Victim Assistance: Public Participation for More Effective Crime Prevention and Law Enforcement (From Resource Material Series No. 56, P 259-282, 2000, Hiroshi Iitsuka and Rebecca Findlay-Debeck, eds. -- See NCJ-191475)

• NCJ Number: 191495
• Author(s): Donna L. A. Caparas
• Date Published: December 2000
• Length: 24 pages
• Sale Source: United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: Japan
• Note: A paper from the 112th UNAFEI International Training Course, "Participation of the Public and Victims for More Fair and Effective Criminal Justice," held April 12 to July 2, 1999.

Annotation

In focusing on public participation in crime control, this paper considers public participation in police investigations, community policing, and assistance to victims at the investigative stage.

Abstract

The public can cooperate with the police in investigations by reporting crimes, providing information, identifying suspects, recognizing weapons, by not tampering with evidence, and by assisting in locating suspects. Factors that impede such citizen cooperation with police include a negative police image, citizens' uncooperative attitude, and an unfavorable environment created by the media. Recommendations for improving cooperation between the public and the police in investigations are offered for the police, the public and victims, and the media. A section of the paper on community policing addresses community policing concepts and community policing practices in various countries. A section on victim assistance addresses the effects of victimization, victim's needs, types of victim services, and victim assistance programs. Recommendations for victim assistance include working for the establishment of an integrated victim's support system or a network of agencies to provide comprehensive services to victims; establishment of a victim's support unit within the police organization; the provision of specialized programs for victims of special categories of crime; the provision to victims of information on services available to them; and the encouragement of citizens to become involved in victims support programs. 9 notes and an appended summary of victim protection and victim support legislation and practices in five countries, as well as a comparative evaluation of state compensation in Japan and the United States