Victim-Witness Advocacy Programs Essay ⋆ Criminal Justice Essay Examples ⋆ EssayEmpire

Victim-witness advocacy programs provide services for victims of crimes. These programs are usually funded by and associated with departments of the criminal justice system, such as police organizations or prosecutors’ offices. Their goal is to provide information and support for victims after a crime and during the process of prosecuting the offender. Crisis counseling may also be provided. When children are the victims, advocates provide them with support and information about the legal process and provide referrals for other services to their caregivers. In many settings, these advocacy services are also expected to increase cooperation between criminal justice agencies and victim survivors, a result which might increase convictions.

Background

Victim-witness advocacy services became increasingly common in the late 1970s and in the 1980s in response to recognition that going through the legal system is often traumatic for victims. After being harmed by a crime, victims are often harmed a second time by the criminal justice process because the proceedings can involve multiple interviews by legal professionals as well as intimidating court appearances.

Services

These services focus primarily on information, support, and referrals. Advocates provide information about legal processes so that victims understand their rights and choices and what will happen at each step of the proceedings. Information can include knowledge about other legal options, such as protective orders or victim compensation. Victim-witness advocates often provide court escorts so that victims have support before and during their testimony. Advocates may assist with transportation or childcare for court dates. As intimidating as it is for an adult to participate in prosecution, it is much more intimidating for child witnesses. Therefore, advocacy that familiarizes children with the courtroom and legal proceedings can be extremely helpful. Referrals can include linkages to organizations that provide further counseling, emergency funding, housing, vocational assistance, and legal aid for civil matters. Advocates usually know much more about potential resources than victims do, and their referrals may increase victims’ safety if the perpetrator is a continuing threat. Because of advocates’ support, victims may be more likely to follow through with legal actions, such as getting protective orders and testifying for the prosecution, and they may be more likely to follow up on referrals.

Critiques And Concerns

The key question raised about this type of advocacy is whether the advocates’ primary loyalty is to the criminal justice agency that pays them or to the victims. For example, if victims do not feel safe participating in prosecution, is it the job of victim-witness advocates to convince them to participate anyway? Some critics suggest that advocates employed by agencies that are independent of the criminal justice system are more likely to adopt the victim’s goals as their own.

Bibliography:

Davies, J., Lyon, E., & Monti Catania, D. (1998). Safety planning with battered women: Complex lives/difficult choices. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
DeHart, D. D. (2003). National Victim Assistance Standards Consortium: Standards for victim assistance programs and providers. Columbia: University of South Carolina, Center for Child and Family Studies.

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