What Do Victims Want? Effective Strategies To Achieve Justice for Victims of Crime.

Source: (2000) US Dept of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime.

Thirteen basic principles were developed to shape policies and practices of justice and other agencies in responding to victims from initial contact to final healing and restoration. Among the principles were to respond equally, respectfully, and compassionately to all victims; to protect victims from further victimization; and to refer victims to crisis and support services as soon as possible after victimization. Summit participants devised a spectrum of strategies to help law enforcement, the justice system, and communities collectively invest resources to promote victim rights and satisfy their needs more effectively. The strategies clustered in six recommended action areas: commit to crime victim support and assistance; collaborate across services and agencies; organize to deliver services and support to crime victims; focus on victim rights and needs; support professionals who serve crime victims; and engage communities in addressing crime victim needs. Guidance was also provided for measuring success in the provision of victim services and in developing a law enforcement action agenda for providing victim services.