Describe the connection between the early programs for crime victims and the development of victim assistance organizations. In what ways did the early programs for crime victims influence the development of victim assistance organizations? Was this a positive or negative influence?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

As victimology was growing in the 1970s and bringing greater attention to the victim being the neglected party in the criminal justice system, the system, too, began to notice that the biggest reason for prosecution failure was the loss of cooperative witnesses—victims—and a system that was indifferent to their most basic needs. To counter the problem of prosecution failure, the Federal Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA), funded and piloted three victim/witness programs in district attorneys’ offices. These programs were designed to provide better notification to victims about dates and processes relating to their cases, along with separate waiting areas in the courts, and encourage victim participation in the criminal justice system. Succeeding more victim/witness programs started and began to expand on the services provided to victims. These services included prosecutor-based staff training in crisis intervention (because court appearances can be crisis inducing for victims), social services referrals, assistance with compensation programs, and notification beyond court dates, i.e., bails determinations, continuances, plea bargains, dismissals, sentences, restitution, protective measures, and parole hearings. These programs continue today, offering the same services to crime victims.