NCJ Number
191341
Journal
Trooper Dated: Summer 2001 Pages: 81,83,85,,87,89,91,92
Date Published
2001
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The purpose of this article is to help law enforcement officers better understand and meet the needs of victims of crime, particularly during the first response period.
Abstract
The article addresses issues that arise during the initial contact between officers and victims. How law enforcement first responds to victims is critical in determining how victims cope--first with the immediate crisis and, later, with their recovery from the crime. In addition, the first response can strongly influence victims’ subsequent participation in the investigation and prosecution of the crime. Finally, victims who have had a positive experience with law enforcement will be more likely to report future offenses. In this way, a good first response to victims by officers ultimately increases the overall effectiveness of law enforcement. The article offers law enforcement officers basic guidelines to observe when approaching and interacting with five general categories of crime victims: elderly victims, sexual assault victims, child victims, and survivors of homicide. This article is a reminder that every victim deserves to be treated with courtesy, respect, and fairness. When victims and law enforcement personnel work together and help each other, the effectiveness of the entire criminal justice system increases.