Victim Service Programs in the STOP Formula Grants Program: Services Offered and Interactions with Other Community Agencies

• NCJ Number: 196990
• Author(s): Martha R. Burt; Janine M. Zweig; Kathryn Schlichter; Cynthia Andrews
• Date Published: October 2000
• Length: 136 pages
• Grant Number(s): 99-WT-VX-0010
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
• Corporate Author: The Urban Institute
• Sale Source: The Urban Institute
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded September 25, 2002

Annotation

This study evaluated whether the financial assistance offered through STOP to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault was effective in improving their safety and guiding them through the legal system.

Abstract

The STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grants Program is a Federal program aimed at stimulating the growth of programs serving women who are victims of violence. The purpose of this study was to describe the many victim services programs funded by the STOP program, to understand the community and State environments where the STOP funds operate, to evaluate the degree to which STOP funds have improved victim services programs, and to assess how the victim services programs are affecting victim outcomes. In order to assess these research questions, the authors selected a sample of 200 victim services programs to participate in a telephone survey and answer a faxed questionnaire. The telephone interview asked about the nature of the STOP funded programs, changes that have occurred in the legal system since the funding began, and what types of outreach strategies are employed. The questionnaire included questions about their budgets, funding, staff, and numbers of victims served. A key finding of this research was that STOP funds helped victim services programs offer new services and to bring existing services to a greater population of women. STOP funded programs were particularly likely to offer court advocacy and a multidisciplinary response team. STOP funds were also used to support projects involving collaboration, training, and policy development. The authors also found that agencies using STOP funds were more likely to have increased communication among agencies and more coordinated community responses for women at risk. In conclusion, the authors offer many implications for research and for practice, such as the fact that victim services programs should continue to work with legal system agencies to address violence against women. Also, the authors urge STOP funded agencies to support local collaborative efforts through technical assistance, training, and other support services. Tables, references