Victim and Witness Programs in the US - Needs, Alternative Models, and the 'Turnaround' Project (From Verbrechensopfer, P 459-478, 1979, Gerd Ferdinand Kirchhoff and Klaus Sessar, ed. - See NCJ-72716)

• NCJ Number: 72738
• Author(s): R D Knudten; M S Knudten
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 20 pages
• Sale Source: Studienverlag Dr N Brockmeyer
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: German
• Country: West Germany (Former)
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

The needs of crime victims and witnesses, special U.S. programs for victims, and the effectiveness of such programs are examined.

Abstract

Both victims and witnesses of crimes face a complex of problems directly related to the crime (e.g., emotional disturbances, loss of time and property, physical injury, and property damage) and secondary problems stemming from criminal proceedings (e.g., transportation problems, time losses, unnecessary waiting, and unkind treatment by unpleasant individuals). Assistance has been supplied by special victim assistance organizations. Program types include the victim-witness model to assist both groups, the referral service model to provide social assistance to victims even outside the justice system, the centralized direct services model using existing justice and welfare agency channels, and the advocacy model which concentrates on general rather than individual problems. The victim-witness type is most common; examples are cited for all types. The effective Milwaukee Turnaround Project, which assisted victims and witnesses from 1974 to 1979 is evaluated in detail. Goals of the program were to provide direct assistance to victims and to the criminal justice system, as well as indirect assistance to witnesses involved in prosecution of offenders. Work handled by various units consisted of tasks such as writing information brochures, locating witnesses, teaching victims how to keep track of costs, assisting individuals in reporting crimes, and dealing with sexual offenses and witness emergencies. Public satisfaction with the operation was high and the time required to complete such functions as crime reporting was cut considerably. The program also included a computerized information system. The coordination by an administration and planning division was essential to the success of the project. In an evaluation survey, 60 percent of the respondents had heard of Turnaround and 89 percent of those using the services found them helpful. Police officers and judges interviewed were unaware of the Turnaround services, but public prosecutors felt that the organization contributed significantly to the speed and quality of their work. Yearly public savings of 2.2 to 2.7 million dollars resulted because of an increase in participating clients, improved service efficiency, improved methods of data collection, cost-effectiveness analysis, and the spread of the automated information system. Notes and tables are supplied.