What Are Victim Services Programs?

Victim services programs (VSPs) provide services and support to victims of crime. VSPs have been implemented to meet the needs of various victim populations such as elderly victims, child abuse victims, sex abuse victims, rape/sexual assault victims, domestic violence victims, victims with disabilities, and human trafficking victims. In some instances, VSPs provide services to victims of specific crimes and in other instances, programs are generalized to serve all crime victims. Most VSPs generally do one of the following:

Provide direct services to victims
Educate the public about the types of victim services that are available
Advocate for victims

Many VSPs work with medical services, legal services, law enforcement and/or prosecution to provide coordinated services. VSPs provide a wide range of services that can be grouped under the following headings:

Emergency Services (e.g., shelter/food, security repair, financial assistance, on-scene comfort, and medical care)
Counseling (e.g., 24-hour hotline, crisis intervention, and follow-up counseling)
Advocacy and Support Services (e.g., personal advocacy, employer intervention, landlord intervention, property return, intimidation intervention, victim impact reports, mediation, legal/paralegal counsel, and referral)
Financial Assistance (e.g., insurance claims aid and assistance to obtain restitution, compensation, and witness fees)
Court-Related Services (e.g., witness reception, court orientation, notification, witness alert, transportation, child care, and escort to court)
Post-Sentencing Services (e.g., orientation, notification, and restitution)
Systemwide Services (e.g., public education, legislative advocacy, and training)
Safety Planning (e.g., safety when going to court or when preparing to leave an abusive relationship)

Victim services are funded under a number of BJA programs and there are two offices within the Department of Justice that focus on victim services: Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).

BJA Resources Related to Victim Services

Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program
Law Enforcement and Service Provider Multidisciplinary Anti-Trafficking Task Forces

Other National Victim Services Resources

Joint Center on Violence and Victim Services
National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women (VAWnet)
OVC Links to National Victim Serving Organizations
OVC Technical Assistance Resources Center's Strategic Planning Toolkit

State Victim Services Resources

OVC Links to Victim Assistance & Compensation Programs

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