE NEED FOR TRAINED PERSONNEL WHO CAN DIRECT NECESSARY SERVICES TO CRIME VICTIMS.
Abstract
THE VICTIM ADVOCATE PROGRAM SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROVIDES DIRECT SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF CRIME. IMMEDIATE SERVICES, SUCH AS TAKING THE PERSON TO THE HOSPITAL AND ARRANGING FOR THE CARE OF THE PERSON'S CHILDREN ARE HANDLED BY VOLUNTEERS, THUS FREEING POLICE PERSONNEL TO HANDLE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASPECTS OF THE CRIME. A WELL-TRAINED VICTIM ADVOCATE MUST SUBSEQUENTLY BE ABLE TO HELP THE VICTIM THROUGH THE COURT PROCESS. THE ADVOCATE WOULD GO TO COURT WITH THE VICTIM, PROTECT HIM FROM THE MEDIA, AND PREVENT HIS ADDITIONAL VICTIMIZATION BY SUGGESTING CHANGES IN LIFE STYLE THAT WOULD REDUCE VULNERABILITY. ALTHOUGH SOME VICTIMS HAVE MISTRUSTED ANY ASSISTANCE FROM AN ORGANIZATION ASSOCIATED WITH POLICE, THE VICTIM ADVOCATE PROGRAM HAS IMPROVED THE IMAGE OF THE POLICE. THE PROGRAM HAS ALSO BEEN CRITICIZED FOR NOT HELPING YOUNG BLACKS WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED, BUT IN DEFENSE IT IS SPECULATED THAT ELDERLY WHITES HAVE BEEN MORE RECEPTIVE TO SOCIAL SERVICES. SPECIALIZED AID PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED IN THE FORM OF RAPE CRISIS CENTERS AND WOMENS' SHELTERS. THE NEED FOR CHILD ABUSE CENTERS AND THE TRAINED PERSONNEL TO STAFF THEM IS INDICATED BY THE SURVEY FINDINGS WHICH SHOW THAT 75 PERCENT OF THE RAPISTS SURVEYED WERE ABUSED CHILDREN. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)