NCJ Number
86032
Date Published
1981
Length
79 pages
Annotation
This training manual presents an educational program on the needs of victims/witnesses and then outlines a method to provide assistance through the American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) community services union counselor system.
Abstract
The first section contains basic information about victims and witnesses, defining the terms and exploring special problems experienced by both groups. It discusses the history and main features of victim/witness assistance programs and reasons why the union counseling program is an ideal vehicle to provide such services. The manual offers two separate training outlines: a single session on victim/witness assistance to expose the union counselor to the concept and a concentrated course in victim/witness assistance for advanced union counselors. The second training course consists of six 2-hour segments to be held over a 6-8 week period. The classes address who becomes a victim, crime prevention, problems experienced by victims, compensation programs, handling special victims such as children and rape victims, and labor's role in victim/witness assistance. Each session plan gives its learning objectives, potential speakers, topics to be covered, suggested instructional methods, resources, and class exercises. The final section provides supplemental materials, including a program planning guide, references, a sample evaluation questionnaire, a victimization survey instrument, and publicity materials. Lists of national victim/witness resource organizations and victim compensation programs are appended, along with a glossary.