EVALUATION OF THE VICTIM-WITNESS ADVOCATE PROGRAM OF PIMA COUNTY (AZ)

• NCJ Number: 47373
• Author(s): L P Kraft; J D Marver; L G Brewster
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 37 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Pima Cty
• Corporate Author: SRI International
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE OPERATIONS, COSTS, AND BENEFITS OF AN LEAA-FUNDED VICTIM-WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN TUCSON, ARIZ., ARE EVALUATED.

Abstract

AT THE END OF ITS SECOND YEAR OF OPERATION, THE PIMA COUNTY PROGRAM HAD ESTABLISHED AN EXPERIMENTAL WITNESS ALERT SYSTEM, TOGETHER WITH OTHER PROCEDURES FOR KEEPING WITNESSES INFORMED OF THE PROGRESS OF THEIR CASES AND OF THE NEED FOR THEIR APPEARANCE IN COURT. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES DIRECT SERVICES (CRISIS INTERVENTION, COUNSELING, TRANSPORTATION, DAY CARE, SOCIAL SERVICE REFERRALS) TO WITNESSES, VICTIMS, AND OTHERS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE; CONDUCTS PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS; AND CARRIES OUT RESEARCH. ANALYSIS OF PROGRAM COSTS AND BENEFITS (QUANTIFIABLE AND QUALITATIVE) DEMONSTRATES THAT THE PROGRAM IS COST-BENEFICIAL, PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF THE QUALITATIVE BENEFITS OF THE WITNESS ALERT COMPONENT. INTERVIEWS WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS SUPPORT THIS CONCLUSION. POLICY CHANGES THAT COULD IMPROVE THE PROGRAM'S COST-BENEFIT RATIO (E.G., EXPANSION OF THE WITNESS ALERT SYSTEM, INVOLVEMENT IN WITNESS SCHEDULING, GREATER USE OF VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES) ARE SUGGESTED. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)