Evaluation of Victim Services - Final Report

A quasi-experimental design compared victims who received crisis intervention services (109), delayed services (114), and no services (100) through interviews 1 month after the crime and 4 to 6 months later. The psychological, social, financial, and physical impact of victimization was measured. The impact of victim services on police and prosecutors was assessed through surveys and group interviews. Process data were collected through interviews and observations of program staff. Both crisis intervention and delayed services assisted victims in various ways, but there was only slight evidence that these services reduced the victims' emotional trauma. Both police and prosecutors generally valued the victim services for the performance of their duties, but neither used the services to capacity. Findings suggest that jurisdictions without victim services should consider establishing them and that existing programs address the underuse of such services. Appendixes detail volunteer training and duties, observations of the crisis unit, victim demographics, study methodology, and police and prosecutor survey results. Tabular data and 42 references.