NCJ Number
96966
Journal
American Psychologist Volume: 40 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1985) Pages: 99-103
Date Published
1985
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Crime victims have been terribly mistreated, but the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, the Victims of Crime Act of 1984, and other efforts are increasing the aid provided to victims to help them deal with the psychological effects of victimization.
Abstract
The criminal justice system treats victims with indifference at best and blame and abuse at worst. After speaking to nearly 1,000 people in 6 cities, the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime described how victims are treated by the judiciary, the prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement officers, and the probation and parole systems, as well as by institutions outside the criminal justice system. Sixty-eight comprehensive reforms were recommended to help mental health professionals bring aid and comfort to crime victims. Victims of family violence were found to be abandoned in unique ways; recommendations also focused on how services to them should be changed. To implement the task force's recommendations, a Federal victims' unit was established within the Department of Justice. The unit serves as a resource center, a developer of training packages and a producer of model legislation. The Victims of Crime Act of 1984 will make Federal funds available to fund State victim compensation programs and to support victim assistance agencies and organizations. Eight references are listed.