Title: New Directions from the Field: Victims' Rights and Services for the 21st Century, Strategies for Implementation--Tools for Action Guide Series: Training Manual Author: Office for Victims of Crime Published: February 2000 Subject: Victims' Rights, Victim Services, Victims of Crime 146 pages 287,000 bytes ---------------------------- Figures, charts, forms, and tables are not included in this ASCII plain-text file. To view this document in its entirety, download the Adobe Acrobat graphic file available from this Web site or order a print copy from Office for Victims of Crime Resource Center at 800-627-6872. ---------------------------- New Directions from the Field: Victims' Rights and Services for the 21st Century Strategies for Implementation Tools for Action Guide "New Directions is a sound compass that will help hold the course true in the years of work to come. The recommendations offer to all a starting point for discussion about how best to apply them within individual communities to meet local needs." Excerpted from: VISION: A Focus on Victims' Issues, "Victims' Rights and Services for the 21st Century," Office of the Attorney General, Austin, Texas, Vol. 1. No. 3, (Fall 1998). New Directions from the Field: Victims' Rights and Services for the 21st Century is a comprehensive report on victims' rights and services that chronicles the extraordinary accomplishments of the victims' rights discipline and outlines what we, as a society and global community, should strive to achieve for crime victims in the 21st century. The document contains 250 recommendations targeted to almost every profession that comes in contact with crime victims, from criminal and juvenile justice practitioners, to the victim assistance, health care, mental health, legal, educational, faith, news media, and business communities. It also contains scores of "promising practices" that are transforming victim services in America today. This important report is the first comprehensive plan regarding how the Nation should respond to crime victims since the Final Report of the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime was published in 1982. New Directions from the Field: Victims' Rights and Services for the 21st Century was published to foster a dialogue across the Nation for developing strategies to provide justice and healing for crime victims in the new millennium. New Directions urges every person in America who interacts with crime victims--from police officers to prosecutors, from judges to corrections officials, from members of the clergy to business leaders--to join this dialogue and implement the programs and reforms that make sense for their own communities. As a Nation, we have seen the doors of justice gradually open for some. New Directions offers recommendations and ideas for providing victims' rights and services for all. ---------------------------- U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs 810 Seventh Street NW. Washington, DC 20531 Janet Reno Attorney General Daniel Marcus Acting Associate Attorney General Laurie Robinson Assistant Attorney General Noel Brennan Deputy Assistant Attorney General Kathryn M. Turman Director, Office for Victims of Crime Office of Justice Programs World Wide Web Home Page www.ojp.usdoj.gov Office for Victims of Crime World Wide Web Home Page www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/ For grant and funding information contact U.S. Department of Justice Response Center 1-800-421-6770 OVC Resource Center 1-800-627-6872 OVC Resource Center Home Page www.ncjrs.gov This Implementation Guide was developed by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The Office for Victims of Crime is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Not all points of views expressed in this Implementation Guide represent the official position of the U.S. Department of Justice. ---------------------------- NCJ 179558 February 2000 ---------------------------- Overview of Guide & New Directions Resources An Overview of Guide New Directions: Strategies for Implementation--Tools for Action Guide The Strategies for Implementation--Tools for Action Guide provides valuable resources for implementing the recommendations, ideas, and promising practices contained in New Directions. The section on Global Strategies for Implementation suggests approaches for justice system agencies, victim service providers, allied professionals, public policymakers, and interested citizens to consider when beginning the challenging task of implementing the many innovative programs, policies, and recommendations highlighted in New Directions on the local, State, Tribal, national, and international levels. The section on Suggested Events To Promote New Directions identifies key first steps that can be undertaken to launch implementation efforts such as creating a statewide task force, sponsoring a community forum, and dedicating a conference plenary session. The Tools for Public Speaking section includes a sample speech and suggested talking points that can be used when making presentations about New Directions. The section entitled Camera-Ready Resources provides useful overheads formatted for reproduction to enhance speaker presentations, and camera-ready public awareness pocket cards that can be reproduced and distributed as handouts at a variety of professional training and community education events. The section entitled Getting the Word Out About New Directions contains a variety of tools to increase public awareness, including a sample opinion/ editorial column, press release, and newsletter article. Sample letters encouraging criminal justice agencies, allied professional associations, and public officials to take decisive action to implement New Directions are also provided in this section. While New Directions contains nearly 450 pages of information, it can seem overwhelming to some first-time readers. Therefore, an Index is provided in this Guide for easy access to information contained in New Directions. In addition, the section entitled Master List of New Directions Recommendations provides a comprehensive overview of recommendations contained in each of New Directions' 18 chapters, formatted by chapter for distribution. Also included is a videotape and accompanying discussion guide about New Directions. The Office for Victims of Crime supported the development of the New Directions from the Field: Victims' Rights and Services for the 21st Century videotape to serve as an introduction and overview of New Directions. The videotape will be distributed widely and as a result, the final section of this Guide provides suggested discussion questions for a variety of viewing audiences. Contents New Directions: Strategies for Implementation--Tools for Action Guide Master List of New Directions Recommendations o Chapter 1: Victims' Rights o Chapter 2: Law Enforcement o Chapter 3: Prosecution o Chapter 4: Judiciary o Chapter 5: Corrections o Chapter 6: Victim Assistance o Chapter 7: Health Care o Chapter 8: Mental Health o Chapter 9: Legal o Chapter 10: Education o Chapter 11: Faith o Chapter 12: Business o Chapter 13: News Media o Chapter 14: Compensation o Chapter 15: Restitution o Chapter 16: Civil Remedies o Chapter 17: Child Victims o Chapter 18: International New Directions Index o Supplement to New Directions--A 16-page index housing key information, ideas, and recommendations contained in New Directions. Global Strategies for Implementation o New Directions Five Global Challenges for the Field o Initiatives Underway in Response to New Directions o Strategies and Ideas for Implementing New Directions o Legislative Strategies o What Victim Service Providers Can Do o A Checklist for Implementing New Directions Overview of Guide & New Directions Resources o Contents o Acknowledgments o New Directions Resources o Evaluation and Action Form Camera-Ready Resources o Public Awareness Pocket Cards o Community Forum Announcement Flyer o Overheads Formatted for Speaker Presentation Getting the Word Out About New Directions o Sample Press Release o Sample Newsletter Article o Sample Opinion/Editorial Column o Sample Letter to Criminal Justice Associations o Sample Letter to Allied Professional Associations o Sample Letter to Public Officials Tools for Public Speaking o Sample Speech o Suggested Talking Points Suggested Events To Promote New Directions o Launching a Task Force o Sponsoring a Community Forum o Conducting a Conference Plenary Session Viewing and Discussing the New Directions Videotape o Overview of New Directions from the Field: Victims' Rights and Services for the 21st Century videotape and suggested discussion questions. ---------------------------- New Directions Resources Available from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime In addition to the New Directions Report, a variety of informative New Directions-related resources have been developed to assist professionals and volunteers working on the State and national levels to implement the recommendations and promising practices identified in New Directions. The report and its companion resources are described below and are available from the Office for Victims of Crime Resource Center (OVCRC), a component of the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS). New Directions from the Field: Victims' Rights and Services for the 21st Century A comprehensive report about victims' rights and services that chronicles the extraordinary accomplishments in this field and outlines what we, as a society and global community, should strive to achieve for crime victims in the 21st century. (NCJ 170600), 441 pp. Mailing fee: $6 per report for First Class Postage; $4 per report for Book Rate Postage. New Directions: Strategies for Implementation--Tools for Action Guide The Strategies for Implementation--Tools for Action Guide, in conjunction with the New Directions Report and its companion videotape, is intended to explain the goals and concepts behind New Directions and to provide tools for implementing its recommendations. (NCJ 179558), 100 pp. Up to five Implementation Guides are available free of charge. For orders of six or more, please call OVCRC to obtain mailing fees. New Directions Videotape Remarks by Kathryn M. Turman, Director, Office for Victims of Crime, are included on this videotape produced specifically to highlight the global challenges for comprehensive victim services in the 21st century presented in the New Directions Report. (NCJ 178283), 18 minutes. Up to five videotapes are available free of charge. For orders of six or more, please call OVCRC to obtain mailing fees. New Directions from the Field: Victims' Rights and Services for the 21st Century Bulletins Individual chapters of New Directions have been reprinted to target specific professional communities and issues. Up to five bulletins are available free of charge. For orders of six or more, please call OVCRC to obtain mailing fees. To obtain copies of the resources listed above, contact OVCRC at (800) 627-6872 or write to NCJRS, User Services, P.O. Box 6000, Rockville, MD, 20849-6000. Please note that while New Directions and its companion resources are available free of charge, a mailing fee for some resources may be imposed. New Directions Resources (with the exception of the video) are also available online by accessing OVC's World Wide Web site: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc. ---------------------------- Titles of Bulletins and Order Numbers: o New Directions Bulletin 1 of 19: Executive Summary (NCJ 172811) o New Directions Bulletin 2 of 19: Victims' Rights (NCJ 172812) o New Directions Bulletin 3 of 19: Law Enforcement (NCJ 172813) o New Directions Bulletin 4 of 19: Prosecution (NCJ 172814) o New Directions Bulletin 5 of 19: Judiciary (NCJ 172815) o New Directions Bulletin 6 of 19: Corrections (NCJ 172816) o New Directions Bulletin 7 of 19: Victim Assistance Community (NCJ 172817) o New Directions Bulletin 8 of 19: Health Care Community (NCJ 172818) o New Directions Bulletin 9 of 19: Mental Health Community (NCJ 172819) o New Directions Bulletin 10 of 19: Legal Community (NCJ 172820) o New Directions Bulletin 11 of 19: Education Community (NCJ 172821) o New Directions Bulletin 12 of 19: Faith Community (NCJ 172822) o New Directions Bulletin 13 of 19: Business Community (NCJ 172823) o New Directions Bulletin 14 of 19: News Media Community (NCJ 172824) o New Directions Bulletin 15 of 19: Crime Victims' Compensation (NCJ 172829) o New Directions Bulletin 16 of 19: Restitution (NCJ 172825) o New Directions Bulletin 17 of 19: Civil Remedies (NCJ 172826) o New Directions Bulletin 18 of 19: Child Victims (NCJ 172827) o New Directions Bulletin 19 of 19: International Perspective (NCJ 172828) ---------------------------- Evaluation and Action Form New Directions: Strategies for Implementation--Tools for Action Guide Thank you for taking the time to complete this form. Your comments will be very useful to the Office for Victims of Crime in two ways: first, in determining the types of resources most useful to the field, and second, in tracking the impact of New Directions by finding out about the implementation efforts undertaken on the local, State, Tribal, and national level. 1. What section/elements of this New Directions Implementation Guide did you find most useful? Least useful? 2. How do you plan to use the Implementation Guide? 3. What efforts are currently underway in your community/State/Tribe/ organization/agency to implement the many ideas and recommendations contained in New Directions? 4. What future efforts do you think are needed to implement New Directions in your community/State/Tribe/nationally? Please Return this Evaluation Form to: Laura Federline, Program Specialist, Office of the Director, U.S. Department of Justice, 810 Seventh Street, NW., Washington, DC, 20531 ---------------------------- New Directions from the Field: Victims' Rights and Services for the 21st Century Acknowledgments Special appreciation is extended to Carolyn Hightower, Deputy Director, U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, for her vision and support during all phases of the development of the Strategies for Implementation-- Tools for Action Guide. Sincere gratitude is also extended to Laura Federline, Program Specialist, Office of the Director, Office for Victims of Crime, for inspiring commitment and creativity of project staff in her role as Project Monitor. The following individuals are recognized for their hard work and dedication to the completion of the Guide: Implementation Guide Project Director and Co-Author Christine N. Edmunds, Victim Services and Criminal Justice Consultant, Washington, DC Implementation Guide Co-Author Ellen K. Alexander, Victim Services Consultant, Oakton, VA Implementation Guide Contributors/Editors David Beatty, National Public Policy Advocate, Ashburn, VA Anne K. Seymour, Public Safety Consultant, Washington, DC U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime Pam Leupen, Publication Program Manager Theodosia Craig, Writer/Editor, Publication Unit Debra Christenberry, Writer/Editor, Publication Unit Graphic Design Randy and Rose Fletcher, Exarte Design, Inc., Arlington, VA Index EEI Communications, Alexandria, VA New Directions Videotape Robin Smith, President, Video/Action Fund, Washington, DC Wendy Kelly, WLK Graphics, Springfield, VA ---------------------------- Global Strategies for Implementation This section is designed to provide ideas and strategies for implementing New Directions recommendations from the field on the local, State, Tribal, and national levels. While specific implementation strategies have not been developed for the international community, many of the strategies suggested below can be adapted to improve victims' rights and services throughout the world. This section contains the following information: ---------------------------- New Directions Five Global Challenges for the Field An At a Glance one-page overview of New Directions five global challenges for the field is provided. The global challenges serve as a summary of the five key areas of focus for the 250 recommendations presented in New Directions. The global challenges are formatted into a one-page overview sheet to ease reproduction for handouts at community forums and State task force meetings, or for inclusion in training materials. Initiatives Underway in Response to New Directions States and communities across the Nation have found many uses for New Directions. These initial efforts--including using New Directions as a planning tool and incorporating its comprehensive information into training curricula--are highlighted in this section to spur similar efforts on the local, State, Tribal, and national level. Suggested Strategies and Ideas for Implementing New Directions There are countless strategies to implement the ideas, recommendations, and promising practices contained in New Directions. The strategies presented in this section include using New Directions to: enhance victims' rights; strengthen policies, procedures and protocol; establish seamless rights across the justice system; promote public awareness; and expand education and training efforts. Other ideas include creating New Directions Advisory Committees to help guide implementation efforts and as a tool for public policy change. New Directions Five Global Challenges for the Field More than 1,000 individuals from across the Nation contributed to the development of New Directions from the Field: Victims' Rights and Services for the 21st Century. In the course of compiling the hundreds of recommendations from the field and in listening to the voices of crime victims, their advocates, and allied professionals who work with crime victims throughout the Nation, certain key challenges emerged. The following five guiding global challenges for responding to victims of crime form the core of the hundreds of ideas and 250 recommendations contained in New Directions. 1. To enact and enforce consistent, fundamental rights for crime victims in Federal, State, juvenile, military, and Tribal justice systems, and administrative proceedings. 2. To provide crime victims with access to comprehensive, quality services regardless of the nature of their victimization, age, race, religion, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, capability, or geographic location. 3. To integrate crime victims' issues into all levels of the Nation's educational system to ensure that justice and allied professionals and other service providers receive comprehensive training on victims' issues as part of their academic education and continuing training in the field. 4. To support, improve, and replicate promising practices in victims' rights and services built upon sound research, advanced technology, and multidisciplinary partnerships. 5. To ensure that the voices of crime victims play a central role in the Nation's response to violence and those victimized by crime. ---------------------------- Initiatives Underway in Response to New Directions New Directions is being used to enhance victims' rights and services across the Nation. The Office for Victims of Crime has received input from victim service providers and allied professionals across the Nation on how they are using New Directions to chart the future of victims' rights and services. The following overview provides some examples of the broad range of implementation efforts across the Nation to respond to the recommendations set forth in New Directions, and to utilize the vast resources contained within its pages: o Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) will include a book review of New Directions in its special Millennium MADD ADVOCATE publication in January 2000. This special article, being sent to each of MADD's 500 chapters nationwide, provides an overview of the five global challenges of New Directions and encourages MADD's membership to take an activist role in implementing the recommendations--including the Report's first recommendation: the passage of a Federal constitutional amendment. o The National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) has highlighted New Directions at its annual North American Victim Assistance Conferences in both 1998 and 1999 by dedicating special New Directions plenary sessions. Leaders from the field debated and discussed the importance of this historic document, and challenged NOVA's membership to take decisive action to implement New Directions recommendations in their States and local communities. o The National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards (NACVCB) conducted a special plenary session and breakout discussions on New Directions at their annual national conference in the fall of 1998. Discussions focused on reviewing the recommendations for crime victim compensation and discussing priorities for State program policy or legislative change. In addition, NACVCB also featured New Directions in the Association's national newsletter to its membership. o New Directions has already found a home in the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board's recently revised law enforcement statewide training curriculum to include information contained in the Law Enforcement chapter of New Directions. o Based upon many of the recommendations in New Directions, the Victim Services 2000 project in Medina, Ohio, a comprehensive, communitywide victim assistance initiative, has prioritized its missions and goals for victim services in the 21st century and has expanded its advisory board to include nontraditional victim service providers. o Recognizing the wealth of information contained within New Directions, the Senior and Disabled Services Division of the Abuse Prevention Program in Salem, Oregon, has encouraged elder-issue multidisciplinary teams across the State to use New Directions as the central resource tool in defining and enhancing victim services to their elder client populations. o The Wisconsin Department of Justice Training and Standards Bureau has placed several New Directions training recommendations before its Advisory Board for adoption into its current training curriculum. o The South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium in San Jose, California, has found New Directions to be a useful, comprehensive resource tool in curriculum development and in drafting speeches and press releases to increase public awareness about victim-related issues. o The University of Texas at Austin and the Texas School of Social Work have applied the information contained in New Directions in two important ways to enhance the training of professionals who will come into contact with crime victims. First, in response to New Directions, both the University of Texas at Austin and NASW/Texas School of Social Work have included findings from New Directions in their respective educational curricula. Second, New Directions has been utilized as the primary resource guide for defining both schools' planning objectives, especially in the areas of education and mental health. o Many agencies, organizations, and academic institutions are utilizing New Directions in curricula development. For example, the National Victim Assistance Academy relied extensively on the research, recommendations, and promising practices cited throughout New Directions in its comprehensive update of the Academy text in 1999. With the ability to access the contents of New Directions via the Internet, inclusion of this state-of-the-art information is readily available for academicians, policymakers, researchers, curriculum developers, and writers. o The Texas Office of the Attorney General has assumed a primary role in implementing New Directions recommendations statewide. The Attorney General's State agency Task Force on Victim Services has adopted the field's recommendations set forth in Chapter Six of New Directions (Victim Assistance) as its road map for defining and implementing statewide victim services. Additionally, the Attorney General's Office is distributing New Directions statewide at State coalitions, conferences and other criminal justice working groups as the model for victim assistance in the 21st century. o The State of Vermont is using New Directions to enact change and promote the need for comprehensive victim services statewide. First, hundreds of copies of New Directions have been distributed to criminal justice agencies statewide with a strong endorsement from the Vermont Victim Services 2000 initiative, a comprehensive, communitywide victim assistance project, to review, adopt, and replicate recommendations and strategies drawn from New Directions. Policymakers around the State have been sent copies of New Directions Bulletins to heighten their awareness of the need for the criminal and juvenile justice community to better respond to crime victims. Vermont Victim Services 2000 also has used New Directions as its primary planning tool to draft the Vermont Plan for Comprehensive Services to Victims of Crime. o Strategies and recommendations found in the New Directions chapter on the Business Community are being used by Victim Services Agency in New York City to form critical partnerships between private business and public/private organizations to increase community efforts to assist crime victims. o The Department of Criminology at California State University-Fresno is using New Directions as a textbook for its course on public policy and victims' rights in its Victims Services Summer Institute Certificate Program. o New Directions is being offered by many victim services trainers across the Nation as a comprehensive, state-of-the-art, free resource for many diverse audiences. ---------------------------- Strategies and Ideas for Implementing New Directions Across Our Nation's Justice Systems Enhancing Victims' Rights: Federal, State, Tribal, and local justice agencies can turn to New Directions for useful information about current victims' rights laws to determine whether they are adhering to existing legislative mandates. Chapter 1 provides an extensive overview of victims' rights in America and provides 25 recommendations for creating more comprehensive and consistent rights for crime victims. Strengthening Policies, Procedures, and Protocol: New Directions provides critical information about model policies, programs, and protocol to address crime victims rights and concerns in every critical component of the justice system--law enforcement, prosecution, judiciary, and corrections. Federal, State, Tribal, and local justice agencies can review the recommendations contained in New Directions to determine their relevance to existing agency or departmental policies, procedures, and protocol. New Directions contains specific chapters addressing Law Enforcement (Chapter 2); Prosecution (Chapter 3); Judiciary (Chapter 4); and Corrections (Chapter 5). Establishing Seamless Implementation of Rights Across the Justice System: New Directions emphasizes that the seamless implementation of victims' rights needs to occur across all stages of the justice system. For example, for crime victims to receive restitution, law enforcement officers must advise them of the importance of documenting all losses; the prosecutor must request restitution; the judge must order restitution; and court administrators, institutional, or community corrections agencies must collect restitution. Model programs for restitution and countless other victims' rights initiatives are cited throughout New Directions for replication by victim service providers and allied professionals. Promoting Criminal Justice Professionals' Awareness of New Directions: Each chapter of New Directions has been published as an individual bulletin and is available through the Office for Victims of Crime Resource Center. (See the Overview of Guide & New Directions Resources section for information about how to obtain free copies of these bulletins.) In addition, the section entitled Master List of Recommendations in this Implementation Guide provides a comprehensive list of recommendations for each chapter, including law enforcement, prosecution, judiciary, and corrections, which can serve as stand-alone handouts or can be distributed with the bulletins. Examples of criminal justice-related bulletins are listed below: o Police training academies can distribute a copy of the New Directions Law Enforcement Bulletin to every sheriff and police chief in their State to increase the law enforcement community's awareness of victims' issues. o Statewide prosecutor associations can distribute a copy of the New Directions Prosecution Bulletin to every prosecutor in their State to increase the prosecution community's awareness of their roles and responsibilities in implementing victims' rights and services. o State judicial training coordinators can distribute a copy of the New Directions Judiciary Bulletin to every judicial officer and court administrator as a helpful reference guide. o State correctional associations (institutions, probation, parole, jails) can provide a copy of the New Directions Corrections Bulletin to every correctional agency in their jurisdiction. A letter that encourages agencies to take a leadership role in implementing New Directions recommendations should be included as an introduction to the New Directions Bulletin. A sample letter is provided in the Implementation Guide section entitled Getting the Word Out About New Directions. Expanding Education and Training Efforts The following ideas provide excellent examples about how the New Directions recommendations can be used to expand education and training programs for criminal and juvenile justice personnel nationwide. Law Enforcement Community o State Police Training Commission members and county-based police academy training personnel can convene a meeting to discuss strategies to incorporate victim-specific New Directions training recommendations into existing basic and advanced law enforcement training programs and curricula. o State training academies can designate an individual to oversee the development of curricula to ensure that local academies are provided current resources for curricula about victims' rights and services. o All law enforcement agencies can initiate in-house victims' issues training programs for newly hired personnel, as well as continuing education programs for existing staff who interact with crime victims. Prosecution Community o Every statewide prosecutor training conference can follow the lead of the National District Attorneys Association and conduct a victims' rights and services training track at annual State conferences. o State prosecutors associations can designate an individual to oversee the development of curricula to ensure that local and State training programs are provided up-to-date training resources about victims' rights and services. o Continuing legal education for prosecutors who interact with crime victims should include annual mandatory victim-related training. o The development of in-house victims' issues training programs for newly hired personnel and continuing education programs for existing staff who interact with crime victims are important. Judicial Community o On the national level, organizations representing the interests of the Nation's judiciary, such as the State Justice Institute, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and The National Judicial College have conducted numerous training programs on victims' rights and services. These training programs can incorporate recommendations contained in New Directions into their existing and planned curricula. o Every State judicial training agency can follow the lead of the California Judicial College by requiring mandatory training about victims' rights issues for new judges. o State judicial training coordinators can take a leadership role in developing victims' rights and services training programs for judges throughout their States. At a minimum, a victims' rights and issues training track should be incorporated into annual State judicial training conferences. o Continuing legal education for judges should include mandatory annual victim issues-related training. o Judges can develop victims' issues training programs for newly hired personnel and continuing education programs for existing court administrative staff who interact with crime victims. o At the State level, judicial organizations can create a Benchbook to be distributed to all judicial members on victims' rights. Corrections Community o State correctional associations can follow the lead of numerous national correctional associations and conduct victims' issues training tracks and programs at State and local level training events--including probation, parole, jails, and institutional corrections. These training programs should incorporate recommendations contained in New Directions into their existing and future curricula. o Corrections officials can develop victims' issues training programs for newly hired personnel and continuing education programs for existing corrections, parole, and probation staff who interact with crime victims. Creating New Directions Advisory Committees Following the lead of national and State agencies and associations, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, judges, and corrections and paroling authorities can create victim advisory committees to guide appropriate revisions to departmental policies based on the New Directions recommendations. Similarly, existing victim advisory committees can incorporate New Directions into their annual strategic plans, goals, and objectives. Law Enforcement Community On the national level, organizations such as the National Sheriffs' Association and the International Association of Chiefs of Police have established victims' issues committees. Such committees can take a leadership role in reviewing New Directions recommendations, and setting priorities for the Nation's law enforcement agencies on key areas for implementation. Additionally, accreditation agencies and committees, such as the Commission on the Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) can further advance victims' rights and services by reviewing their current victim service accreditation standards and incorporating recommendations contained in New Directions that are currently not included in their accreditation standards. State Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police Associations, as well as Tribal and local law enforcement agencies, can place New Directions on their meeting agendas to discuss adopting New Directions recommendations. Prosecution Community On the national, State, and Tribal levels, organizations representing prosecutors, such as the National District Attorneys Association, can establish a crime victims' issues committee. Once established, a committee can take a leadership role in reviewing New Directions recommendations and setting priorities for implementation of New Directions nationwide. Judicial Community On the national, State, and Tribal levels, the implementation of New Directions recommendations for the judiciary can be placed on the agendas of judicial leadership organizations such as the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators. Each chief justice can appoint members of the judiciary within their jurisdiction to serve on a victims' issues task force or working group to assess the judiciary's role in implementing New Directions recommendations. Consideration could also be given to amending Codes of Judicial Conduct to reflect the fact that crime victims play a pivotal role in the criminal and juvenile justice systems. Corrections Community On the national level, organizations representing the interests of corrections, such as the American Correctional Association, the American Probation and Parole Association, the Association of State Correctional Administrators, and the Association of Paroling Authorities, International have taken a leadership role in advancing the rights and services for crime victims. Each association has established a crime victims committee. Throughout the 1990s these associations have worked diligently to include crime victims' issues as part of their national agendas. In addition, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has established a crime victims working group to develop a long-range plan to help the Bureau better address victims needs. These organizations can further expand their leadership role in victims' rights by establishing priorities for the Nation's correctional communities and by supporting the implementation of New Directions recommendations in State and local correctional agencies. Each State and regional correctional association should consider following the lead of national correctional associations by establishing crime victims' issues committees to focus on setting priorities relevant to the recommendations set forth for Corrections in Chapter 5 of New Directions. ---------------------------- Legislative Strategies To Implement New Directions Some of the recommendations from the field contained in New Directions may require amendments to existing State statutes or new legislative initiatives to enact certain rights for crime victims. The legislative strategies listed below provide just a few suggestions for using New Directions as a tool for public policy development, and as a reference point for entering the legislative arena. Creation of a Legislative Agenda: New Directions can be used as a basis for assessing the strength and scope of current victims' rights within a State. By comparing a State's current legislative scheme with the comprehensive rights described in New Directions, policymakers and victims' rights advocates can assess gaps in existing laws. Through this process, New Directions provides a reliable basis for developing a public policy agenda. The first chapter of New Directions, entitled New Directions in Victims' Rights, provides a detailed review of comprehensive, innovative victims' rights laws that have been enacted across the Nation. This chapter has been published as an individual bulletin and can be distributed to policymakers. (For information about how to order copies of this bulletin, see the section entitled Overview of Guide & New Directions Resources.) Information for Elected Officials: New Directions can serve as an entry point for requesting time with State House/Senate Judiciary Committee members to discuss the need for lawmakers to review existing victims' rights laws for enhancements or modifications based upon recommendations found within New Directions. (A sample letter to public officials is included in the section entitled Getting the Word Out About New Directions in this Implementation Guide.) Reference Tool for Public Policy Debates: New Directions can also serve as a quick reference in public policy debates. For example, most victims' rights laws described in New Directions contain endnote citations to the specific number and names of States that have enacted such laws. Development of Model Legislation: New Directions contains many examples of model statutes that have been enacted across the Nation to delineate and enhance victims' rights, with specific examples in both the text and endnotes. The States cited as models can serve as mentors to spur similar policy changes in other States in the drafting and enactment of similar legislation. Establishment of Victims' Rights Policy Coalitions: New Directions can serve as the basis for creating victims' rights policy coalitions composed of a broad membership of victim activists, victim advocates, justice system representatives, and allied professionals who share a common interest of implementing the recommendations set forth in New Directions to enhance victims' rights. Coalitions can be formed to pass single legislative measures, or can become ongoing coalitions of crime victims, victim advocates, and justice officials as an undeniable force in all criminal and juvenile justice-related policy to the benefit of each constituency. Once established, such coalitions could expand their efforts beyond legislation to play a role in assessing and promoting implementation of victims' rights laws statewide. Legislative Actions Within Professional Associations: Many local, State, and national associations with an interest in victim assistance and justice processes sponsor either public policy or victim issues committees. New Directions can be utilized as a guide for identifying legislative priorities and gaps in existing laws that should be filled to promote victim justice. What Victim Service Providers Can Do To Assist in Nationwide Implementation of New Directions Collaborate with Justice Agencies to: o Identify upcoming State and local criminal justice- and allied professional-related training events and conferences, and notify conference organizers of the availability of presenters to conduct a New Directions workshop or training session. Include relevant sections of the New Directions Implementation Guide to emphasize the importance of including a New Directions workshop or training session as part of the conference agenda. Collaborate with State Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Administrator to: o Consider hosting a meeting of community VOCA grant subrecipients to review and develop implementation strategies for New Directions as the State develops or revises its plan for distribution of Federal VOCA funding at the State level. Collaborate with the Health Community to: o Request time on local hospitals' Board of Director's monthly or quarterly meeting agendas to outline the critical role that health care providers play in the continuum of victim services, and stress adoption of New Directions recommendations within the health care community. Collaborate with the Mental Health Community to: o Request that members of the mental health community (State or county mental health associations) explore key mental health issues raised in New Directions, such as issues concerning confidentiality. Encourage mental health associations to incorporate the New Directions Chapter 8 on the Mental Health Community into their professional continuing education programs. (For information about how to order copies of the Mental Health Community Bulletin, see the section entitled Overview of Guide & New Directions Resources.) Collaborate with the Business Community to: o Request presentation time during the chamber of commerce and community civic organizations' monthly meetings to discuss the importance of the business community in addressing violence, and adopting New Directions recommendations for the establishment of uniform policies and procedures in preventing and responding to workplace violence and victimization. o Ask the business community to provide, where appropriate, financial sponsorship of some of the activities listed in this Implementation Guide. For example, the business community can be approached to help sponsor a community forum. (See the section of this Guide entitled Suggested Events To Promote New Directions.) Collaborate with the Faith Community to: o Arrange a meeting with members of the community's Interfaith Council to discuss the adoption and implementation of New Directions recommendations within the faith community's overall missions and goals. Collaborate with the Education Community to: o Reserve space on local county boards of education and local college and university Departments of Criminal Justice advisory boards' monthly meeting agendas to discuss the important need to implement New Directions recommendations for the education community. Collaborate with the Legal Community to: o Host a New Directions informational forum on Law Day (May 1) for members of the State or county bar association to highlight the key role that attorneys in the private sector play in enhancing victims' legal options. Collaborate with the News Media to: o Sponsor a morning breakfast for members of the local news media to increase their awareness of victims' needs to be treated with sensitivity and dignity, as well as the important role the media play in increasing the community's understanding of violence and victimization based on recommendations contained in New Directions. o Arrange a meeting with local newspaper editorial boards to discuss New Directions recommendations for community involvement in meeting the needs of crime victims in the wake of community violence. (See the section of this Implementation Guide entitled Getting the Word Out About New Directions for a sample opinion/editorial column.) o Contact local cable access channels and propose a program format that highlights crime in the community, the need for supportive victim services, and how the community can better respond to crime victims and crime prevention based on recommendations found in New Directions. ---------------------------- Comprehensive Victims' Rights and Services A Checklist for Implementing New Directions in Your Community Crime victims need dignified and compassionate treatment, sustained financial and emotional support, and enforceable rights throughout the justice process. Criminal and juvenile justice agencies, victim service providers, crime victim compensation programs, and allied professionals in the health, mental health, education, faith, legal, business, and media communities can work together to ensure that crime victims receive the following rights and services: Emergency Aid o On-scene crisis intervention o 24-hour crisis hotline o Sensitive death notification o Information on victims rights and services o Referrals for emergency financial aid o Emergency transportation o Accompaniment to hospital for rape examination o Referrals for emergency shelter o Referrals for short- and long-term counseling o Local emergency fund to aid victims o Assistance with emergency compensation claim o Information and assistance on security options o Emergency restraining or protection orders o Information and assistance on recovery of stolen property o Information and assistance on document replacement o Child care services o Crime scene cleanup o Interpreter services Counseling and Advocacy o Crisis intervention services o Short-term counseling o Long-term counseling o Access and referrals to self-help support groups o Group counseling o Community crisis response o Access to counseling during criminal and juvenile justice adjudications o Intervention with employers, creditors, and landlords o Intervention with public agencies Investigation o Regular updates on status of investigation o Notification of suspect arrest o Basic information on the criminal justice system o Compensation claim filing and processing assistance o Referrals for short- and long-term counseling o Interpreter services o Protection from intimidation and harassment o Notification of pretrial release of accused o Input into bail/bond release decisions Prosecution o Orientation to the criminal justice system o Regular updates on status of case o Accompaniment to court o Witness alert/on-call technology 24 hours per day o Safe and secure waiting areas o Employer intervention services o Notification of plea negotiations o Victim consultation in plea decisions o Assistance in recovery of property held as evidence o Information on restitution o Restitution routinely requested or an explanation in writing o Landlord/creditor intervention o Interpreter services o Transportation/parking assistance o Child care services Sentencing o Notification of right to submit a victim impact statement o Victim impact information in presentence investigation report o Victim impact statement-written o Victim impact statement-oral o Victim statement of opinion o Audio- or videotaped victim impact statement o Notice of sentence Post-disposition o Information/notification of appeal o Collection of restitution o Restitution payment as condition of probation or parole o Notification of parole hearing o Victim impact statement at parole-written o Victim impact statement at parole-oral o Audio- or videotaped victim impact statement at parole o Notification of violation of parole/probation o Notification of revocation of parole/probation o Notification of application for clemency, pardon, or commutation o Notification of escape and capture o Notification of custody location o Name of probation officer or other supervised community release officer o Notice of execution date in death penalty cases o Advance notification of release ---------------------------- New Directions Index This section contains an index of New Directions to help readers find the comprehensive information presented in the report. The index includes references to: key victims' rights laws and public policy initiatives; significant historical developments in victims' rights and services; more than 200 promising practices in serving crime victims; and the report's 250 recommendations from the field. New Directions from the Field: Victims' Rights and Services for the 21st Century Index A AAFPRS. See American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery ABA. See American Bar Association ABA Center on Children and the Law, 385 Abduction, international parental child, 421-422 Aboriginal sentencing circle, 103 Abused Deaf Women's Advocacy Services, 158-159 ACOG. See American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Acute traumatic stress disorder, 220 ADA. See Americans with Disabilities Act Administrative proceedings and victims' rights, 32-33 Adolescents. See Children; Youth ADT Security Services, 297 Adult Protective Services, 167 Advocacy centers, xxi, 79-80, 207, 390, 394-395 Advocacy for Women and Kids in Emergencies, 163, 202 Advocacy programs, 269 Advocates o assistance to victims, 24 o court-appointed advocates for children, 391 ADWAS. See Abused Deaf Women's Advocacy Services Aetna, Inc., 302 Aetna Life & Casualty, 253 AFSCME's Women's Rights Department, 302 AG Guidelines. See Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance Alabama o children's advocacy center, 79 o Crime Victims Compensation Commission, 332 o domestic violence training program, 205 Allegheny Research Institute, 270 Allied professionals, initiatives of, xxii-xxiii AMA. See American Medical Association American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 207 American Bar Association, 249, 253, 259, 385 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 202, 205 American Correctional Association, 8, 121 American Medical Association, 202 American Probation and Parole Association, 8 American Psychological Association, 220 Americans with Disabilities Act, 159-160, 189, 308-309 Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, 5, 20, 331 Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia, 166 APABA. See Asian Pacific American Bar Association Argentina victim assistance program, 416 Arizona Community Domestic Violence Awareness Center, 100 Arkansas victim compensation program, 333 Arson, 172 Asian Pacific American Bar Association, 252 Asset Investigative Advocates, 174 Athletes Helping Kids campaign, 298 Atlanta Victim-Witness Assistance Program, 156 At-risk victims o identifying high-risk youth, 393, 403-404 o panic devices for, 49 Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance, 4, 50, 75, 154 Attorneys. See also Legal profession o civil remedies, 374-375 o Coalition of Victim Attorneys and Consultants, 251, 374 o education in victims' rights, 111, 258-260 o Lawyers for Children, 253 Australia drunk driving laws, 416 Automated victim notification system, 49 AWAKE. See Advocacy for Women and Kids in Emergencies AYUDA, 157, 251 B Bank of America, 296 Bank robberies and victim assistance programs, 174-175 Bias Crime Unit, 173 Bias crimes and victim assistance programs, 171-173 BJA. See Bureau of Justice Assistance Brazil victim assistance program, 416 Brazos County Rape Crisis Center, 176 Bureau of Justice Assistance, 160 Burned Church Coalition, 172 Business community o accommodating victims who suffer disabling injuries, 308-309 o corporate contributions to victims and victim services, 296-299 o crime prevention measures, 310 o domestic violence impact on the workplace, 301-303, 305-307 o employee assistance programs, 302, 306-307 o psychological counseling for victims, 304-305 o recommendations from the field, 303-310 o reporting violent crime, 309 o responsibilities to crime victims, 295-296, 303-305 o sexual assault awareness, 307 o training on workplace violence, 303-304 o workplace victimization, 307-310 o workplace violence, 299-301 C California o California Youth Authority, 129 o Center for Child Protection, 204-205 o Children's advocacy center, 80 o Children's Court, 102 o Children's Hospital Center for Child Protection, 159 o Community Domestic Violence Resource Network, 55 o Crime Victims Legal Clinic, 250-251 o drunk driving prosecution programs, 81 o family violence councils, 100 o Gang Victim Services, 157 o gang violence programs, 56, 171 o Impact of Crime on Victims program, 129 o interview center for investigating child sexual abuse cases, 79 o Loved Ones of Homicide Victims, 166 o multicultural victim assistance program, 157 o Rape Treatment Center, 232, 270 o Royal Family Kids Camps, 285 o Teens on Target program, 208 o Victim and Witness Coordinating Council, 179 o Victim Assistance Academy, 270 o Victim Offender Reconciliation Program, 286 o Violence Prevention Task Force, 206 o Women's Resource Center, 269 California State University-Fresno, victim services program of study, 271 Campaign Against Family Violence, 202 Campus Outreach Services, 273 Campus Security Act, 268 Campus Sexual Assault Victims Bill of Rights, 33, 268 Canada o Aboriginal sentencing circle, 103 o victim assistance program, 416 Carrington Victims' Litigation Project, 251, 374 Catholic Charities, 284 Caught in the Crossfire project, 171 CCP. See Center for Child Protection Cellular phone companies, 297 Center for Child Protection, 204-205 Center for Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence, 285 Center for the Vulnerable Child, 206-207 Center on Children and the Law, 385 Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, 385 Child Development-Community Policing Program, 51, 233 Child Pornography Prevention Act, 386-387 Child Sexual Exploitation: Improving Investigations and Protecting Victims--A Blueprint for Action, 421 Children. See also Youth o abuse prevention programs, 393, 404 o advocacy centers, xxi, 79-80, 207, 390, 394-395 o alternatives to live in-court testimony, 402 o categorizing child victimization data, 398 o challenging children's capacity to testify, 400-401 o child pornography, 386-387 o child protection social workers, 285 o Children's Bill of Rights, 32 o Children's Court, 102 o Children's Hospital Center for Child Protection, 159 o Children's Legal Advocacy Coalition, 253 o clergy's responsibilities to report child abuse, 286-287, 290 o commercial sexual exploitation of children, 421 o computer exploitation, 404 o court proceedings in victimization cases, 400-402 o "court school" programs, 396-397 o court-appointed special advocates, 391, 402 o Crimes Against Children Program, 49 o cycle of violence, 226-227, 238, 384, 387 o death review teams, 390-391 o effects of witnessing violence, 214, 389, 395 o endangerment from drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs, 406-407 o Federal Agency Task Force for Missing and Exploited Children, 52 o Federal legislative initiatives, 385-388 o funding research, 404-405 o health insurance provider responsibilities in o victimization cases, 407-408 o hearsay laws, 399-400 o homicide by abuse, 390-391 o impact of victimization, 384, 387-389 o international parental child abduction, 421-422 o intervention programs, 393, 402-403 o interview center for investigating sexual abuse cases, 79 o juvenile court child protection system, 392 o meeting the requirements of the National Child Protection Act, 397-398 o mental health care, 227-228, 239 o multidisciplinary approaches for abuse and neglect cases, 79, 390 o national programs, 385-387 o Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children, 100 o privacy of victim records, 399 o recommendations from the field, 394-408 o removing custody from abusive parents, 406 o reporting child abuse, 395-396 o repressed memories, 229-230 o runaway youth, 393 o Safe Kids/Safe Streets program, 392-393 o schools' responsibilities in identifying missing and exploited children, 275 o sexual abuse, xxi, 79, 159, 284, 383, 421 o "sleeper effects" of abuse, 405 o State legislation, 387-388 o State Missing Children's Clearinghouses, 396 o testifying in court, 398-399 o training for cases involving missing and exploited children, 392 o truancy prosecution programs, 81 o vertical prosecution for child abuse cases, 90 o victimization statistics, 385 -- as victims, xviii-xix Children's Bill of Rights, 32 Children's Justice Act, 386 Children's Legal Advocacy Coalition, 253 Children's Trust Funds, 393 Christian Society for the Healing of Dissociative Disorders, 285 Chronic victimization, 226-227, 238 Church burnings, 172 Churches. See Faith community Civil Justice Case Law Database, 252 Civil Legal Remedies for Crime Victims, 378 Civil remedies o attorney networks, 374-377 o expert consultants, 377 o legislative changes, 375 o providing information to victims, 374-375 o recommendations from the field, 376-378 o restitution orders, 361, 368-369 o statutes of limitations, 378 o training for victim service providers, 378 o victims' rights, 373-374, 376-377 CLAC. See Children's Legal Advocacy Coalition Clinton, Bill o Antiterrorism Act, 5 o Victims' rights constitutional amendment, 6 Coalition of Victim Attorneys and Consultants, 251, 374 Code of ethics for victim assistance programs, 185-186 Codes of Conduct for United States Judges, 113-114 Codes of Judicial Conduct, 113-114 College students. See also Educational community o disciplinary hearings, 32-33 Colleges. See Educational community Colorado o Victim Services 2000, 155-156 o Victims' Compensation and Assistance Coordinating Committee, 30 o Victims' Rights Act, 30 Colorado/Oklahoma Resource Council, 285-286 Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, 57-58, 64 Commission on Domestic Violence, 253-254, 259 Communication service companies, 297 Community corrections. See Parole; Probation Community impact statements, 28, 101 Community notification of release, 126-127, 142-143 Community programs o community criminal justice partnerships, xxi o Community Crisis Response programs, 156 o Community Domestic Violence Awareness Center, 100 o Community Domestic Violence Resource Network, 55 o Community Law Center, 255 o Community Policing to Combat Domestic Violence program, 55 o court programs, xxii o mental health centers, 243 o policing programs, xxii, 53, 55-56, 59 o prosecution programs, xxii, 79-81, 85 Compensation for victims o advisory boards, 344-345 o benefit criteria, 331-332 o for catastrophic physical injury, 340-341 o community outreach, 343-344 o effects of universal health care, 350 o eligibility requirements, 329-330, 339-340 o emergency awards, 332-333, 337 o for Federal victims, 330 o first compensation programs, 325 o funding programs, 335-336, 347-348 o impact of VOCA, 327 o international programs, 419-420 o meeting mental health needs of victims, 338-339 o multidisciplinary approaches, 345 o the Office for Victims of Crime mentoring program, 334-335 o President's Task Force issues, 326-327 o processing claims, 337 o program evaluation, 348 o public awareness, 333-334 o recent trends, 327-329 o recommendations from the field, 336-351 o State programs, 325-326, 349-350 o statutory reporting requirements, 341-342 o time restrictions on filing claims, 342-343 o transportation costs, 351 o using technology for claims processing, 334, 348-349 o victim advocacy, 346 o victim assistance programs, 351 o for victims of crimes occurring in other countries, 330-331, 350-351 o VOCA program requirements, 327 Complex PTSD, 224 Complex trauma therapy, 225 Compliance enforcement programs, 29-31 Computers. See Internet; Technology Concerns of Police Survivors, 65, 150 Confidentiality issues. See also Privacy issues o The Confidentiality of Communications Between Sexual Assault or Domestic Violence Victims and their Counselors, 228 o faith community responsibilities, 286-287 o in the health care system, 213 o mental health care and, 228-229 Confronting a Culture of Violence--A Catholic Framework for Action, 284 Connecticut o Child Development-Community Policing Program, 51 o Child Study Center, 233 o Lawyers for Children, 253 o reduction of crimes against the elderly, 52 Continuances, prosecution's responsibility regarding, 88-89 Contributions from corporations, 296-299 Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 8 Coping with the Iraq/Kuwait Crisis: A Handbook, 420 COPS. See Court-Ordered Payment System; Office of Community Oriented o Policing Services C.O.P.S. See Concerns of Police Survivors CORC. See Colorado/Oklahoma Resource Council Corporate donations, 296-299 Corrections system o correctional staff education and training, 139-140 o educating offenders on the impact of crime on o victims, 129, 141 o mission statements, 133 o providing separate waiting areas for victims, 138-139 o recommendations for parole, 119-120 o recommendations from the field, 131-143 o response to crime victims, 123-131 o restorative justice, 131 o role of victims, 120-123 o victim advisory committees, 132 o victim assistance, 133 o victimization of correctional staff, 130, 140-141 o victim-offender dialogue program, 130, 141-142 o violations of conditions of supervision, 129, 142 Council for Court Excellence, 92 Counseling o HIV testing and, 27-28 o psychological counseling for victims, 234-238, 304-305 Countrywide Moving and Storage, 297 Court-Ordered Payment System, 360-361 Courts. See also Judicial system o community court programs, xxii o juvenile court child protection system, 392 o notice of proceedings to victims, 12-14 o providing separate waiting areas for victims, 113 o reorienting, 115 o restructuring, 101-103 o special advocates for children, 391, 402 o unreasonable delay of proceedings, 21, 88-89 o victims' right to attend proceedings, 15 Courts of the Navajo Nation, 32. See also Tribal court systems COVAC. See Coalition of Victim Attorneys and Consultants Cox Broadcasting Corporation v. Cohn, 317 Crime Act of 1994, xix Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, 5, 386 Crime Victim Recovery Project, 232 Crime Victim Restitution: An Analysis of Approaches, 356 Crime Victims and the Media, 319 Crime Victims Compensation Commission, 332 Crime Victims Fund, 35, 151, 152 Crime Victims Legal Clinic, 250-251 Crime Victims Protection Act, 317-318 Crimes Against Children Program, 49 The Criminal Justice Response to Rape, 160 Criminal justice system, overview of, xi-xiii Crisis reaction to victimization, 220 Crisis response teams, xxi-xxii, 156, 186, 292, 420 Crow Tribal Council, 32 Cultural diversity o guidelines for health care providers, 212-213 o in mental health counseling, 225-226, 237-238 o responsibilities of legal community, 260 o victim assistance challenges, 157-158, 179-180 CVLP. See Carrington Victims' Litigation Project Cycle of violence, 226-227, 238, 384, 387 The Cycle of Violence, 387 D Dailey and Associates, 298 Deafness. See Victims with disabilities assistance programs Death at School, 267 Death notifications o Death Notification: Breaking the Bad News with Concern for the Professional and Compassion for the Survivor, 53 o health care professionals, 215-216 o law enforcement protocols, 53-54, 62, 169 Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, 416-418 Delaware o victim financial assistance, 332 Department of Housing and Urban Development witness relocation program, 77 DESNOS. See Diagnosis of Extreme Stress Not Otherwise Specified Diagnosis of Extreme Stress Not Otherwise Specified, 224 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 220 Dialogue programs, 130, 141-142, 286 Disciplinary hearings and victims' rights, 32-33 District of Columbia o AYUDA, 157, 251 o community prosecution program, 80 o One Voice, 375 o Operation Crackdown, 255 DNA People's Legal Services, Inc., 250 DOJ. See U.S. Department of Justice Domestic Abuse Code, 32 Domestic violence o Community Domestic Violence Awareness Center, 100 o Community Domestic Violence Resource Network, 55 o counseling for victims, 51 o Domestic Violence, Stalking, and Antistalking Legislation, 160 o Domestic Violence Advocacy Project, 254 o Domestic Violence and Health Care: Initiatives for the New Millennium, 204 o Domestic Violence Intervention Division, 50-51 o Domestic Violence Law Clinic, 254 o elderly victims, 167 o family violence councils, 100 o health care system programs, 202 o impact on the workplace, 301-303, 305-307 o international programs, 416 o Kenosha Domestic Abuse Intervention Program, 78 o National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 162 o National Domestic Violence Hotline, 161, 187-188 o National Network to End Domestic Violence, 162 o "no drop" policies, 91 o by police officers, 66-67 o programs for victims with special needs, 78 o vertical prosecution, 90 o victim assistance programs, 161-163 Driving under the influence. See also Mothers Against Drunk Driving o child endangerment, 406-407 o international programs, 416 o legislation, 169 o prosecution programs, 81 o victim assistance programs, 168-170 Drug crimes and community impact statements, 101 Drunk driving. See Driving under the influence DUI. See Driving under the influence E EAP. See Employee assistance programs Earn-It Program, 358 Education Development Center, 269 Educational community o college and university campus crime, 267-269, 275-277 o crime in schools, 263-265 o crime prevention strategies, 271-275 o crisis response protocols, 279 o education about victimization, 269-271, 274 o gang activity in schools, 264, 267 o identifying missing and exploited children, 275 o recommendations from the field, 273-279 o resources on victim rights, 279 o sexual assault awareness and prevention programs, 275-277 o training professionals on crime issues, 278 o victim assistance programs in schools, 265-267, 273-274 o victims' rights concerning disciplinary hearings, 278-279 Educational programs o for attorneys on victims' rights, 111, 258-260 o for clergy, 288-289 o for correctional staff, 139-140 o for health care professionals, 203-206, 209-211 o for judges and court personnel on victims' rights, 104-106 o for law students on victims' rights and sensitivity training, 91-92 o mental health care, 231-233 o for mental health care professionals, 237-238 o for offenders on the impact of crime on victims, 129 o on responding to hate and bias crimes, 173 o training education professionals on crime issues, 278 o victim sensitivity for the news media, 319 o victim service providers, 178-179, 182-183 o for victims' rights professionals, 34-35 Elderly victims o community criminal justice partnerships, xxi o domestic abuse, 167 o fraud, 167 o Seniors and Law Enforcement Officers Together Council, 52 o special prosecutors for elder exploitation and neglect, 78 o Triad programs, xxi, 52, 168 o victim assistance programs, 167-168 o Victim-Witness Assistance Program, 79 Emergency medical care compensation programs for victims, 203 Employee assistance programs, 302 Employment, victims' protection against discrimination in, 25-26 Episcopalian Church, 287 Ethnicity. See Cultural diversity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 287 Exodus Center for Life, 285 F Faith community o clergy misconduct, 291 o community crisis response, 292 o confidentiality issues, 286-287, 290 o educating congregations about crime, 291 o educational programs for clergy, 288-289 o multidisciplinary efforts, 285-286 o recommendations from the field, 287-292 o reporting crime to law enforcement, 286-287, 290 o victim assistance programs, 283-285, 287, 289-290 o victim-offender dialogue programs, 286 False Claims Act, 35 False memory syndrome, 229 Family violence. See also Domestic violence o councils, 100 o court, 102 o Family Violence Prevention Fund, 204 o health care system programs, 202 Family Violence Prevention Fund, 204 "Fast track" policies, 88-89 FBI. See Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Agency Task Force for Missing and Exploited Children, 52 Federal Antistalking Law, 5 Federal Bureau of Investigation o crime victim interactions, 50 o victim assistance training, 58 o Victim-Witness brochure, 50 Federal Bureau of Prisons victim awareness classes, 129 Federal Gun Control Act, 66 Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, 58 Federal Protection for Battered Immigrant Women, 426-427 Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, 35-36 Federal Resources on Missing and Exploited Children: A Directory for Law Enforcement and Other Public and Private Agencies, 52 Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, 89 Federal Victims' Rights Constitutional Amendment o opposition to, 10-11 o Presidential endorsement, 6 o proposal, 5-6 o recommendation, 9-12 o rights to be included, x o supported by Attorney General, 10-11 Final Report, President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, ix, xix, 3-4, 98 A Final Summary Report, 160 Financial recovery. See also Fraud o crime victim compensation, 325-351 o overview, xvii-xviii FLETC. See Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Florida o Crime Victims Protection Act, 317-318 o Crimes Against Children Program, 49 o domestic violence program, 177 o domestic violence unit, 51 o Interagency Workgroup on the Impact of Domestic Violence on the o Workplace, 302 o special prosecutors for elder exploitation and neglect, 78 o victim service center, 155 o Victim Services Practitioner Designation Training Program, 178 o Victim Services Unit, 269 Florida Star v. B.J.F., 317 Focus on the Future: A Systems Approach to Prosecution and Victim Assistance, 83, 92 Fort Peck Assiniboine Tribe, 267 France o victim assistance program, 416 Fraud o elderly victims, 167 o victim assistance programs, 173-174 Funding of victim assistance services, 35-37 Furnace Street Mission, 284 FVPF. See Family Violence Prevention Fund G GANG. See Group Against Neighborhood Graffiti Gang Victim Services, xxiii, 157 Gang violence o community policing programs, 56 o counseling and prevention programs, 208-209 o in schools, 264, 267 o support and intervention program, 284 o victim assistance programs, 171 Gatekeepers Elder Assistance Referral System, 168 Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, 250 GEARS. See Gatekeepers Elder Assistance Referral System George Washington University Law Center, 254 Georgia o Children's Legal Advocacy Coalition, 253 Global challenges, viii Globe Communications Corp., 317 Globe Newspaper Co. v. Superior Court, 399 Group Against Neighborhood Graffiti, 56 Guide for Policymakers, 418 Guidelines Governing Restitution to Victims of Criminal Conduct, 356 Gundersen Lutheran Crime Victim Services and Victim Resource Center, 207 Gunshot victims, counseling and prevention programs for, 208-209, 213-214 H Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, 422 Handbook on Justice for Victims, 418 Harassment. See Intimidation and victims' rights Harborview Center for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress, 204, 233 Hate Crime Statistics Act, 172 Hate crimes, victim assistance programs for, 171-173 Head Start, 393, 402-403 "Healing Hearts/Mending Minds," 269-270 Health care system o compensation for emergency medical care, 203 o confidentiality and privacy needs of victims, 213 o costs to system, 199 o death notifications by health care professionals, 215-216 o discrimination against victims of crime by insurance companies, 215, 239 o effects of universal health care on victim o compensation, 350 o family violence programs, 202 o gang violence victim programs, 208-209 o gunshot victim programs, 208-209, 213-214 o impact of reform on mental health care, 229 o multidisciplinary approaches, 206-207 o neuropsychological evaluations, 216 o professional education and training, 203-206, 211 o providing response staff for crisis counseling, 211 o recommendations for hospitals, 200-201 o recommendations from the field, 209-216 o screening patients for abuse indicators, 210 o Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, 164-165, 201, 203, 212 o sexual assault programs, 202-203 o staff victimization, 214 o treating children who witness violence, 214 o using technology to provide services to underserved victims, 215 Health insurance. See Insurance companies Healthy Start, 393 Hearsay laws, 399-400 Helping Victims and Witnesses in the Juvenile Justice System, 8 Higher Education Center Against Violence and Abuse, 270-271 HIP (domestic violence education program), 205 HIV infection o high risk youth, 393 o sexual assault victims' right to anonymous testing, 212 o victim testing rights, 26-28 Homeless youth, 393, 403-404 Homicide by abuse, 390-391 Homicide survivors, victim assistance programs for, 165-166 Hospitals o recommendations for, 200-201 o response staff for crisis counseling, 211 Hotlines o National Domestic Violence Hotline, 161, 187-188 o sexual abuse hotline, 298 House Select Committee on Aging, 167 HUD. See Department of Housing and Urban Development I ICAN. See Interagency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect Idaho o community policing programs, 56 Illinois o panic devices for at-risk victims, 49 o programs for victims with special needs, 79 o Violent Injury Prevention Center, 209 Impact of Crime on Victims program, 129 Impact statements. See Community impact statements; Victim impact statements Indian Tribes. See Tribal court systems Individuals with disabilities. See also Victims with disabilities o assistance programs o victim assistance programs, 189 Institutional corrections. See Corrections system Insurance companies o discrimination against victims of crime, 215, 239 o responsibilities for payment in child victimization cases, 407-408 Interagency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, 391 International Crime [Victimization] Survey, 415 International issues o collaboration on victims issues, 417 o commercial sexual exploitation of children, 421 o compensation for victims of crimes occurring in other countries, 330-331, 350-351 o compensation programs, 419-420 o crisis response, 420 o implementation of the Federal Protection for Battered Immigrant Women, 426-427 o International Crime [Victimization] Survey, 415 o parental child abduction, 421-422 o plan of action for responding to U.S. citizens o victimized abroad, 425-426 o reciprocity in compensation and assistance programs, 424 o recommendations from the field, 422-427 o standards for addressing criminal cases, 424 o standards of victim assistance, 423 o support group for terrorism victims, 426 o technical assistance and training capacity, 423 o terrorism, 420 o tourist assistance programs, 425 o United Nations initiatives, 417-418 o U.S. role in victim assistance, 422 o victim assistance programs, xix, 416 o victim assistance research, 424 o victim care corps, 425 o victimization of tourists, 419 International Victim Compensation Program Directory, 330, 419 Internet. See also Technology o computer exploitation of children, 404 o notification of release for victims, 14 Interviewing techniques, 65 Intimidation and victims' rights, 18-19, 63-64, 76-77, 84-85, 125-126, 135 IOC program. See Impact of Crime on Victims program Iowa o software system for victim compensation claims processing, 334 Issue coding, 260 J Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexual Violent Offender o Registration Act, 5, 126, 386 Jails. See Corrections system Journalists. See News media Judicial system o alternatives to live in-court testimony for children, 402 o assignments to specialized courts, 114 o challenging children's capacity to testify, 400-401 o children testifying in court, 398-399 o Codes of Judicial Conduct, 113-114 o concerns about implementing victims' rights, 99 o court proceedings for child victimization cases, 400-402 o "court school" programs for children, 396-397 o current system, 116 o education for judges and court personnel, 104-106 o encouraging judicial leadership, 99-100 o judges' role in ensuring victims' rights, 97-98, 104, 106-115 o juvenile court child protection system, 392 o plea agreements, 108-109 o pressures on the court system, 116 o pretrial release orders, 107 o providing separate waiting areas for victims, 113 o recommendations from the field, 103-115 o reorienting courts, 115 o restructuring courts, 101-103 o special advocates for children, 391, 402 Juvenile court child protection system, 392 Juvenile Law Committee, 253 Juvenile offenders o justice system overview, xi-xiii o Report and Recommendations on Victims of Juvenile Offenders, 121 o restitution orders, 8, 23 K Kaiser Permanente, 296, 302 Kentucky o automated victim notification system, 49 Kentucky v. Stincer, 401 Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, 272 KidStART, 209 Koop, C. Everett, 199 L Lautenberg Amendment, 66 Law enforcement o community criminal justice partnerships, xxi o community policing, xxii, 53, 55-56, 59 o crime reporting by the faith community, 286-287 o criminal conduct by officers, 66-67 o crisis intervention for family members of injured or killed personnel, 65-66 o death notifications, 53-54, 62, 169 o multidisciplinary team approaches, 50-52 o procedures for response to crime victims, 68-69 o protecting victims from intimidation, 63-64 o providing information to victims in writing, 61 o recommendations from the field, 59-67 o return of property to victims and witnesses, 67 o role in responding to crime victims, 47-50, 59-60 o standards of service for victim and witness assistance, 56-57, 61 o training, 57-59, 64-65 o training program on responding to hate and bias crimes, 173 o victim notification of investigation status, 63 Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, 47 Law students. See also Attorneys o victims' rights and sensitivity training, 91-92 Lawsuits. See Civil remedies Lawyers. See Attorneys; Legal profession Lawyers for Children, 253 LCAV. See Legal Community Against Violence LEAA. See Law Enforcement Assistance Administration Leadership Through Education and Advocacy for the Deaf, 159 Legal Community Against Violence, 254-255 Legal Initiative for Freedom and Empowerment, 253 Legal profession o ABA Center on Children and the Law, 385 o assisting victims of violence and abuse, 252-255 o community assistance, 255, 257 o continuing education, 258-260 o cultural diversity issues, 260 o multidisciplinary approaches, 256-257 o providing informational materials, 256 o recommendations from the field, 255-260 o role in ensuring crime victims' rights, 249-252, 255-258 o victim-related issue codes or indices, 260 o victims' issues committees, 258 Lehigh University, 268 Litigation. See Civil remedies Liz Claiborne, Inc., 302 Los Angeles County Domestic Violence Council, 78 Loved Ones of Homicide Victims, 166 M MADD. See Mothers Against Drunk Driving Maine o board of parole mission statement, 124 Managed care providers' responsibility for payment in child victimization cases, 407-408 Mandamus, applications for, 28 Mandatory Victim Restitution Act, 20, 356 Marshalls Inc., 297 Maryland o Community Law Center, 255 o death notification protocols, 53 Massachusetts o community policing programs, 56 o Earn-It Program, 358 o panic devices for at-risk victims, 49 o Violent Prevention Club, 209 Media. See News media Mediation/dialogue programs, 130, 141-142, 286 Medical community. See Health care system Megan's Law, 5, 126, 142-143, 387 Mental health care o acute traumatic stress disorder, 220, 223 o for children and adolescents, 227-228, 239 o chronic victimization, 226-227, 238 o community mental health centers, 243 o community service programs, 240-241 o compensation programs, 338-339 o confidentiality issues, 228-229 o crime-related psychological trauma, 219-224 o crimes perpetrated by acquaintances, 227 o crisis reaction to victimization, 220, 222-223 o cycle of violence, 226-227, 238, 384, 387 o education programs for professionals, 237-238 o ethnic identification, 225-226 o impact of child victimization, 388-389 o impact of health care reform, 229 o innovative programs, 230-233 o interventions, 224-225, 238 o long-term trauma, 223-224 o multidisciplinary approaches, 242 o posttraumatic stress disorder, 220, 223-224 o recommendations for, 220 o recommendations from the field, 234-243 o recovered memories, 229-230 o referral systems, 242 o repeat victimization, 226-227, 238 o research studies, 231-233 o secondary victims of crime, 241 o short-term trauma, 222-223 o victim activism, 234 o victim counseling, 224-225, 234-236, 238 o victim support groups, 233-234, 240 Midwest LEAD Institute, 159 Military justice proceedings and victims' rights, 31 Minnesota o Coalition for Battered Women, 162 o domestic violence education program, 205 o Higher Education Center Against Violence and Abuse, 270-271 o Office of the Crime Victims' Ombudsman, 30 Mintz Levin Domestic Violence Project, 303 Missing and Exploited Children Training and Technical Assistance Program, 392 Missing Children's Assistance Act, 385 Missing Children's Clearinghouses, 396 Mississippi o Exodus Center for Life, 285 Missouri o Crime Victim Recovery Project, 232 o Midwest Leadership Through Education and Advocacy for the Deaf, 159 o truancy prosecution programs, 81 MLI. See Midwest LEAD Institute "Mobo cop" substations, 48 Model Domestic Violence Code, 161 Montana o Gatekeepers Elder Assistance Referral System, 168 Morita Therapy, 238 Mothers Against Drunk Driving o creation of, 150, 169 o death notification protocols, 53 o formation of National Victims' Constitutional Amendment Network, 5-6 National Youth Summit on Underage Drinking, 272 o requirements of chapters, 182 o support to schools, 267 o victim support, 234 Multidisciplinary team approaches o for child abuse and neglect cases, 390 o faith community programs, 285-286 o in health care settings, 206-207 o law enforcement, 50-52 o between legal profession and community service providers, 256-257 o in mental health care, 242 o prosecutors participation in child abuse cases, 79, 85-86 o victim assistance programs, 187 o victim compensation, 345 N NACC. See National Association of Counsel for Children NACVCB. See National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards National Association of Counsel for Children, 251 National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards, 326 National Bias Crimes Training for Law Enforcement and Victim Assistance Professionals, 173 National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 150, 385, 396, 422 National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse, 385-386 National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, 385 National Center on Child Fatality Review, 391 National Child Protection Act, 386, 397-398 National Church Arson Task Force, 172 National Coalition Against Domestic Violence o creation of, 149-150, 202 o free medical services for domestic abuse victims, 207 o function of, 162 National Coalition Against Sexual Assault, 149-150, 164 National Conference of the Judiciary on the Rights of Victims of Crime, 98 National Crime Victimization Survey, 163 National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, 207, 231 National Crime Victims Rights Week, 154 National Day of Concern About Young People and Gun Violence, 272-273 National Domestic Violence Hotline, 161, 187-188 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 299 National Institute of Education, 263 National Institute of Justice, 58, 160, 387-388 National Juvenile Action Plan, 8 National Network to End Domestic Violence, 162 National Network of Children's Advocacy Centers, 390 National Organization for Victim Assistance o creation of, 149, 153 o crisis response teams, xxi-xxii, 156 o formation of National Victims' Constitutional Amendment Network, 5-6 o model program standards, 182 o school-based programs, 269 o training mental health providers, 233 National School Safety Center, 265 National Victim Assistance Academy, 178 National Victim Center [National Center for Victims of Crime] o creation of, 150 o function of, 153 o study of implementation of victim rights laws, 11-12 National Victim Services Survey of Adult and Juvenile Correctional Agencies and Paroling Authorities, 125 National Victims' Constitutional Amendment Network, 5-6 National Women's Study, 314 National Workplace Resource Center on Domestic Violence, 301 National Youth Summit on Underage Drinking, 272 Native Americans. See Tribal court systems Navajo Justice Day, 100 Navajo Nation. See also Tribal court systems o DNA People's Legal Services, Inc., 250 o peacemaking system, 102 o Uniform Sentencing Policy, 32 NCADV. See National Coalition Against Domestic Violence NCASA. See National Coalition Against Sexual Assault NCVC. See National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center Needs assessments and victim assistance programs, 175-176, 180-181 Neighborhood District Attorney program, 81 Neighbors Who Care, 284 Neuropsychological evaluations, 216 Nevada o Victim Witness Assistance Center, 77 New Jersey o Bias Crime Unit, 173 o Rise Above It program, 272 New Mexico o software system for victim compensation claims processing, 334 New York o Children's Advocacy Center, 207 o crimes victimizing the community, 101 o domestic violence counseling, 51 o Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, 250 o Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children, 100 o Project L.I.F.E., 253 o United Federation of Teachers, 266 -- victim advocacy program, 269 -- Victim Services, 166, 176-177, 205-206, 232-233, 266, 270 -- Youth Empowerment Association, 165 New Zealand o domestic violence program, 416 o juvenile justice system, 103 News media o coverage of sexual assault victims, 314-315 o debriefing protocols, 320 o educating victim service providers, 319 o guidelines for journalists, 315-319 o guidelines for victims, 189-191 o legislation to protect crime victim identity, 317-318, 320 o privacy issues, 313 o recommendations from the field, 318-320 o role in public safety, 313 NIJ. See National Institute of Justice NNEDV. See National Network to End Domestic Violence "No drop" policies, 91 No More Violence--Reclaiming Our Communities project, 252 "No-contact" provisions, 107 Nolo contendere pleas, 76, 87 Notification of release. See Release notification NOVA. See National Organization for Victim Assistance NSSC. See National School Safety Center NVAA. See National Victim Assistance Academy NVC. See National Victim Center NVCAN. See National Victims' Constitutional Amendment Network O OCVO. See Office of the Crime Victims' Ombudsman Office for Victims of Crime o compensation mentoring program, 334-335 o death notification protocols, 53 o educational programs for correctional staff, 140 o function of, 151-152 o funding of mental health services for crime victims, 221 o victim assistance program for individuals with disabilities, 160 Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 55-56 Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 8, 390 Office of the Crime Victims' Ombudsman, 30 Ohio o Furnace Street Mission, 284 OJJDP. See Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Oklahoma o sexual assault program, 52 Ombudsman programs, 29-31 On-call system, 89-90 One Voice, 375 Operation Crackdown, 255 Operation Safe Home, 77 Oregon o board of parole mission statement, 124 o community prosecution program, 80 OVC. See Office for Victims of Crime P Parents o international parental child abduction, 421-422 o removing custody from abusive parents, 406 o truancy prosecution programs, 81 Parents of Murdered Children, 150, 166, 234 Parole. See also Corrections system o board of parole mission statements, 124 o role of victims, 122-123 o Task Force recommendations, 119-120 o violations of conditions of supervision, 129, 142 Partnerships. See also Multidisciplinary team approaches o community policing programs, 53, 55-56 o law enforcement, 50-52 PEARLS. See People Empowered About Real Life Situations Pennsylvania o Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia, 166 o programs for victims with special needs, 78 Pennsylvania v. Ritchie, 399 People Empowered About Real Life Situations, 266 Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children, 100 Plea agreements o consultation with victims of juvenile offenders, 7 o judges' responsibilities, 108-109 o victims' right to consultation, 15-17, 76, 87 Polaroid Corporation, 297, 301 Police departments. See Law enforcement A Policymakers Guide to Hate Crime, 160 POMC. See Parents of Murdered Children Pornography, 386-387 Posttrauma counseling/therapy, 225 Posttraumatic stress disorder, 220, 223-224, 388-389 President's Child Safety Partnership, 265 President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, 3-6, 13, 97-98, 150, 220, 326-327 Pretrial release o "no-contact" provision, 107 o victims' rights to attend hearings, 17-18 Prevalence and Consequences of Child Victimization, 388 Prisons. See Corrections system Privacy issues. See also Confidentiality issues o child victim records, 399 o legislation to protect crime victim identity, 317-318 o news media and, 313 Pro Se Divorce Clinic for Domestic Violence Victims, 252 Probation. See also Corrections system o role of victims, 122-123 Professional athletes, 298 Project L.I.F.E., 253 Project to Develop a Model Anti-Stalking Code for the States, 160, 170 Project Ujima, 208-209 Promising practices, purpose of, xxi Promising Practices and Strategies for Victim Services in Corrections project, 140, 357 Promising Strategies and Practices for Professional Education grants, 270 Promising Strategies for Victim Services in Probation and Parole, 140 Prosecution o community programs, xxii, 79-81, 85 o "fast track" policies, 88-89 o increasing victim participation, 75-76, 86-88 o multidisciplinary approach to investigating child abuse cases, 79, 85-86 o "no drop" policies for domestic violence cases, 91 o notifying victims of case status, 82-83, 87 o programs for victims with special needs, 78-79 o prosecutors' response to crime victims, 73-75 o prosecutors' role in crime prevention, 81 o protecting victims and witnesses from intimidation, 76-77, 84-85 o recommendations from the field, 82-92 o return of property to victims, 92 o special prosecution units, 77-78 o use of technology, 89-90 o vertical prosecution, 90 o victims' rights and sensitivity training for law students, 91-92 o victim-witness assistance units, 83 Protection for Battered Immigrant Women, 426-427 PTSD. See Posttraumatic stress disorder Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program, 65-66 R Racketeering, 35-36 RAINN. See Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network Rape. See also Sexual assault o crisis programs, 149 o Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, 164 o Rape in America: A Report to the Nation, 314 o Rape Treatment Center, 232, 270 Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, 164 Recovered memories, 229-230 Recovering Your Stolen Property: How to Get it Back Once the Police Find It, 92 Referral systems for mental health care, 242 Regional Seminar Series on Developing Antistalking Codes, 160 Release notification o automated system, 49 o community notification, 126-127, 142-143 o victims' rights, 13-14, 124-125, 133-135 Religion. See Faith community Relocation programs, 77 Remove Intoxicated Drivers, 169 Reno, Janet o Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 8 o support for federal victims' rights constitutional amendment, 10-11 Repeat victimization, 226-227, 238 Report and Recommendations on Victims of Juvenile Offenders, 121 Research studies o funding research, 404-405 o mental health care, 231-233, 236 o victim assistance research, 424 Resource Guidelines: Improving Court Practices in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases, 392 Responding to Workplace Violence and Staff Victimization, 140 Restitution o automated systems, 360-361, 366-367 o bond forfeiture, 362 o civil remedies, 361, 368-369 o collection in institutions, 362, 368 o community restitution, 362-363 o coordinated interagency collection, 359-361, 364-365 o correctional agencies' role, 128, 136-137 o determining offender's ability to pay, 366 o documenting losses, 366 o enforcing statutes, 363, 364 o extending sentences for failure to comply, 368 o judges' responsibilities, 112-113 o juvenile offenders and, 23 o legislation affecting, 356 o managing cases, 368 o military justice proceedings and, 31 o models for implementing statutes, 358-359 o obstacles to managing a successful program, 357-358 o priority of payments, 367 o private collection agencies, 363 o recidivism, 357 o recommendations from the field, 364-369 o State requirements, 356-357 o victims' rights, 19-20, 355, 365, 369 "Reverse Miranda" cards, 61, 68 RICO. See Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act RID. See Remove Intoxicated Drivers Rise Above It program, 272 Royal Family Kids Camps, 285 Runaway youth, 393, 403-404 Rural areas using technology to provide services, 215 Ryke R.O.S.E. Foundation, 297 S SADD. See Students Against Drunk Driving Safe and Drug Free Schools Program, 265 Safe Harbor program, 266 Safe Kids/Safe Streets program, 392-393 SALT Council. See Seniors and Law Enforcement Officers Together Council Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Council's Children's Bill of Rights, 32 San Francisco General Hospital Violence Prevention Task Force, 206 SANE. See Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Santa Monica-UCLA Rape Treatment Center, 33 Save Our Sons and Daughters, 166 School Crime: A National Crime Victimization Survey Report, 263 School Resource Officers programs, 266 Schools. See Educational community Seattle Abused Deaf Women's Advocacy Services, xxiii Secondary victims of crime, 241 Security on Campus, Inc., 150, 268 Seniors. See Elderly victims Seniors and Law Enforcement Officers Together Council, 52 Sentencing o truth in sentencing reforms, 25, 31 o victims' rights to attend proceedings, 17 Serving Crime Victims and Witnesses, 177-178 Sexual abuse. See also Sexual assault o children as victims, 383 o children's advocacy centers, xxi o commercial sexual exploitation of children, 421 o hotline, 298 o interview center for investigating cases involving children, 79 o sex tourism, 421 o victim assistance program for children with disabilities,159 Sexual assault. See also Rape; Sexual abuse o awareness and prevention programs in schools, 275-277 o awareness in the workplace, 307 o health care system programs, 202-203 o HIV testing, 212 o impact of child victimization, 388-389 o National Coalition Against Sexual Assault, 164 o news media coverage, 314-315 o Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, 164-165, 201, 203, 212 o standardized rape examination kit, 164 o vertical prosecution, 90 o victim assistance programs, 163-165 o victim input, 88 o victim support program, 52 Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, 164-165, 201, 203, 212 Sexual Assault on Campus, 273 Sexual offenders o community notification of release, 126-127, 142-143 o disciplinary hearings, 32-33 o HIV testing, 26-28 SFGH. See San Francisco General Hospital Shamans, 226 Sioux Tribe, 267 "Sleeper effects" of abuse, 405 Social workers, 285 Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, 221 SOSAD. See Save Our Sons and Daughters South Africa o domestic violence education, 416 South Carolina o Burned Church Coalition, 172 o National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, 207, 231 o Office of the Crime Victims' Ombudsman, 30 Special needs victims. See Victims with disabilities assistance programs Special prosecution units, 77-78 SRO. See School Resource Officers programs St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 315-317 Stalking o State legislation, 4 o victim assistance programs, 170 Standards for Law Enforcement Agencies, 57, 60 STAR-DUI, 81 State v. Globe Communications Corp., 317 Statement of Recommended Judicial Practices, 98 States. See also individual States by name o child abuse legislation, 387, 388 o crime victims' bills of rights, 151 o restitution requirements, 356-357 o State Missing Children's Clearinghouses, 396 o victim compensation programs, 325-326, 349-350 o victims' rights statutes, 3-4, 25 Stephanie Roper Committee, 166 Stuart House, 80 Student Right to Know Campus Security Act of 1990, 33 Students. See also Educational community o disciplinary hearings, 32-33 Students Against Drunk Driving, 169 Support groups, 233-234, 240, 426 Support services and victims' rights, 21-22 Suppressed memories, 229-230 T Tariq Khamisa Foundation, 171, 266 Task Force on Adolescent Assault Victim Needs, 208 TCC. See Teens, Crime, and the Community Teamwork Insuring Elder Support, 168 Technology o automated restitution systems, 360-361 o automated victim information and notification system, 90 o to benefit crime victims, xxii o prosecution's use, 89-90 o providing services to underserved victims, 215 o use in victim assistance programs, 176-177, 188 o victim compensation claims processing, 334, 348-349 o for victim notification by correctional agencies, 135-136 o voice response technology for victim notification, 14 Teens, Crime, and the Community, 272 Teens on Target program, 171, 208 Telemedicine, xxii Television programs, 298-299 Tender Loving Care, 166 Tennessee o Victim Intervention Program, 50-51 o Victims to Victory, 284 Terrorism o Antiterrorism Act, 5 o Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, 20, 331 o victim assistance, 416, 420, 426 Texas o Brazos County Rape Crisis Center, 176 o death notification protocols, 53 o family violence court, 102 o "Mobo cop" substations, 48 o Tender Loving Care, 166 o Victim Services 2000, 155-156 o victim-offender dialogue program, 130 TIES. See Teamwork Insuring Elder Support Title II of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, 20 TNT. See Teens on Target program Tourists o assistance programs, 425 o victimization of, 419 Training. See also Educational programs o educating professionals on victims' rights, 34-35 o law enforcement, 57-59, 64-65 Trauma and Recovery, 230 Triad programs, xxi, 52, 168 Tribal court systems o DNA People's Legal Services, Inc., 250 o Navajo Justice Day, 100 o peacemaking system, 102 o Uniform Sentencing Policy, 32 o victims' rights, 31-32 Truth in sentencing, 25, 31 U Underserved victims o programs for, xxiii o using technology to provide services, 215 Uniform Code of Military Justice, 31 Uniform Sentencing Policy, 32 United Federation of Teachers, 266 United Nations' initiatives addressing crime victim needs, 417-418 United States Catholic Conference, 284 Universities. See Educational community University of Arizona Domestic Violence Law Clinic, 254 U.S. Department of Justice o Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 8 o Office for Victims of Crime, 151-152 o victim assistance pilot programs, 149 o Violence Against Women Grants Office, 152, 161 U.S. Department of the Navy, Corrections and Programs Division impact-of-crime classes, 129 V VALOR. See Victims' Assistance Legal Organization VAWA. See Violence Against Women Act VAWGO. See Violence Against Women Grants Office Vermont o victim financial assistance, 332-333 Vertical impact statements, 17-18 Vertical prosecution, 90 Victim activism, 234 Victim and Witness Coordinating Council, 179 Victim and Witness Protection Act, 3 o restitution orders, 356 o statement of purpose, 4 Victim Assistance Academy, 270 Victims' Assistance Legal Organization, 150, 270, 359 Victim assistance programs o bank robbery victims, 174-175 o code of ethics, 185-186 o community response to crime victims, 155-156, 181-182 o continuing education, 178-179, 182-183 o developing statewide crisis response teams, 186 o development of, 149 o domestic violence victims, 161-163 o drunk driving victims, 168-170 o elderly victims, 167-168 o enactment of state crime victims' bills of rights, 151 o establishing comprehensive services, 181, 192-193 o evaluating effectiveness of, 184-185 o expanding services, 154-155 o faith-based, 283-285 o fraud victims, 173-174 o funding, 35-37 o gang violence victims, 171 o guidelines for victims in dealing with the media, 189-191 o hate and bias crime victims, 171-173 o homicide survivors, 165-166 o impact of the Office for Victims of Crime, 151-152 o impact of the Victims of Crime Act, 151-152 o international programs, 416 o law enforcement standards, 56-57, 61 o law enforcement's role, 47-50, 59-60 o model program elements, 150-151 o multidisciplinary team approaches, 50-52, 187 o National Domestic Violence Hotline, 161, 187-188 o National Organization for Victim Assistance, 153 o National Victim Center, 153 o needs assessments, 175-176, 180-181 o overview, xiii-xvii o program standards, 177-178, 183 o public awareness, 154, 184 o recommendations from the field, 179-190 o respecting cultural diversity, 157-158, 179-180 o responding to specific victim populations, 160-161 o school-based, 265-267 o services, 153-154 o sexual assault victims, 163-165 o stalking victims, 170 o use of technology, 176-177, 188 o using excess funds from victim compensation, 351 o victims with disabilities, 158-160, 189 o Violence Against Women Grants Office, 152 o white collar crime victims, 173-174 Victim Assistance Provider's Code of Ethics, 185-186 Victim impact awareness, 129, 141 Victim impact statements o judges' responsibilities, 107-108 o legislation impacting, 5 o at parole hearings, 127-128, 137-139 o State initiatives, 3 o vertical impact statements, 17-18 o victims of juvenile offenders, 7, 22-23 Victim Intervention Program, 50-51 Victim Offender Reconciliation Program, 286 Victim ombudsman programs, 29-31 Victim Resource Center, 30-31 Victim service centers, xxiii Victim Services, 150, 166, 176-177, 205-206, 232-233, 266, 270 Victim Services 2000, 155-156, 181 Victim Services Practitioner Designation Training Program, 178 Victim Services Unit, 269 Victim support groups, 233-234, 240 Victim Support Program, 266-267 "Victim-assisted" investigations, 55 Victim-offender dialogue programs, 130, 141-142, 286 Victims' Assistance Legal Organization, 178 Victims Committee, 8 Victims of Child Abuse Act, 386 Victims of Crime Act o funding victim assistance services, 36-37, 47 o impact on mental health services for crime victims, 221 o impact on victim assistance programs, 151-152 o victim compensation and, 327 Victims of Gang Violence: A New Frontier in Victim Services, 208, 214 Victims' rights. See also Victim impact statements o administrative proceedings, 32-33 o advocate assistance, 24 o attending pretrial release hearings, 17-18 o attending public court proceedings, 12-14, 106-107 o beginnings of change, 3 o community impact statements, 28 o compliance enforcement programs, 29-31 o concerns about implementing, 99 o consultation on case decisions, 15-17, 75-76, 86-88, 108-109 o corrections system role, 132-143 o educating professionals, 34-35 o employer discrimination, 25-26 o enforcement of rights, 29 o explanation of rights and services, 23-24 o Federal initiatives, 4-5 o Federal Victims' Rights Constitutional Amendment proposal, 5-6, 9-12 o funding services, 35-37 o HIV testing, 26-28 o implementing legislation, 109-110 o judges' role, 97-98, 104, 106-115 o law enforcement responsibilities, 50 o military justice proceedings, 31 o monitoring compliance of laws, 33-34 o notice of public court proceedings, 12-14 o notice of release, 13-14, 124-125, 133-135 o notification of investigation status, 63 o notification of prosecution status, 82-83 o overview, ix-xi o prosecution victim-witness assistance units, 83 o prosecution's use of technology, 89-90 o prosecutors' role, 73-75 o reasonable protection from harassment and o intimidation, 18-19, 63-64, 76-77, 84-85, 125-126, 135 o recommendations from the field, 8-37 o restitution orders, 19-20, 23, 112-113, 128, 136-137 o return of property, 67, 92 o State initiatives, 3-4 o State statutes, 25 o support services, 21-22 o training for law students, 91-92 o Tribal court systems, 31-32 o truth in sentencing reforms, 25 o unreasonable delay of proceedings, 21, 88-89 o victims' bills of rights, 3, 151 o victims of juvenile offenders, 4, 6-8, 22-23 Victims' Rights Act, 30 Victims' Rights and Restitution Act of 1990, 5 Victims' Rights and the Media, 190 Victims' Rights Clarification Act, 5 Victims to Victory, 284 Victims with disabilities assistance programs, xxiii, 78-79, 158-160, 189 Victim-witness assistance units, 83 Victim-Witness Coordinator, 174-175 Violence Against Women Act, 100, 151-152, 161, 228, 375, 426 Violence Against Women Grants Office, 152, 161, 228 Violence Impact Forum, 266 Violence Prevention Task Force, 206 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, 5, 27, 55, 356 Violent Injury Prevention Center, 209 Violent Prevention Club, 209 VOCA. See Victims of Crime Act VOCA Victim Compensation Final Program Guidelines, 329 VRA. See Victims' Rights Act VRC. See Victim Resource Center VSP. See Victim Support Program VWPA. See Victim and Witness Protection Act W Walk in the Light--A Pastoral Response to Child Sexual Abuse, 284 Warner Bros. Television, 296 Washington o automated restitution system, 361 o Center for Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence, 285 o emergency assistance for crime victims, 49-50 o Harborview Center for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress, 204, 233 When I Call for Help--A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence Against Women, 284 When Will They Ever Learn? Educating to End Domestic Violence, 259 White collar crime, victim assistance programs for, 173-174 Wisconsin o community prosecution program, 80 o Gundersen Lutheran Crime Victim Services and Victim Resource Center, 207 o Kenosha Domestic Abuse Intervention Program, 78 o Project Ujima, 208-209 o Victim Resource Center, 30-31 Witnesses o Atlanta Victim-Witness Assistance Program, 156 o Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance, 4, 50, 75, 154 o Helping Victims and Witnesses in the Juvenile Justice System, 8 o law enforcement standards for assistance, 56-57 o prosecution victim-witness assistance units, 83 o protecting victims and witnesses from intimidation, 76-77 o reasonable protection from harassment and intimidation, 84-85, 125-126 o relocation programs, 77 o return of property to victims and witnesses, 67 o Serving Crime Victims and Witnesses, 177-178 o standards of service for victim and witness assistance, 61 o Victim and Witness Coordinating Council, 179 o Victim and Witness Protection Act, 3, 4, 356 o Victim-Witness Assistance Program, 79 o Victim-Witness Coordinator, 174-175 WomanKind, 202 Women's Resource Center, 269 WOMEN'S WORK campaign, 302 Workplace violence, 299-304, 307-310 Y Youth o gang violence victim programs, 208-209 o gunshot victim programs, 208-209 o homeless youth, 393, 403-404 o identifying high-risk youth, 393, 403-404 o mental health care, 227-228, 239 o National Youth Summit on Underage Drinking, 272 o runaway youth, 393, 403-404 o Teens, Crime, and the Community, 272 o Teens on Target program, 171, 208 Youth Empowerment Association, 165 Youth Firearms Violence program, 55 ---------------------------- Master List of New Directions Recommendations This section contains the recommendations set forth in New Directions from the Field: Victims' Rights and Services for the 21st Century. The recommendations contained in each of New Directions' 18 chapters have been formatted as stand-alone documents that can be replicated for public awareness, education, and advocacy efforts. A detailed explanation of every recommendation can be found in the New Directions Report. The recommendations contained in this section are as follows: Chapter 1: Victims' Rights Chapter 2: Law Enforcement Chapter 3: Prosecution Chapter 4: Judiciary Chapter 5: Corrections Chapter 6: Victim Assistance Chapter 7: Health Care Chapter 8: Mental Health Chapter 9: Legal Chapter 10: Education Chapter 11: Faith Chapter 12: Business Chapter 13: News Media Chapter 14: Compensation Chapter 15: Restitution Chapter 16: Civil Remedies Chapter 17: Child Victims Chapter 18: International Chapter 1: Recommendations for Victims' Rights The recommendations below, which appear in the May 1998 New Directions Report, have been reformatted for replication and distribution. ---------------------------- The enactment of the Nation's first State Bill of Rights for crime victims in 1980 ushered in an era of dramatic progress for victims' rights. Since that time, State actions in legislating rights for crime victims within the criminal and juvenile justice systems have been remarkable. Laws extending rights to victims of Federal crimes have also been passed by Congress. Despite this record of success, too many crime victims are still being denied fundamental rights in the Federal, State, Tribal, and military justice systems. Many victims' rights laws are not being implemented, and few jurisdictions require proof of compliance from justice agencies mandated to carry out these important rights. To enhance victims' rights implementation efforts and improve legislative compliance across all justice systems, the following recommendations are set forth by the field: ---------------------------- 1. The U.S. Constitution should be amended to guarantee fundamental rights for victims of crime. Constitutionally protected rights should include the right to notice of public court proceedings and to attend them; to make a statement to the court about bail, sentencing, and accepting a plea; to be told about, to attend, and to speak at parole hearings; to notice when the defendant or convict escapes, is released, or dies; to an order of restitution from the convicted offender; to a disposition free from unreasonable delay; to consideration for the safety of the victim in determining any release from custody; to notice of these rights; and to standing to enforce them. 2. Crime victims should have the right to notice of public court proceedings, including pretrial release hearings, plea agreements, sentencing, appeals, and appropriate postconviction release proceedings such as probation and parole hearings. Victims should also have the right to notice of any significant change in the status of defendants and to receive timely notice, upon request, of inmates' temporary or permanent release, or inmates' escape or death. 3. Federal and State laws should be strengthened to ensure that victims have the right to be present throughout all public court proceedings. 4. Prosecutors should provide victims an opportunity for meaningful consultation prior to major case decisions such as dismissal, reduction of charges, or acceptance of plea agreements. Judges should not accept plea agreements without first asking prosecutors on the record if they have consulted the victim, and judges should take the views of the victim into account before making a final sentencing decision. Special procedures should be developed for cases involving multiple crime victims, such as acts of mass violence, massive antitrust or telemarketing cases, where consultation may be difficult. 5. Crime victims should have the right to be heard in major court proceedings including pretrial release hearings, bail hearings, at sentencing, and before the disposition of plea agreements, probation, parole, and commutation. Input should be permitted through both oral and submission of written, videotaped, or audiotaped statements. 6. Victims and witnesses of crime should have the right to reasonable protection, including protection from intimidation. The safety of victims and witnesses should be considered in determining whether offenders should be released from custody prior to completing their full sentence. 7. Orders of full restitution for crime victims should be mandatory. Restitution orders should be automatically entered as civil judgments at the end of the offender's supervisory period if not paid. Alternatively, legislation could be enacted giving judges and paroling authorities jurisdiction for enforcing restitution orders until they are fully paid. 8. Victims should have the right to disposition of proceedings free from unreasonable delay. 9. All crime victims should have the right to a full range of services and support to help them recover physically, psychologically, and in practical ways from the effects of crime, whether or not they report the crime or become involved in related criminal prosecutions or juvenile adjudications. 10. Crime victims should have fundamental rights that are enforced in all juvenile justice proceedings. 11. All criminal and juvenile justice agencies, including courts, as well as victim assistance programs, should help ensure that victims receive information about their rights in a form they understand. 12. Victims of crime should receive assistance in exercising their participatory rights. Advocates should be available to explain rights to victims, help them to exercise those rights and, when necessary, serve as their representatives in court and other key justice processes when victims are underage or incapacitated or if representation is otherwise appropriate. 13. States should review their victims' rights statutes and constitutional amendments to determine if fundamental rights are extended to all crime victims. 14. States that have not already done so should adopt truth in sentencing reforms to ensure that victims know how long offenders will actually be incarcerated. 15. Federal and State laws should prohibit employers from taking adverse action against victims who must miss work to participate in the criminal or juvenile justice process. 16. In cases where there is good cause to believe that bodily fluids were exchanged, victims should have the right to be tested and to have the accused or convicted offender tested at appropriate times for the HIV virus and sexually transmitted diseases. State statutes should require these tests be conducted by specially trained personnel who can advise victims of the reliability, limitations, and significance of the test, as well as HIV treatment options. In addition, laws should specify the agency that will pay for HIV testing and pre- and posttest counseling, as well as treatment for any victims who test positive. 17. State and Federal laws should allow and criminal and juvenile justice agencies should facilitate community impact statements as a means for members of a neighborhood or community that has been impacted by crime to have input into sentencing. 18. Victims should have standing to enforce their rights, and sanctions should be applied to criminal and juvenile justice professionals who deny victims their fundamental rights. 19. States and the Federal Government should create compliance enforcement programs, sometimes referred to as victim ombudsman programs, to help facilitate the implementation of victims' rights. 20. Federal crime victims' rights should apply in military proceedings. 21. Indian tribes should review their legislation, policies, and court systems to enhance the fundamental rights of Native American victims. 22. Victims of crime should have rights at administrative proceedings, including the right to have a person of their choice accompany them to the proceedings, the right to input regarding the sanction, and the right to notification of the sanction. 23. Criminal and juvenile justice agencies should establish a means of monitoring their own compliance with crime victims' rights laws and require public documentation showing that victims were provided their rights or indicating an appropriate reason why they were not. In addition, independent audits should be conducted of State and Federal agency compliance with victims' rights laws. 24. Introductory and continuing education for all criminal and juvenile justice professionals should address victims rights, needs, and services, and incorporate involvement from crime victims themselves. 25. New funding mechanisms must be developed to support the expansion and implementation of victims' rights and services nationwide. ---------------------------- Chapter 2: Recommendations for Law Enforcement The recommendations below, which appear in the May 1998 New Directions Report, have been reformatted for replication and distribution. ---------------------------- The significance of law enforcement's role in responding to crime victims cannot be overemphasized. The way that victims are treated by dispatchers, the first officers arriving at the scene of the crime, and detectives investigating the case shapes their expectations of how they will be treated throughout the justice process, and their overall opinions of justice officials. It is therefore critical that every law enforcement professional who interacts with crime victims, either in person or over the telephone, knows how to respond in a sensitive and effective manner. Because the range of services provided by law enforcement agencies across the Nation varies significantly, the following recommendations for the law enforcement community are set forth by the field: ---------------------------- 1. Law enforcement agencies should adopt a community policing philosophy that is both victim and crime prevention oriented. 2. Law enforcement agencies should provide a basic level of support to crime victims through establishing victim assistance programs within their agencies and through community partnerships to ensure that victims have access to emergency services, counseling, financial assistance, information and referrals, and community programs. 3. Law enforcement agencies should establish policies for the provision of fundamental victims rights and services and procedures for their implementation. These policies and procedures should be disseminated in writing throughout the agency. 4. Compliance with victims' rights policies and procedures should be included as a standard in officers performance appraisals. 5. During their initial contact with law enforcement officers, victims of crime should receive verbal and written information about victims rights and services. Law enforcement personnel should be required to follow up with victims because many individuals are unable to comprehend assistance and compensation information in the aftermath of being severely traumatized. 6. All law enforcement agencies should adopt written policies and procedures and implement training programs for conducting sensitive and culturally appropriate death notification. 7. State, Federal, military, and Tribal law enforcement agencies must implement victims rights laws and ensure that victims are regularly notified of the status of the investigation, including arrests, pretrial release of suspects, and case closings. 8. Law enforcement should place a high priority on protecting victims and witnesses from intimidation and physical harm after they report a crime. Law enforcement agencies that operate jails or any temporary custody facilities should, upon request of the victim, immediately notify the victim of a defendants pretrial release. 9. All law enforcement personnel, from dispatchers through management, should receive initial and ongoing training about the impact of crime and how to respond sensitively and effectively to victims. 10. Police departments should develop specialized responses for family members of officers killed in the line of duty and protocols for responding to injured officers. 11. Law enforcement agencies should establish special protocols to ensure victim participation and confidence in the system when an officer is accused of a criminal offense. 12. Procedures for the swift return of property to victims and witnesses should be developed at the Federal, State, and local levels to serve as models for law enforcement agencies nationwide. Emergency funds should be made available to victims to replace essential items. Laws providing victims the right to have their property returned within a reasonable period of time should be enacted in all States and on the Federal level. ---------------------------- Chapter 3: Recommendations for Prosecution The recommendations below, which appear in the May 1998 New Directions Report, have been reformatted for replication and distribution. ---------------------------- One of the most important and basic rights of victims during the prosecution stage is the right to participate. Victims' satisfaction with prosecutors and the criminal or juvenile justice system increases dramatically if they are invited to participate in the decisionmaking process. Heightened sensitivity to the needs of crime victims by prosecutors and their staff has resulted in increased victim participation in criminal and juvenile justice processes. To ensure that victims continue to participate in the prosecution of cases, the following recommendations for prosecutors and their professional staff are set forth by the field: ---------------------------- 1. Prosecutors' offices should notify victims in a timely manner of the date, time, and location of the following: charging of defendant, pretrial hearings, plea negotiations, the trial, all schedule changes, and the sentencing hearing. Timely notification, orally or in writing, of advanced scheduling should be provided in relevant languages. Statutes should require prosecutors to verify notifications with documentation in case files or through another mechanism. 2. Prosecutors should establish victim/witness assistance units to ensure that victims of crime receive at least a basic level of service, including information, notification, consultation, and participation. Prosecutors' offices should develop and incorporate into performance evaluations written definitions of the roles and responsibilities of prosecuting attorneys, victim/witness professionals, and other relevant staff and volunteers. 3. Prosecutors should use the full range of measures at their disposal to ensure that victims and witnesses are protected from intimidation and harassment. These measures include ensuring that victims are informed about safety precautions, advising the court of victims fears and concerns about safety prior to any bail or bond proceedings, automatically requesting no-contact orders and enforcing them if violated, and utilizing witness relocation programs and technology to help protect victims. 4. Prosecutors should address criminal and juvenile justice problems that afflict their communities by exploring the establishment of community prosecution programs as an adjunct to traditional prosecution. Prosecutors should recognize the important role that they can play in reducing crime and should use the authority of their office to support effective crime prevention strategies tailored to the cultures and language needs of their communities. 5. Prosecutors should play a central role in establishing multidisciplinary efforts to respond to crime. 6. Prosecutors should advocate for the rights of victims to have their views heard by judges on bail decisions, continuances, plea bargains, dismissals, sentencing, and restitution. Policies and procedures should be put into place in all prosecutors' offices to ensure that victims are informed in a timely manner of these crucial rights in forms of communication they understand. 7. Prosecutors should make every effort, if the victim has provided a current address or telephone number, to consult the victim on the terms of any negotiated plea, including the acceptance of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere. 8. In all cases, particularly those involving sexual assault, the prosecuting attorney should confer with the victim or survivors before deciding not to file charges or before deciding to seek dismissal of charges already filed. 9. Prosecutors should establish policies to fast track the prosecution of sexual assault, domestic violence, elderly and child abuse, and other particularly sensitive cases to shorten the length of time from arrest to disposition. Prosecutors should encourage judges to give top priority to these cases on the trial docket and should try to ensure that the case goes to trial when initially scheduled. 10. Prosecutors' offices should use technology to enhance the implementation of victims' rights. 11. Prosecutors should adopt vertical prosecution for domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse cases. 12. Prosecutors should work closely with victim service providers and victims of domestic violence to establish appropriate prosecution policies and support research to assess the effectiveness of proceeding without victim testimony in domestic violence cases. 13. Victims' rights and sensitivity education should be provided to all law students as part of their basic education in law school and to all prosecutors during their initial orientation and throughout their careers. 14. Prosecutors' offices should establish procedures to ensure the prompt return of victims' property, absent the need for it as actual evidence in court. ---------------------------- Chapter 4: Recommendations for the Judiciary The recommendations below, which appear in the May 1998 New Directions Report, have been reformatted for replication and distribution. ---------------------------- Judges play a crucial role in the day-to-day implementation of victims' rights. Judges, after all, control the courtroom and make rulings that will affect the court's observance of victims' rights to be present, notified, and heard. As respected leaders, judges can and should be catalysts for coordinating the delivery of services to both victims and offenders. Judges are uniquely situated to bring together institutions within a community that can address the wide range of problems that bring offenders and the people they victimize to the justice system. As such, the following recommendations for the judiciary are set forth by the field: ---------------------------- 1. The voices and concerns of crime victims should be recognized and institutionalized within the justice system. Judges should advise victims of their rights as routinely as they advise defendants of their rights. 2. Judges and all court personnel at all levels of the court system must receive initial and continuing education on the law concerning victims rights, the impact of crime on victims and their families, and how the judiciary can implement the spirit as well as the letter of these rights. This education must include training on the special needs of some victim populations such as victims with disabilities and non-English speaking individuals. 3. Judges should facilitate the rights of crime victims and their families to be present at court proceedings unless the defendant proves that their presence would interfere with the defendants right to a fair trial. 4. Judges should consider victim and community safety in any prerelease or postrelease decision. As part of any pretrial release order, including bail, bond, or personal recognizance, judges should include a no-contact provision stating that the accused or defendant shall not harass, intimidate, threaten, or commit physical violence against the victim or victim's family. 5. Before imposing a sentence, judges should permit the victim, the victim's representative, or, when appropriate, representatives of the community to present a victim impact statement. 6. Judges should facilitate the input of crime victims into plea agreements and resulting sentences, and they should request that prosecuting attorneys demonstrate that reasonable efforts were made to confer with the victim. 7. As leaders within the justice system, judges must ensure that victims' rights legislation is fully implemented. 8. Judges should play a leadership role in ensuring that police, prosecutors, defense counsel, judges, and court administrators receive joint training so that all have a comprehensive picture of what happens to a victim as he or she navigates through the criminal justice system. 9. Judges have a responsibility to manage their cases and calendars to make victim involvement as feasible as possible. Modern technology should be used to give victims greater access to the justice system and should include multilingual services at no cost to victims. 10. Judges should order restitution from offenders to help compensate victims for the harm they have suffered. If extraordinary and compelling reasons make restitution impractical or inappropriate, judges should explain in writing and on the record why they did not order it. 11. Judges should play a leadership role in ensuring that separate and secure waiting areas are available in all courthouses for prosecution and defense witnesses to minimize the contact of victims with defendants, their relatives, and friends before, during, and after court proceedings. 12. Codes of Judicial Conduct should be amended to reflect the fact that crime victims play a pivotal role in the criminal justice system. 13. Judicial assignments to specialized courts or family law or juvenile courts should be based on experience and interest, not on lack of seniority or punishment. 14. Judges must take a leadership role in conceptualizing and advocating that the justice system encompass not only traditional adjudication and punishment but also holistic problem solving and treatment for victims as well as offenders. Principles of restorative community justice and therapeutic jurisprudence should be incorporated into court systems with due regard for differing cultures and ethnic groups. ---------------------------- Chapter 5: Recommendations for Corrections The recommendations below, which appear in the May 1998 New Directions Report, have been reformatted for replication and distribution. ---------------------------- Over the past decade, the basic philosophy of correctional agencies has undergone radical change. Traditionally, correctional agencies viewed their role as limited to offender management, supervision, and rehabilita