Helping Crime Victims : Research, Policy and Practice

Nominated for the 1992 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Outstanding Book Award Where can victims of violent crime turn for assistance? What legislation exists to protect victims′ rights? Are effective treatment programs available to help victims of violent crime? These are but a few of the fundamental questions professionals--as well as victims themselves--are asking in light of the rapid escalation of violent crime. Helping Crime Victims offers the first up-to-date, authoritative overview of victim/witness assistance and survivor services. It thoroughly discusses the development of victims′ compensation, family violence intervention programs, and victim/witness assistance programs. Also examined are programs designed to improve service delivery and lessen the traumatic experiences to victims of violent crimes, such as rape, domestic violence, murder, robbery, and assault. An appendix offers a directory of 184 existing programs, including the staffing pattern and specialized types of victim services. Helping Crime Victims truly is a sourcebook geared to providing program directors, victim advocates, criminal justice professionals, clinicians, family therapists, criminologists, and researchers with a far better understanding of the policies, programs, and treatment alternatives developed to help victims cope and recover. Students in the field of victimology will also find this volume invaluable for their studies. "This is one of the most comprehensive and informative books published in the field. . . . Roberts provides the first national survey of the organizational structure and functions of 184 victim assistance programs. He offers insights into the strengths and shortcomings of existing programs, most of which were developed by responsive prosecutors and police chiefs. Roberts was able to summarize masses of data into concise and readable conclusions. . . . He also provides detailed descriptions of four model victim assistance programs. . . . All law enforceme