1996 National Crime Victims' Rights Week Resource Guide.

1996 NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK RESOURCE GUIDE ON DISK


Table of Contents


Letter from the Director of the Office for Victims of Crime
VALOR Letter of Introduction
Acknowledgements                                                1
Tips for Using the 1996 NCVRW Resource Guide                    3
Resource Guide Co-sponsors                                      8
Field-initiated Ideas for Public Awareness and Outreach        15
Sample Planning Committee Letter                               24
Sample Proclamation                                            25
Sample Public Service Announcements                            26
Sample Press Release                                           27
Sample Opinion/Editorial Column                                28
Sample Speech                                                  30
Sample Sermon                                                  32
Notable Quotables                                              34
Accessing Information: OVC Resource Center and Other Services  36
Resources on Crime and Victimization from NCJRS                39
Additional Documents and Resources:
     Resource Guide Evaluation
     Crime Victims' Rights in America: An Historical Overview
     Statistical Overviews
          Child Abuse and Victimization
          Cost of Crime
          Crime and Education
          Crime and Victimization
          Domestic Violence
          Drunk Driving
          Elder Abuse and Neglect
          Hate and Bias Crimes
          Homicide
          Juvenile Crime and Victimization
          Rape and Sexual Assault
          Substance Abuse and Crime
          Workplace Violence and Crime
 Sample Certificate of Appreciation
 1996 NCVRW Resource Guide Computer Disk Order Form
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Office for Victims of Crime


Dear Colleague:

     This year will mark the 15th commemoration of National Crime
Victims' Rights Week, which will be observed April 21 - 27, 1996. 
The week affords us an opportunity to pay tribute to millions of
Americans who have been victimized by crime, set new priorities to
improve victim services throughout the country, and renew our
commitment to provide justice and healing for all victims of crime.

     The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is very pleased to provide
the funding for the enclosed National Crime Victims' Rights Week
Resource Guide, which was prepared by the Victims' Assistance Legal
Organization, Inc. (VALOR) through a competitive grant.  It contains
many materials and suggestions that will help you commemorate this
important week, including a Proclamation and press release, fact
sheets, public service announcements, a sample speech and sermon, and
camera-ready artwork for a variety of public awareness activities.  I
encourage you to use this guide to help honor and publicize the
accomplishments of the victims' movement and work for needed
changes.

     OVC serves as the federal government's chief advocate for
America's crime victims and administers the Crime Victims Fund,
which is derived from fines paid by federal criminal offenders, not
from tax dollars.  Most of the money collected, about $234 million in
Federal Fiscal Year 1996, is distributed to states to fund victim
assistance and compensation programs -- the lifeline services that
enable many victims to heal.  More than 2,500 local victim service
agencies such as domestic violence shelters, children's advocacy
centers, and rape crisis programs, benefit from these funds.

     As you commemorate 1996 National Crime Victims' Rights Week,
we hope that you will recognize the extraordinary work of victim
service providers who have dedicated their lives to helping victims. 
We also encourage you to honor the outstanding contributions of crime
victims themselves, who have become one of our country's most
effective voices against crime.

     Perhaps the best way to commemorate this important week is to
increase our efforts to ensure that all victims have fundamental rights in
the criminal justice system, that every person with whom they interact
in the system treats them with dignity, and that every victimized child
and every adult is given the opportunity to heal.  These are goals to
strive for not only during National Crime Victims' Rights Week, but
throughout the year.  We look forward to working closely with you in
this effort.

                              Best regards,


                              Aileen Adams
                              Director


VALOR
VICTIMS' ASSISTANCE LEGAL ORGANIZATION, INC.
P.O. Box 862, McLean, Virginia 22101-0862

January 2, 1996

Dear Colleague:

     When we consider the progress made since former President
Ronald Reagan honored crime victims in the first Rose Garden
Ceremony in 1981, it is clear that the crime victims' rights movement
has had a profound impact on our entire nation.  Thousands of laws
have been passed in the last fifteen years and thousands of crime victim
service programs have become established.  A new day is dawning for
crime victims.  It is a day when all crime victims are treated with
dignity and respect and have the right to participate fully in criminal
justice proceedings related to their cases.
 
     During the week of April 21 to 27, 1996, we have the opportunity
to pay tribute to victims of crime and violence and to recognize the
many advocates and allied professionals who provide much needed
assistance and support.  The theme for 1996 National Crime Victims'
Rights Week (NCVRW) is Victim Justice:  A New Day Dawns.  As we
commemorate National Crime Victims' Rights Week this year, let us
remember the earlier days and renew our commitment to ensuring the
new days of fair treatment and comprehensive services for all victims.  

     VALOR, the Victims' Assistance Legal Organization, Inc., is
pleased to have the opportunity to produce the 1996 National Crime
Victims' Rights Week Resource Guide with the support of the U.S.
Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime.  This Resource
Guide contains a variety of materials that will assist you in planning
your community and statewide activities to commemorate NCVRW. 
We are also very pleased that, for the first time in the history of our
field, the Guide is ready for your use four months before NCVRW. 
 
     VALOR is a national non-profit crime victims' advocacy
organization.  To produce this Guide, VALOR tapped the outstanding
talents of consultants Christine Edmunds and Anne Seymour.  We are
also grateful to the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C. for
assisting to conduct an art contest for students.  Selected Corcoran
students' work is contained in this year's Resource Guide.  In addition,
we are pleased to have 24 national organizations join us as co-sponsors. 

     This year, the devastating impact of crime will be felt by forty-four
million people in America.  As you strive to respond to the needs of
crime victims in your community, we hope that your National Crime
Victims' Rights Week activities will bring new attention and resources
to assist victims and combat crime.

Sincerely,


Eric Smith                    Jane Nady Burnley, Ph.D.
President                     Executive Director
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS



VALOR greatly appreciates the confidence and support of the U.S.
Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, especially
Celestine Williams, who served as our Federal Project Officer.  We are
also grateful for the outstanding work of our consultants, Christine
Edmunds, Anne Seymour, Jann Taylor, and Kathylynn Beiro, who
ensured the completion of this project in time for an early January
distribution of the 1996 National Crime Victims' Rights Week Resource
Guide to the field.

We would also like to recognize Mothers Against Drunk Driving for
the contribution of a full-size color poster that will be distributed with
each 1996 Resource Guide.  Finally, we appreciate the many
individuals and organizations who shared their ideas with us so that we
could share them with you.

Resource Guide Co-authors
Jane Nady Burnley, Ph.D.
Christine N. Edmunds
Anne K. Seymour
Rev. David W. Delaplane
E. B. (Skip) Sigmon III


Contributing Organizations and Individuals
The Corcoran School of Art
Beth Saidel, Director of Student Services 
Student Art Contest Winners:
  Kevin S. Hanna
  Shadi Ardalan
  Robert E. Lee, III
  Ronnie Williams

Andersen Consulting
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
National Crime Prevention Council
National Victim Center
The Spiritual Dimension in Victim Services



Graphic Design
Jennifer Spalding, Park Graphics


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Co-sponsoring Organizations

American Correctional Association Victims Committee
American Probation and Parole Association
Association of Paroling Authorities International
California State University-Fresno, Victim Services Institute
Center for the Study of Crime Victims' Rights, Remedies, and
Resources
Childhelp, Tyler Village Foundation
Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc.
Family Violence Prevention Fund
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards
National Center on Elder Abuse
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Coalition Against Sexual Assault
National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center
National District Attorneys Association
National Organization for Victim Assistance
National Resource Center on Child Sexual Abuse
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
National Victim Center
Neighbors Who Care
Parents of Murdered Children, Inc.
Police Executive Research Forum
The Spiritual Dimension in Victim Services
VALOR, Victims' Assistance Legal Organization, Inc.

"This product was supported by Grant Number 95-VF-GX-K009
awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice
Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.  The Assistant Attorney
General, Office of Justice Programs coordinates the activities of the
following program offices and bureaus: Bureau of Justice Assistance,
Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Office of
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the Office for
Victims of Crime.  Points of view in this document are those of the
author and do not necessarily represent the official position
or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice."


TIPS FOR USING THE RESOURCE GUIDE


INTRODUCTION

National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) is a time-honored
tradition that has been observed for 15 years by crime victims and
those who serve them in the United States. The 1996 NCVRW
Resource Guide, published by the Victims' Assistance Legal
Organization (VALOR) and the Office for Victims of Crime -- with co-
sponsorship from 24 additional national organizations -- is designed to
help victim service providers plan and implement public awareness
activities to commemorate this special week. 

The theme for 1996 NCVRW is "Victim Justice: A New Day Dawns." 
The theme reflects the optimism that drives America's victims' rights
movement, as well as the opportunities that emerge with every new day
of victims' rights and services.  It is reflected in all the Resource Guide
components and, similar to most of the contents of this Guide, can be
utilized throughout the year in public education and community
outreach efforts.

The contents of the NCVRW Resource Guide include: public education
and community awareness materials; information about resources
available free from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service,
both in paper and electronic formats; resources for the news media to
help promote NCVRW; statistical overviews that address 13 topics
relevant to crime and victimization; a list of 17 toll-free information
and referral numbers for victim assistance; and camera-ready artwork
for posters, brochures, bookmarks, buttons and NCVRW letterhead.

Victim advocates and allied professionals should take a few moments to
review these tips for using the NCVRW Resource Guide, which
provide useful ideas for utilizing these valuable resources to ensure the
best implementation of 1996 National Crime Victims' Rights Week.
The tips are listed in the order in which the contents appear in the
Guide.

RESOURCE GUIDE CO-SPONSORS

Twenty-four national organizations have joined with VALOR and the
U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime to co-sponsor
the 1996 NCVRW Resource Guide.  We are pleased that our
co-sponsors encompass a wide range of national organizations,
including national resource centers on subjects of importance in our
field.  Each co-sponsor has provided a description of its activities and
contact information.  As you review this material you will find
numerous resources that are available to assist you in your ongoing
work on behalf of crime victims.

FIELD-INITIATED IDEAS FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS &
OUTREACH

The most creative, innovative public education and community outreach
ideas implemented during past NCVRWs are included in the
field-initiated ideas for community outreach and education. VALOR
carefully reviews all ideas submitted with Resource Guide evaluation
forms and contacts individual states to determine exemplary activities
sponsored by state and local victim service providers.

SAMPLE PLANNING COMMITTEE LETTER

The strength of victims' rights and services is largely dependent on a
community's ability to form a strong coalition to promote positive
action for victims of crime.  Therefore, the establishment of a NCVRW
Planning Committee will enhance all public education and community
outreach efforts to promote 1996 NCVRW.  Utilizing the enclosed
sample NCVRW letterhead and sample planning committee letter,
victim service providers can invite allied professionals to attend a
planning session.  These include, but are not limited to:

     *     All crime victim service providers.
     *     Crime victims.
     *     Criminal justice and corrections officials.
     *     News media.
     *     School officials.
     *     Mental health officials.
     *     Health officials.
     *     Social service professionals.
     *     Adult and child protective services.
     *     Clergy members.
     *     Higher education (faculty and student associations).
     *     Civic leaders.
     *     Local dignitaries.
     *     Elected officials.

The sample planning committee letter explains the purpose of NCVRW,
invites organizations and individuals to join in an NCVRW coalition,
and includes information to be completed regarding the time, date and
location of the first planning meeting.

SAMPLE PROCLAMATION

Each year, hundreds of state and local officials and agencies issue
official proclamations or resolutions that officially proclaim the week of
April 21 to 27 to be "(state/local) Crime Victims' Rights Week."  The
sample proclamation can be offered to such officials and entities as a
foundation upon which to draft an official proclamation that is specific
to each jurisdiction's needs. Data from the statistical overviews
included in the Guide can be useful for refining the sample
proclamation.  Victim advocates should request multiple copies of any
proclamations that are issued that can be framed for the offices of the
many organizations that co-sponsor 1996 NCVRW activities.

SAMPLE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS

One of the best way to promote victims' rights and services is through
the broadcasting of public service announcements (PSAs).  The six
sample PSAs can be utilized for either radio or television stations. 
Each PSA should be personalized to include contact information for
local victim services, along with any relevant data that accurately
reflect crime and victimization in the area in which the PSAs are
broadcast.

Victim advocates should contact local radio and television stations at
least six weeks prior to NCVRW, and ask to speak to the public service
director.  S/he can provide guidelines about whether the station accepts
PSAs and the format that is preferable.  While some stations simply
accept PSA scripts that are read by on-air "personalities," others ask
that the scripts be read by a representative from the organization that
submits them.  Be sure to understand and follow any guidelines that
radio and television stations provide!
 
SAMPLE PRESS RELEASE

Once victim service providers have completed their plans to
commemorate NCVRW, it is helpful to send a general press release to
local print and broadcast media that highlights key activities they will
sponsor. The sample press release, which includes a national
perspective and a quotation from the Director of the Office for Victims
of Crime, can be easily personalized to state and local jurisdictions. 
The sample NCVRW letterhead included in the camera-ready artwork
of the Resource Guide can be utilized for the press release. Usually,
local libraries have a reference book that lists print and broadcast media
nationwide that can help create a current media mailing list.

SAMPLE OPINION/EDITORIAL COLUMN

The opinion/editorial page(s) are the most frequently read section of
newspapers.  The sample opinion/editorial column should be
personalized and expanded to reflect information pertinent to the
community in which it will be published (such as current crime
statistics, personal victims' vignettes, information about local victim
services, etc.).  The column can also be submitted to local radio and/or
television stations as an actuality, which is a 60 second statement of
opinion that is usually read on air by the author.  Victim service
providers should consider submitting the opinion/editorial column or
radio/television actuality from a local NCVRW Planning Committee or
coalition.  Remember to use the sample NCVRW letterhead for printing
the opinion/editorial column or broadcast actuality!

SAMPLE SPEECH

Victim service providers should start early to schedule speaking
engagements during 1996 NCVRW.  Potential audiences include: civic
organizations; allied professional groups; schools, colleges and
universities (both classes, general assemblies, and student/faculty
organizations); criminal justice and victims' rights conferences; and
churches.

The sample speech reflects the 1996 NCVRW theme and offers a broad
national perspective about the current status of victims' rights and
services.  It should be personalized to reflect local issues and concerns,
as well as to publicize the valuable victims' rights and services
available in the community in which the speech is delivered.

SAMPLE SERMON

Support from the religious community for NCVRW, as well as for
victims' rights and needs, can greatly enhance public outreach efforts. 
Many ministers and rabbis, when requested, are willing to incorporate
messages relevant to victims' rights and services in their sermons to
commemorate NCVRW.  Victim service providers should contact
religious leaders at least six weeks prior to NCVRW to determine if
they are willing to address crime victims' rights and needs in their
sermons on Sunday, April 21.  Any clergy members or rabbis who are
willing to do so should be provided with the sample sermon, which was
written by Reverend David Delaplane, the Director of The Spiritual
Dimension in Victim Services, who has provided a sample sermon for
NCVRW Resource Guides since 1990.

NOTABLE QUOTABLES

This Resource Guide contains a variety of quotations that address the
NCVRW theme and other salient issues relevant to victims' rights and
victim justice.  The notable quotables can be utilized in speeches,
brochures, and all public outreach publications and activities sponsored
during NCVRW and throughout the year. 

OVC RESOURCE CENTER AND OTHER INFORMATION
SERVICES

Victim service providers have the opportunity to receive valuable
information about victims' rights and services, criminal justice, crime
prevention and other important issues on an ongoing basis from the
OVC Resource Center and NCJRS, in both paper and electronic
formats.  Specific details about how to access information are included
in this section, including a sampling of crime victim-related Internet
sites.  An NCJRS, registration form also accompanies this NCVRW
Resource Guide.  Advocates can build an impressive library with the
most current research and literature available relevant to crime and
victimization by completing the NCJRS registration form and indicating
specific areas of interest and information needs.

RESOURCES ON CRIME AND VICTIMIZATION FROM NCJRS

The National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) within the
U.S. Department of Justice publishes myriad documents that contain
information about research, evaluation, training and technical assistance
relevant to crime victims and criminal justice.  Information including
the titles, year of publication, and order numbers for 45 excellent
documents available free from NCJRS are included in the Resource
Guide. Instructions for ordering these publications by contacting the
NCJRS toll-free 800 number are also included.

RESOURCE GUIDE EVALUATION

The feedback that VALOR receives from organizations that utilize the
Resource Guide is essential to improving and expanding future
NCVRW Resource Guides.  When completing this brief form, victim
service providers should specify which resources in the Guide are most
helpful and least helpful.  In addition, respondents are encouraged
to attach any documentation of activities and special events they
sponsor during 1996 NCVRW.  The most creative ideas will be
included in the Field-initiated Ideas for Public Awareness and Outreach
section in the 1997 Resource Guide!

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS

The incredible accomplishments, struggles and victories of America's
victims' rights movement are incorporated into this impressive
document, which was contributed to the Resource Guide by the
National Victim Center.  The landmark achievements of the past 23
years are highlighted in Crime Victims' Rights in America: An
Historical Overview, which can be reproduced as a document on its
own, or incorporated into speeches, brochures and other public
outreach activities sponsored during NCVRW and throughout the year. 
There is a space on the final page for organizations to add personal
contact information.

STATISTICAL OVERVIEWS

One of the most popular components of the Resource Guide is the
collection of statistical overviews that address the full spectrum of
crime and victimization.  The 13 one-page statistical overviews --
which include a space to personalize with the sponsoring organization's
contact information -- can be utilized as a "stand alone" document
(which can be easily replicated and/or faxed) or incorporated into any
public education or community awareness publications.  Efforts have
been made to incorporate the most current and accurate data which
address crime and victimization in the United States today.

SAMPLE CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION

A certificate of appreciation is included in this year's Resource Guide,
honoring victim service providers for their contributions to victims. 
The certificate can be reproduced on attractive card stock, with the
recipient's name written in calligraphy.  Spaces for the date of the
award and the signature of the Director of the organization giving the
award are provided.  You may also wish to modify the certificate to
honor volunteers who assist crime victims and advocates, tying the
event into National Volunteer Recognition Month which is
commemorated in April each year. 

1996 NCVRW RESOURCE GUIDE COMPUTER DISK ORDER
FORM

The major components of the 1996 NCVRW Resource Guide -- with
the exception of the camera-ready artwork -- are available on
WordPerfect 6.1 computer disk. By ordering the disk, victim advocates
can save considerable time and human resources by having complete
documents, ready to personalize, easily accessible.  Information
about ordering the computer disk is included on the order form.

REPRODUCIBLE BROCHURES AND ART

Two brochures contributed to the Resource Guide by the National
Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) address domestic violence and street
safety.  Both are printed in English and Spanish.  The brochures can be
easily replicated and personalized with local organizations' contact
information, and offer valuable information about both crime awareness
and victim assistance.  Also, a poster design that proved very popular
last year, In America, Victims' Rights Start Here, has been re-designed
to depict the 1996 NCVRW theme and dates.

CAMERA-READY ARTWORK

Perhaps the most replicated component of the NCVRW Resource Guide
is the camera-ready artwork.  Much of the artwork resulted from a
national poster contest sponsored by VALOR and OVC at the Corcoran
School of Art in Washington, D.C., with artwork submitted by
students.

The possibilities for utilizing the artwork during NCVRW and
throughout the year are simply endless.  Various pieces can be utilized
as "stand alone" documents or incorporated into publications such as
brochures, annual reports, and fact sheets.  They can also be copied
onto overhead transparencies for use in training programs.  The 1996
Resource Guide camera-ready artwork reflects the theme of NCVRW,
along with other salient issues relevant to crime and victimization. 
When appropriate, the artwork can be personalized with local victim
service providers' contact information.  Local printers may be willing
to donate printing services and/or paper, or provide these services at a
reduced cost.

The five categories of artwork include:

1.     A variety of posters addressing the NCVRW theme, family
violence, child abuse, drunk driving, and crime prevention is included
in the Resource Guide.  Posters can be enlarged and/or reduced for use
in newsletters, brochures, and even as billboards.  Victim service
providers should insert their organization's contact information prior to
replicating the poster artwork.

2.    The artwork for buttons can be printed in one or two colors to add
dimension to the message.

3.    The bookmarks should be printed on two sides: One includes the
poster artwork message, with the other side containing the list of 17
national toll-free information and referral numbers for victim assistance
and criminal justice.  The bookmarks print best on paper that is at least
80 pound stock.

4.    The list of national toll-free information and referral telephone
numbers can be reprinted as a "stand alone" document or incorporated
into other victim service organizations' publications.  This list can also
be utilized for training and technical assistance, especially for criminal
justice and allied professionals who are always seeking good referral
programs for the victims with whom they have contact.

5.     The is the first year that the NCVRW Resource Guide has
included sample letterhead and logos.  The purpose of this component
is to encourage coalitions and/or NCVRW planning committees to show
a united effort under one banner: 1996 National Crime Victims' Rights
Week.  Victim service providers may wish to type the list of NCVRW
Planning Committee members in 8 point type on the left side of the
letterhead prior to reproducing it.  Logos can be used on brochures,
programs, invitations, centerpieces, etc.  Also, color can be easily
incorporated to add more depth to the designs.


RESOURCE GUIDE CO-SPONSORS

American Correctional Association
Victims Committee
700 East Franklin, Center Building, 4th Floor
Richmond, VA  23219
Phone:     804-371-0692     Fax:     804-371-0773
Contact: Fred L. Finkbeiner, Chairman, ACA Victims Committee

The American Correctional Association (ACA) is a national
organization for professionals in the field of corrections.  The
membership includes institutional corrections, both civilian and
military; jails; probation and parole; volunteer organizations; and
victim advocates.  In addition to the administrative staff of the
ACA and the various elected executive officers, there are a number of
standing committees, one being the Victims Committee.

The Victims Committee is made up of 21 members from across the
country, who have been or are actively involved in victims' issues. 
The primary areas of attention for the Victims Committee are: to
recommend national research, training and technical assistance projects
for ACA to pursue relating to victims; to continue to develop ACA's
policies on victims of juvenile crime; to educate ACA members on the
elements of restorative justice; and to develop and propose
methodologies to evaluate the effectiveness of victim services programs
in corrections.

American Probation and Parole Association
c/o The Council of State Governments 
P.O. Box 11910
Lexington, KY  40578-1910
Phone:     606-244-8215     Fax:     606-244-8001
Contact: Tracy Godwin, Victim Services Specialist

The American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) is an
international association composed of individuals from the United States
and Canada actively involved in community-based corrections, in both
the adult and juvenile sectors.  APPA produces a variety of research
documents and serves as a clearinghouse of information on topics of
interest to community corrections professionals.  In addition, APPA
conducts training workshops, symposiums and training institutes to
educate the community corrections field about pertinent issues,
including the importance of incorporating victim services within
probation and parole.

Association of Paroling Authorities International
P.O. Box 211
California, MO 65018
Phone:     314-796-2113     Fax:     314-796-2114
Contact: Gail Hughes

The Association of Paroling Authorities International (APAI) is a
professional organization for paroling authorities and individuals with
responsibilities in the field of parole.  APAI's membership is drawn
from Federal, state and provincial governments.  APAI serves to
advance the profession of parole decision-making and release practices
and to foster the understanding, continuity, development and integrity
of this criminal justice discipline.  The Association provides a forum
for exchanging useful information on significant developments and
trends in the field of parole through its periodic newsletter and its
regional and annual conferences.

California State University-Fresno, Victim Services Institute
2225 East San Ramon Avenue
Fresno, California  93740-0104
Phone:     209-278-4223     Fax:     209-278-7265
E-mail:     harveywallace@csufresno.edu
Contact: Harvey Wallace, Director, Justice Center and Victim Services  
         Institute

In 1995, California State University-Fresno (CSUF) became the first
University in the nation to develop and conduct a program of study in
victim services.  Today CSUF offers an undergraduate degree in
victimology and a victimology concentration in the criminology masters
degree program, and serves as the academic coordinator for the Office
for Victims of Crime National Victim Assistance Academy.  The
Victim Services Institute at CSUF has been in existence for seven
years, and offers a concentrated program of study conducted over a
four week period each summer.  The primary goal of the 12-unit (180
hour) program is to provide the knowledge, foundation and skills
needed for work with crime victims.  The Summer Institute is open to
both CSU students and professionals from the field.

Center for the Study of Crime Victims' Rights, Remedies, and
Resources
University of New Haven
West Haven, CT  06516
Phone:     203-932-7041     Fax:     203-931-6030
Contact: Mario Thomas Gaboury, J.D., Ph.D., Director

The Center for the Study of Crime Victims' Rights, Remedies, and
Resources was established to contribute to improving the treatment of
victims of crime in the criminal and civil justice systems, and to expand
our knowledge about crime victims' needs and how best to meet them. 
The various projects currently offered by the Center, and those in
development, include: (1) academic courses and professional training in
victimology; (2) field research studies and independent program
evaluation services; (3) technical assistance, strategic planning and
management consultation for victim services programs; (4) conferences,
symposia and publications in the victim's field, (5) inter-university and
other scholarly programs related to crime victim research, legal rights
and supportive services; and (6) legislative and public policy analysis
and advocacy.  The Center is housed in the School of Public Safety and
Professional Studies of the University of New Haven.

Childhelp, Tyler Village Foundation     
The Village of Childhelp East               
120 North Lee Highway                   
Falls Church, VA  22046  
Contact:     Iris Beekurth              
Phone:     703-241-9100                 
Fax: 703-241-9105                       
     
Childhelp USA/IOF Foresters
National Child Abuse Hotline:
1-800-4-A-CHILD
Contact:  David Kurtz
Phone:    213-465-4016       Fax:      213-465-3933

Childhelp USA operates the National Child Abuse Hotline
(1-800-4-A-CHILD) providing 24-hour professional crisis counseling
and referral services in all 50 states.  Childhelp also provides
counseling for adult and teen survivors of abuse at its Los
Angeles Center, residential treatment for abused children at its Villages
in California and Virginia, abuse investigation services at its Children's
Advocacy Centers in Tennessee and New York, and abuse prevention
programs at the Falls Church, Virginia office.

Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc.
P.O. Box 3199
Camdenton, MO  65020
Phone:     314-346-4911     Fax:     314-346-1414
Contact: Suzanne F. Sawyer, Executive Director

Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. (COPS) provides assistance,
guidance, understanding, compassion, empathy, and hope for the future
through peer-support to survivors of law enforcement officers killed in
the line of duty.  Furthermore, COPS educates law enforcement
agencies on survivor issues and raises public awareness of the need to
assist and support the law enforcement profession and its survivors.

Family Violence Prevention Fund
383 Rhode Island, Suite 304
San Francisco, CA  94103-5133
Phone:     415-252-8900     Fax:     415-252-8991
Contact: Lisa James

The Family Violence Prevention Fund (FUND) is a national, nonprofit
organization that focuses on domestic violence education, prevention,
and public policy reform.  The overriding mission of the FUND is to
stem the epidemic of domestic violence in our homes.  Throughout its
history, the FUND has developed pioneering prevention strategies in
the justice, public education, and public health fields.  The FUND's
publications and model programs have been distributed to every state
and several foreign countries.  The FUND's "There's No Excuse for
Domestic Violence" campaign is the first national public education
effort on this subject.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving
511 E. John Carpenter Frwy., Suite 700
Irving, TX  75062-8187
Phone:     214-744-MADD     Fax:     214-869-2206/2207
Contact: Janice Harris Lord, National Director, Victim Programs

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) was established in 1980,
primarily by two mothers, one whose daughter was killed and another
whose daughter became the country's youngest paraplegic as a result of
drunk driving.  Both crashes were caused by multiple offenders. 
MADD's mission is to stop drunk driving and support victims of this
violent crime.  MADD has more than 500 active state organizations,
chapters, and community action teams throughout the nation.  All
chapters have at least one trained victim advocate who offers
one-on-one support, literature, and court accompaniment.  Many
chapters also offer Victim Impact Panels, a healing experience
for victims, and victim support groups.

National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards
P.O. Box 16003
Alexandria, VA  22302
Phone/Fax:  703-370-2996
Contact:      Dan Eddy, Executive Director

Founded in 1977, the National Association of Crime Victim
Compensation Boards promotes a nationwide network for the exchange
of information and ideas among state and local victim compensation
agencies.  With compensation programs now operating in every state in
the country, plus Washington D.C., Guam and the Virgin Islands,
the Association's goal is to advance better methods for serving crime
victims through sound administrative practices, focusing on fiscal
stability, efficient and expeditious processing and decision making, and
effective outreach, communication and advocacy.

The Association, through its annual and regional conferences, its Crime
Victim Compensation Quarterly, its special reports, updates and
surveys, and its information resource and referral capabilities, provides
support for its members and fosters an interchange of experience and
expertise.  The Association maintains an executive office in
Washington, D.C., from which it strives to represent the interests of its
members.

National Center on Elder Abuse
810 First Street, NE, Suite 500
Washington, DC  20002-4267
Phone:     202-682-0100     Fax:     202-289-6555
Contact: Toshio Tatara, (Ph.D.), Center Director

The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), established in
September, 1993, is operated by a consortium of four organizations:
The American Public Welfare Association (APWA), the National
Association of State Units on Aging (NASUA), the University of
Delaware College of Human Resources, and the National Committee
for Prevention of Elder Abuse (NCPEA).  The Center manages a
Clearinghouse on Abuse and Neglect of the Elderly (CANE), the
nation's only automated, elder abuse literature search and retrieval
system; publishes the quarterly newsletter NCEA EXCHANGE;
compiles and disseminates "best practice" information; trains
professionals and concerned citizens on elder abuse; distributes
technical assistance memoranda on issues of importance to adult
protective services (APS) and aging agencies; collects elder abuse
statistics; performs research studies using data collected from agencies;
analyzes state laws addressing elder abuse; provides agencies with
assistance in improving their elder abuse information systems; and
responds to inquiries about elder abuse from the public.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
2101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 550
Arlington, VA  22201-3052
Phone:     800-THE-LOST/800-843-5678     Fax:     703-235-4067
Contact: Margie Kazdin

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
serves as a national clearinghouse and resource center on issues relating
to child victimization, specifically the abduction and sexual exploitation
of American youth.  Opened in June, 1984, the National Center works
in cooperation with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention (OJJDP) at the U.S. Department of Justice in an effort to
reduce crimes against children and better address the needs of victim
families and the professionals serving them.

The National Center operates a 24-hour, toll-free hotline for parents to
call to report a missing child; the public to relay information which
could lead to a child's recovery; or for citizens to request free
information on child protection.  Since the National Center's
establishment, the hotline has received approximately 900,000 calls,
and over 11 million publications have been distributed.  In addition to
networking with other nonprofit organizations, NCMEC staff works
closely with law enforcement, child protective services, victim
advocacy organizations, medical professionals, legislators, attorneys
and judges in an effort to begin to close the gap in services for parents
and siblings of missing and exploited children.

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
P.O. Box 34103                              
Washington, D.C.  20043-4103                
Phone:  202-638-6388     Fax: 202-628-4899  

P.O. Box 18749
Denver, CO  80218-0749
Phone:  303-839-1852     Fax: 303-831-9825

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) is the
only national organization representing the over 2,000 grassroots
programs and shelters serving battered women and their children of all
backgrounds in rural and urban areas throughout the United States. 
NCADV opposes the use of violence as a means of control over others,
and supports equality in relationships and strategies for helping
women assume power over their own lives.  Formed in 1978, NCADV
is a private non-profit organization.

National Coalition Against Sexual Assault
912 North Second Street
Harrisburg, PA  17102-3119
Phone:     717-232-7460     Fax:     717-232-6771
Contact: Beverly Harris-Elliott

The National Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCASA) is a
membership organization committed to the prevention of sexual
violence through intervention, education, advocacy and public policy. 
NCASA promotes and advocates a national course of action based on
the sexual assault victim/survivor's perspective within a feminist
framework.  NCASA works toward the empowerment of all
victims/survivors: children and adults, women and men.  Major
NCASA initiatives include hosting an annual National Conference and
Women of Color Institute as well as producing resources for National
Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April.

National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center
Medical University of South Carolina
171 Ashley Avenue
Charleston, SC  29425-0742
Phone:     803-792-2945     Fax:     803-792-3388
Homepage:  http://www.musc.edu/cvc/
Contact: Dean G. Kilpatrick, Ph.D., Professor and Director

The National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center (NCVC)
is a division of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston. 
Since 1974 the faculty and staff of the NCVC have been devoted to
achieving a better understanding of the impact of criminal victimization
and trauma on adults, children and their families.  The many activities
and contributions of the NCVC faculty to the crime victim and child
abuse fields have been recognized nationally and internationally. 
Program activities focus in four major areas: scientific research,
professional education, clinical services, and public policy consultation.

National District Attorneys Association
99 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 510
Alexandria, VA  22314-1588
Phone:     703-549-9222     Fax:     703-836-3195
Contact: Dr. J. Panogopoulos, Deputy Director

The National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) is the largest and
premier professional association of prosecuting attorneys in the United
States.  In carrying out its mission -- "To be the voice of America's
prosecutors and to support the efforts to protect the safety of the
people" -- NDAA provides professional guidance and support to its
members, serves as a resource and education center, follows public
policy issues involving criminal justice and law enforcement and
produces a number of publications, including The Prosecutor, a
bi-monthly magazine, and the National Prosecution Standards.

National Organization for Victim Assistance
1757 Park Road, NW
Washington, DC  20010
Phone:     202-232-6682     Fax:     202-462-2255
Contact: Marlene A. Young, Ph.D., J.D., Executive Director

Founded in 1975, the National Organization for Victim Assistance
(NOVA) is the oldest of the many broad-based victim rights groups
now found worldwide.  A nonprofit, membership organization, NOVA
is guided by four purposes: to be of service to its members; to be an
advocate for victim rights and services in Federal, state, and local
legislatures and executive agencies; to be a training and educational
resource to victim assistance and allied professionals (including police,
prosecutors, clergy members, and health and mental health
professionals); and to be of direct service to victims who call the
NOVA offices or who have suffered in a large-scale disaster to which a
NOVA "Crisis Response Team" (composed of trained volunteers) has
been invited to help in the emotional recovery.  NOVA publishes a
Newsletter and holds two annual events:  the National Forum on
Victims' Rights held during NCVRW in Washington, DC, and the
North American Victim Assistance Conference held in August.

National Resource Center on Child Sexual Abuse
2204 Whitesburg Drive, Suite 200
Huntsville, Alabama 35801
Phone:     205-534-6868     Fax:     205-534-6883

The National Resource Center on Child Sexual Abuse provides
technical support to all professionals who work with sexually abused
children and their families.  The Center's services benefit social
workers, law enforcement investigators, medical personnel, therapists,
researchers, administrators, prosecutors, teachers, judges, volunteers
and others.  Services include information, referrals, technical assistance
and training.

The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
6400 Flank Drive, Suite 1300
Harrisburg, PA 17112-2778
Phone:     800-537-2238     Fax:     717-545-9456
Contact: Nita Carter

The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRC) provides
comprehensive information, resources, policy development and
technical assistance designed to enhance community response to and
prevention of domestic violence.  The NRC works closely with three
Special Issue Resource Centers to coordinate information and resource
development and technical assistance.  The NRC and the following
Special Issue Resource Centers work together as the Domestic Violence
Resource Network:

*    Battered Women's Justice Project           800-903-0111
     Minneapolis, MN - Provides training, technical assistance and other
     resources addressing criminal and civil justice system responses to
     domestic violence and issues related to battered women's
     self-defense.

*    Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence     800-313-1310
     San Francisco, CA - Provides specialized information packets
     designed to strengthen the health care system's response to
     domestic violence, as well as technical assistance and library
     services to support health care-based domestic violence training and
     program development.

*    Resource Center on Child Protection and Custody     
     800-527-3223
     Reno, NV - Provides resource materials, consultation, technical
     assistance and legal research related to child protection and custody
     in the context of domestic violence.

National Victim Center
2111 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300    
Arlington, VA  22201                
Phone: 703-276-2880                 
Fax:  703-276-2889   
Contact: David Beatty               

555 Madison Avenue, Suite 2001
New York, NY  10022
Phone:  212-753-6880
Contact:  Rachel Shearer

The National Victim Center is a not-for-profit organization founded in
1985 in honor of Sunny von Bulow.  The Center is dedicated to
reducing the consequences of crime on victims and society by
promoting victims' rights and victim assistance, and enhancing the
dignity and value of human life by eliminating America's acceptance of
violence.  The many programs of the National Victim Center include:
training and technical assistance to strengthen the abilities of victim
advocates and criminal justice officials to assist and support crime
victims; a legislative database containing over 27,000 statutes relevant
to violence, victimization and criminal justice issues which support the
public policy program efforts to establish, expand and protect victims'
rights through legislation and policy development; a library with the
nation's most comprehensive collection addressing crime and
victimization issues; Infolink (1-800-FYI-CALL), a comprehensive
source of crime victimization information and referrals to local victim
assistance programs; and the Carrington Victims' Litigation Project
offering a centralized source of civil cases brought by victims of crime,
as well as attorney referrals operating in this field.

Neighbors Who Care
P.O. Box 16079
Washington, D.C.  20041
Phone:     703-904-7311     Fax:     703-478-0452
Contact: Lisa Barnes

Neighbors Who Care (NWC) mobilizes and equips local churches to
provide practical assistance to victims of crime.  Through the efforts of
trained volunteers, NWC provides crime victims with prompt assistance
that includes property repair, supportive listening, emergency food and
clothing, transportation, and relocation assistance.  In addition to
meeting practical needs, volunteers are also trained to provide
emotional and spiritual support.

Parents of Murdered Children, Inc.
100 East Eighth Street, Suite B-41
Cincinnati, OH  45202
Phone:     513-721-5683     Fax:     513-345-4489
Contact: Nancy Ruhe-Munch, Executive Director

The National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children, Inc., is
the only national self-help group dedicated solely to providing support
and education for the families and friends of those who have died by
homicide.  Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, the organization has
Chapters and Contact Persons across the United States.  National
Headquarters of POMC also coordinates many special programs and
services to assist survivors of murder victims, including the Parole
Block Program, a petition system to help prevent the early parole or
release of convicted murderers; Murder is Not Entertainment (MINE),
an awareness campaign designed to decrease the acceptance of
"murdertainment" in today's society; Second Opinion Services
(S.O.S.), which provides second opinions/assistance for unsolved or
complicated cases, by members of POMC's S.O.S Board which is
comprised of medical, law enforcement and investigative experts; and
the Murder Wall...Honoring Their Memories, a traveling tribute to the
memory of all murdered loved ones.  The growing Wall carries the
names of homicide victims on engraved, solid walnut plaques as a vivid
reminder of the need to stop the violence.

Police Executive Research Forum
1120 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 930       
Washington, D.C.  20036                      
Phone:     202-466-7820                      
Fax:  202-466-7826   
Contact: Mr. Cliff Karchmer                        
   
11815 East 28th Street
Tulsa, OK  74129
Phone:  918-627-5700
Contact:  Drew Diamond

The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) is a national
membership and research organization of progressive police executives
from the largest city, county and state law enforcement agencies. 
PERF is dedicated to improving policing and advancing professionalism
through research and involvement in public policy debate.  PERF's
primary sources of operating revenues are government grants and
contracts and partnerships with private foundations and other
organizations.

PERF was founded to improve the delivery of police services and crime
control nationwide; encourage debate of police and criminal justice
issues within the law enforcement community; implement and promote
the use of law enforcement research; and provide national leadership,
technical assistance and vital management services to police agencies. 
PERF has performed a number of studies and designed training
materials on a variety of victims' issues, including the instructor's
discussion guide for the OVC video, In Crime's Wake.

The Spiritual Dimension in Victim Services
P.O. Box 6736
Denver, CO  80206-0736
Phone:     303-333-8810     Fax:     303-333-8805
Contact: Rev. David W. Delaplane, Executive Director

The Spiritual Dimension in Victim Services is a non-profit educational
organization established in 1984 to educate the religious community --
all faiths -- in violence prevention and survivor assistance.  This
organization provides training for clergy and religious leaders on crime
victim assistance, and for victim service providers on methods of
involving the religious community.  Their training manual, Victims: A
Manual for Clergy and Congregations, is available at a reasonable cost
upon request.

VALOR, Victims' Assistance Legal Organization, Inc.
P.O. Box 862
McLean, VA  22101-0862
Phone/Fax:     703-538-6898
Contact:     Jane Nady Burnley, Ph.D., Executive Director

VALOR is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting
the rights of crime victims in the civil and criminal justice systems. 
Founded in 1981 by the late Frank Carrington, Esq., considered by
many to be the "father of the crime victims' rights movement in
America," VALOR is committed to carrying on Mr. Carrington's
pioneering work on behalf of crime victims.

VALOR's recent projects include administering the National Victim
Assistance Academy, restitution reform, juvenile justice policy reform
and production of the 1995 and 1996 National Crime Victims' Rights
Week Resource Guide.  With support from private and corporate
foundations, individual contributions, and government grants, VALOR
accomplishes its mission by: promoting public education and
awareness about the rights and needs of crime victims; advancing
victims' rights through public policy efforts on the Federal, state, and
local levels; supporting criminal and civil justice reforms that hold
offenders accountable to both crime victims and the community;
enhancing the ability of crime victims to recover their losses and
damages through restitution and civil litigation; and improving and
expanding services for victims to assist in their emotional, financial,
and physical recovery. 

FIELD-INITIATED IDEAS FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS AND
OUTREACH

Each year during National Crime Victims' Rights Week, victim
assistance programs across the country organize memorial and
commemorative events to expand public awareness of victims rights
and services and to remember crime victims.  This year's Resource
Guide features a number of field-initiated activities, including highlights
of NCVRW events across one state and an overview of how a victim
services program utilized the 1995 Guide's artwork and ideas.  We
want to thank the many individuals that contributed creative and unique
ideas contained in this section and hope that it assists you in planning
and coordinating your NCVRW events! 

To receive sponsorships and to seek donations for your National Crime
Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) activities, the following local business
and civic organizations tie directly to this year's theme, "Victim
Justice: A New Day Dawns."  

     *     Greeting Card and Calendar Stores
     *     Grocers
     *     Coffee shops
     *     Morning radio/television shows
     *     Local nurseries
     *     Plant and garden stores
     *     Florists and flower shops

COMMEMORATING CRIME VICTIMS

NCVRW Events Across the State of Colorado

Numerous events were held throughout the state of Colorado during
1995 NCVRW.  The following overview highlights some of the unique
ceremonies and activities that were held throughout the week.  A salute
to the creativity and commitment that went into these events, and, in
addition, the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA) for
providing this information.

REMEMBRANCE TREE:  The Colorado Organization for Victim
Assistance developed a unique memorial for victims through the
creation of a Remembrance Tree.  The purpose of the tree was to
"visually symbolize the victims who have touched the hearts of family,
friends and professionals in the field."  To create the tree, COVA
mailed blank paper leaves to its members across the state.  Over 1,120
of the brightly colored leaves were returned to COVA, with the names
of victims printed on each one.  The leaves were attached to a tree in
Denver's Botanic Gardens, where COVA held a statewide NCVRW
event that included a reading of the Governor's Proclamation, speeches
and recognition awards.  In addition, The Medicine Warriors -- a youth
group representing several Indian nations whose members must remain
in school, free of substance abuse and cannot be associated with gangs
-- performed traditional Native American drumming, songs, dance and
storytelling.  The event generated wide media coverage and the
Remembrance Tree provided a very visible and touching reminder of
victims of crime.

PROCLAMATION FROM A TRIBAL COUNCIL:  The Southern Ute
Victim Service Program in Ignacio, Colorado, in its first year of
existence, was able to encourage the Tribal Council to proclaim
NCVRW as Southern Ute Indian Tribe Crime Victims' Rights Week. 
This was an important milestone for the program because, in addition
to the formal proclamation, the Tribal Council pledged to devote
resources to helping crime victims throughout the year.

TRAVELING ARTWORK DISPLAY:  The Sexual Assault Victim
Advocate Team in Ft. Collins, Colorado utilized artwork created by
victim survivors to create a "traveling artwork display" for NCVRW. 
The display was featured at a University, local malls, and at the County
Courthouse during the week.  In addition, they held a flag raising
ceremony that launched a "Victim Justice" logo flag and a media
campaign that resulted in advocates appearing on local television news,
radio talk shows, and a Sunday feature in the local newspaper.

ART AND POETRY SHOW:  A "Survivors of Violence Art and
Poetry Show" was organized by Survivors of Violence in Boulder,
Colorado and was held at local art gallery during the last two weeks of
April.  The event included a formal opening, a poetry reading and art
sales throughout the show.  To help fund the event, Survivors of
Violence enlisted the support of two local pizza parlors, which donated
a percentage of their profits through the sale of special Pizza Pals that
the organization helped market.

COURAGE WALK:  Victim Outreach Information helped raise funds
to serve victims of crime in three communities (Edgewater, Golden and
Wheat Ridge) through its "2nd Annual Courage Walk."  Participants
were asked to donate $10.00 for the registration fee or to raise $10.00
in pledges.  To encourage school organizations to participate, schools
were allowed to keep one half of the pledges they raised, donating the
other half to Victim Outreach Information.

BURRITOS ON THE BOULEVARD:  Victim assistance agencies in
Fremont County held a fundraiser during NCVRW entitled "Burritos on
the Boulevard," where tickets were sold for $3.50, and all in
attendance received theme-related seed packets.

ROSE BUSHES -- DONATION AND PLANTING:  A NCVRW
celebration was held outside the Children's Advocacy Center in
Colorado Springs, jointly sponsored by several criminal justice and
victim services agencies.  Local agencies donated rose bushes for
planting at the Children's Advocacy Center, and extra rose bushes were
planted at the Safehouse.  

REMEMBERING VICTIMS WITH A SONG:  In previous years, a
special "Remembrance Park" was created next to the Arapahoe County
Justice Center to serve as a memorial to crime victims.  During
NCVRW, the District Attorney and law enforcement members of
Victims Are A Priority, held a ceremony and reception for the
dedication of a special song for the park. 

For additional information, please contact:
Nancy Lewis, Executive Director
Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance
789 Sherman Street, Suite 505
Denver, Colorado  80203          (303) 861-1160


UTILIZING THE RESOURCE GUIDE'S MATERIALS

An Overview of 1995 NCVRW Activities in Arkadelphia, Arkansas

With a total budget of two-hundred and fifty dollars, the Arkadelphia,
Arkansas Victim Assistance Program organized and conducted a
surprising number of activities and events during last year's NCVRW. 
Their experience is highlighted below to help illustrate how you can
utilize the many ideas, materials, and camera-ready artwork in this
Resource Guide for your NCVRW activities!

Throughout NCVRW, the Arkadelphia Victim Assistance Program:

*     Distributed over 1200 brochures made from the camera-ready
artwork in the Resource Guide to students K-6 in the Arkadelphia
school system.  The brochures were copied onto construction paper --
bright orange, purple and blue -- so that the parents would be sure and
notice them among their child's regular school work.  This year's
Guide provides reproducible brochures -- both in English and in
Spanish
courtesy of the National Crime Prevention Council. 

*     Enlisted the help of an off-duty police officer and a school board
member to teach self-defense classes and to distribute crime prevention
brochures to junior high and high school students.  Certain classes were
targeted in an attempt to reach as many female students as possible. 
Several teachers attended, and the athletic coaches brought their
students to the classes.

*     Utilized the camera-ready artwork included the Resource Guide to
create "seed packets" through copying the graphic design depicting the
week's theme onto construction paper and gluing craft sticks on the
back.  These were distributed to local florists and gardening centers and
placed in arrangements prepared during the week.  In addition, they
created a wreath for their office using the seed packets.  This idea
can be replicated in 1996 through reproducing the camera-ready
NCVRW logo included in this Guide.  It can be used for table top
arrangements, wreaths, invitations --- and whatever else your
imagination can create!

*     Created buttons for NCVRW by enlisting the volunteer help of an
educational cooperative.  The Victim Assistance program replicated the
camera-ready button artwork on multi-colored construction paper and
the educational cooperative made 100 buttons.  

*     Reproduced the Resource Guide's camera-ready bookmarks and
distributed them to the county and school libraries to be given out
during the Week.

*     Based on ideas provided in the Resource Guide's sample press
release, they typed up their own version of the press release and faxed
it to all local papers and they "got ink on all of them."

In addition, the local women's shelter sponsored a Chamber of
Commerce coffee and held a tree planting ceremony.  As the major
event for NCVRW, the Arkadelphia Victim Assistance Program created
a Memorial Display, described in a personal letter below.   


A VICTIM ADVOCATE'S VOICE:  ORGANIZING A MEMORIAL DISPLAY

Organizing NCVRW activities places additional burdens on victim
service providers who are often struggling to keep up with the demands
of their work.  Realizing this, we have reproduced a letter from Becky
Ursery, the Victim Caseworker in the Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Office of
the Prosecutor.  Her letter not only illustrates the detailed planning and
coordination that can go into the creation and development of NCVRW
events, but eloquently describes the personal rewards of going the extra
mile during NCVRW!

I decided early on to focus NCVRW this year on homicide and its
continuing effect on the survivors as well as the general public.  After
much thought and prayer I decided to put up a memorial display at the
county courthouse.  My goal was to show homicide victims from birth
to just before their death.  I sent volunteers to the courthouse to dig
through old criminal files and came up with the names of all homicide
victims in our county since 1980.  Next came the difficult task of
locating the families of the victims and letting them know what we
were wanting to do.  A local bail bondsmen was a real fountain of
information -- he remembered almost every case and gave me names of
families from Clark County who had suffered through a homicide in a
different county.  We didn't exclude anyone.

Next, we worked out an arrangement with the local printer to use his
color copier (for free) so that we could copy photographs and return
them to their owners.  We then sent out around thirty packets of
information and included cardboard mailers (that I had gotten free at a
Boy Scout Expo the month before while doing dental impressions for a
local scout troop) to return photographs and memorabilia.  We
promised to return the photographs in the mail the same day that we
received them and were able to do this in all but one situation -- the
copier was getting its 50,000 mile tune-up.

I was thrilled when we started getting packages in the mail almost
immediately!  People were dropping things off at my office and I was
getting to meet lots of homicide survivors from the years prior to our
setting up our program.  I was able to refer several families to Parents
of Murdered Children and one to MADD.  I was sad, but at the same
time it was wonderful.

We (myself and volunteers) would take the color copies of photographs,
trim them, and then mount them on construction paper.  The small
"framed" prints were then mounted as a collage on poster board along
with the victim's name, date of birth and date of death.

The local office supply store was so helpful once they understood what
we were doing and did everything they could to help us.  We bought
forty feet of black butcher paper and I explained to the manager of the
office supply store that I was going to need to cut it in half once I got
it and all of the problems that would entail.  I ordered the paper over
the phone and when it was delivered it was already cut in half!  We
then called upon the Sheriff's Office and Police Department for "Police
Line-Do Not Cross" tape and glued that down the middle of the black
paper.

The Friday before Victims' Rights Week we went to the courthouse, set
up a video camera and started putting up "the Wall."  First, we put the
black paper with the bright yellow tape all down on wall in the
courthouse, from one end to the other.  Then, we started putting up the
photographs of the homicide victims.  We could hardly get the display
up on the wall because of the number of people stopping to look and
ask questions.  We had made small posters with the name and date of
death on them for anyone who had not sent in photographs.  Before we
had finished putting up the display, I had commitment from another
family to bring in photographs on Monday of their loved one to go up
on "the Wall."  On Tuesday, a local merchant whose daughter had
been killed by a drunk driver showed up at my office with photographs
and poem about his daughter and tearfully asked if she could be
included.  She was on the display before the courthouse closed that
day.

It was a moving experience for everyone involved.  A friend of one of
the families called me later in the week and thanked me for what we
had done.  I didn't know the person that called but they told me that
the family that I had contacted had never gotten over their daughter's
death.  She was killed in the early '80's and the caller said that now the
family had started healing.  It had taken my letter and their
participation to get them to finally come to terms with what had
happened.  

What really surprised me about the entire experience was how hard it
was on me.  I knew these homicide victims, but, it never dawned on
me that I knew them from their crime scene photographs only.  To pull
a photograph of one victim out of an envelope and see her as a
three-year old with a silly wig on her head reduced me to tears. 
That's when I knew that the memorial display was worth every bit of
hard work, sweat and all of the tears that went into it.

Well, we got the wall up and people started coming.  We got press in
all of the local newspapers and more people came.  We contacted the
schools and students started coming.  It was amazing, people who
usually only came to the courthouse to pay their taxes were taking their
lunch hours to come and see our display.  The group of retired men
who meet for coffee twice a week made a special trip to see the
display.  It was amazing!  People would stop me on the street and in
the grocery store to tell me what an impact the display had on them. 
And the greatest part of it all -- I've started receiving requests from
families to have their loved ones photographs on the wall Next Year!

The media center at the local University (Henderson State University)
agreed to help make a video of the display as it was being created and
of people looking at the display after it was put up.  The video will be
put to music, copied and sent to the families who trusted the organizers
with their most precious memories.

For additional information, please contact:
Becky Ursery, Victim Caseworker
Office of the Prosecutor, Clark County
201 North 10th Street
Arkadelphia, Arkansas  71923          (501) 246-9868


WISCONSIN CRIME VICTIMS' COUNCIL

Ceremony at the Rotunda of the State Capital 

An annual Victims' Rights Week Observance is sponsored by the
Wisconsin Crime Victims' Council in Madison, Wisconsin.  The
Council was created by statute in 1982 to serve as an advisory board to
the Attorney General and as an advocacy body for victims of crime in
Wisconsin.  

In 1994, the Council held a ceremony in the Rotunda of the State
Capitol to remember survivors of homicide victims.  Following
remarks by the State Attorney General, the Chairperson of the Crime
Victims' Council, a survivor of homicide, and other victim advocates, a
specially made wood-carved map of the state was presented.  The map
was large enough to display flowers from victim survivors representing
each of the counties in the state.

During the ceremony, four representatives of survivors read statistics
about homicides in the state, and audience members participated by
stepping forward and speaking about a person they knew who had been
a victim of a homicide.  As they spoke, each was given a carnation to
place on the map of Wisconsin in memory of the deceased.  The
ceremony concluded with songs by a fifth and sixth grade choir from a
local elementary school.

In addition to the ceremony, victim resources were displayed in the
Capitol Rotunda throughout NCVRW.  Survivors of Incest were
recognized through the display of two banners that were created from
quilt pieces made by incest survivors as part of the Banner Project.  In
recognition of violence against children, a quilt made by the Women's
Horizons of Kenosha, created from quilt pieces made by children who
have lived in a violent environment was also displayed.  In addition,
the display included information from Parents of Murdered Children,
Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Wisconsin Coalition Against
Domestic Violence, the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault,
the Wisconsin Committee on the Prevention of Child Abuse, and the
Attorney General's Crime Prevention Resource Center.

For additional information, please contact:
Wisconsin Department of Justice
Office of Crime Victim Services
P.O. Box 7951
Madison, Wisconsin  53707


HOMICIDE VIGIL AT A NATIONAL PARK IN PENNSYLVANIA

For the past four years, the Crime Victims' Center of Chester County
and the Victim Services Center of Montgomery County, have jointly
sponsored a Homicide Vigil at Valley Forge National Park in
Pennsylvania.  The U.S. Park Service provides space each year for the
Vigil, either outside or in a chapel on the Park's grounds.  The vigil
is a unique partnership between criminal justice agencies, victim
services programs and the U.S. Park Service.  Each year at least ten
local and state police agencies participate, with contributions ranging
from submitting names of victims from cases they have worked on, to
providing honor guards for the ceremony, to staging a helicopter
fly-over tribute to crime victims during the ceremony.  The vigil also
serves as a tribute to police officers killed in the line of duty. 

Speakers include a survivor and a police officer from each county, and
other criminal justice officials. Tributes are given to homicide victims,
including: the reading of victims' names, the burning of candles, and a
display of photographs.  The Valley Forge Chapel Boy's Choir
provides a musical tribute. 

To generate public awareness of the vigil, the two victim services
programs issue press releases to all local media, and the coverage of
the vigil is always extensive.  Attendance at the vigil is increasing each
year, with over 125 individuals participating in 1995.

For additional information, please contact:
Peggy Gusz, Executive Director
Crime Victims' Center of Chester County
236 West Market Street
West Chester, Pennsylvania   19382     (610)  692-7420


A COMMUNITY AWARENESS FORUM ON VIOLENCE

A Collaboration Between the Health and Justice Communities

To raise community awareness on the impact of violence, The
Victim-Witness Assistance Program in the Savannah, Georgia District
Attorney's Office, sponsored a community awareness Forum on
Violence at a local auditorium during National Crime Victims' Rights
Week.

The featured speaker was a local emergency room physician that
specializes in treating trauma patients.  The speaker provided his
unique perspective on the range of traumatic injuries seen in the
emergency room and the type of violence occurring in the community. 
The forum served to highlight the medical community's concern about
violence, and focused attention on the need for collaborative efforts to
reduce violence between the health and justice communities.

The Victim-Witness Assistance Program worked with local television
outlets to develop public service announcements for broadcast in order
to generate community-wide attendance.  Over 100 individuals attended
the Forum.  In addition, the program invited all the criminal justice
agencies and crime prevention and victim assistance programs in the
county to participate in a resource fair.  Tables were set up in the lobby
of the auditorium, providing a multitude of free information.

For additional information, please contact:
Helen Smith, Director, Victim-Witness Assistance Program
Office of District Attorney Spencer Lawton, Jr.
P.O. Box 2309
Savannah, Georgia   31412          (912)  652-7329


FUNDRAISING FOR YOUR PROGRAM

Hold a NCVRW Barbecue

A unique fundraising event has been held to raise money for emergency
crime victim assistance by the Sheriff of Chesapeake, Virginia for the
past fifteen years.  The event each year is held in a farmer's cornfield. 
In its first year, the barbecue attracted 800 supporters. During the
following years, the Sheriff effectively marketed the concept to the
business and civic community and today this barbecue is now the
largest charitable event of its kind in the county.

In 1995, the barbecue attendance exceeded 5,000 individuals and
featured over 45 vendors that provided the food, beverages and
entertainment.  The admission fee is $20.00, and all tickets are sold in
advance, ensuring a successful event.  The barbecue has matured into
what is called the "The Great American Food Fest."  Originally, the
proceeds from the event provided emergency assistance up to $200.00
to eligible crime victims over the age of 60 and was entitled the Elderly
Victims Assistance Program Barbecue. Because of the success of the
event, the barbecue's proceeds now help fund crime victim assistance
for indigent victims.  What started as an idea, grew into a major
fundraising event, according to the program's organizers.

To replicate this concept, the organizers offer three major elements for
success:  first, the idea must have a unique and strong beginning -- A
New Day Dawns; second, the top administrator must be willing,
initially, to become personally involved and to sell the idea; and
finally, there must be staff dedicated to making the idea work.  The
Chesapeake Sheriff's Office is fortunate to have all three components.

For additional information, please contact:
Joyce Walsh, Office of the Sheriff
c/o Sheriff John Newhart's Great American Food Fest
P.O. Box 15125
Chesapeake, Virginia  23328          (804) 547-6159


FOR "WORKING TOGETHER TO STOP THE VIOLENCE"

Things You and Your Neighbors Can do

The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) has developed an
outstanding public awareness package to help celebrate Crime
Prevention Month, held each October.  We are pleased that NCPC,
once again, offers reproducible brochures for this Resource Guide. 
Most importantly, the selected brochures are presented this year in
both English and Spanish.  Translation of the brochures was made
possible through the National Crime Prevention Council's cooperative
agreement with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice
Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.  

You are encouraged to reproduce NCPC's materials for your public
awareness activities, as long as they are not distributed for profit or in
a way that suggests commercial endorsements.  The following
brochures are provided in the 1996 Resource Guide:

*     The Hidden Crime: Domestic Violence (El Crimen Oculto: La
violencia domestica)
*     Street Sense Is Common Sense (Ser Sensato En La Calle Es Tener
Sentido Comun)

To receive the 1996 Crime Prevention Month Resource Kit free of
charge, contact NCPC and ask to be added to their mailing list.  There
is a charge for obtaining the crime prevention brochures in Spanish.  

For additional information, please contact:
National Crime Prevention Council
1700 K Street, NW, Second Floor
Washington, D.C.  20006-3817          (202) 466-NCPC


NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK THEME COLOR

This year's colors for National Crime Victims Rights Week are Orange
and Yellow!!  Orange -- to symbolize the color of a sunrising -- and yellow, the sun
shining on a new day dawning.  As part of the tradition of NCVRW,
we call on advocates and supporters to use the colors of 1996 NCVRW
as you reproduce posters, brochures, buttons and NCVRW materials!

In addition, many advocacy groups have called on individuals to wear
ribbons as a reminder of their cause:

*     Red ribbons for HIV/AIDS awareness
*     Pink ribbons for breast cancer awareness
*     Yellow ribbons to remember hostages and Americans fighting
      wars abroad
*     Red ribbons on cards (MADD's campaign to stop drunk and
      drugged driving)

Symbolize 1996 with the colors of a sunrise for Victim Justice: Orange
and Yellow Ribbons Rising!!


MORE IDEAS USING THE RESOURCE GUIDE MATERIALS

*     Reproduce camera-ready bookmarks.  Last year a large, national
retail store created hundreds of the NCVRW bookmarks for a victim
assistance program in Indiana.  The local program simply offered to
credit the store's name, in conjunction with the name of the local
victim assistance program, in the "provided as a public service"
attribution on the bookmark.

*     Distribute brochures and posters (see reproducible material and
camera-ready artwork) at civic meetings, professional associations and
school assemblies.  

*     Make sure that all hospital emergency rooms offer information
about domestic violence (see the reproducible brochures in English and
Spanish.)

*     Coordinate your activities with local libraries and bookstores to
create special "Book-of-the-Month" reading sections on crime victims'
issues -- pay special attention to the children's sections of libraries. 
Offer coloring contests for children at local libraries.

*     Organize poster art contests for elementary, middle, and/or high
school students and use the artwork for your NCVRW events.  Don't
forget to offer prizes -- such as recognition and certificates during your
NCVRW events!

*     To memorialize homicide victims, fly flags at half-mast at all
city/county buildings during NCVRW.  The U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (800-827-1000) will provide a flag, free-of-charge, to
families of deceased veterans who were honorably discharged and
served during a war period.  Please Note:  requests must be made
within three years of the veteran's death.


TRIED AND TRUE ACTIVITIES FOR NCVRW

*     One of the most significant "tried and true" NCVRW activities
involves planting -- creating living memorials that enhance the
community.   Communities all across America have sponsored
tree-planting ceremonies, and dedicated and entire garden areas in a
community park to crime victims.  Team up with local nurseries and
florists to sponsor these special events as early morning ceremonies in
conjunction with this year's theme.

*     Organize a march as a tribute to victims of crime.  A
long-standing tradition in St. Louis (Missouri) and East St. Louis
(Illinois) is a march across the river that separates the two cities and
states.  Marchers from each state begin on their side of the bridge early
in the morning, and meet in the middle for a ceremony to honor
victims of crime.

*     Sponsor open houses throughout the week at local victim
assistance programs.  This is an excellent time to honor your program's
volunteers, as NCVRW is also "National Volunteer Recognition
Week."

*     Ask local civic organizations to select a room at your agency or
shelter and renovate it.  Battered women shelters in Wyoming have
received tremendous support from different community-based
organizations or businesses to help renovate their shelters.  For
example, a civic group can "adopt" a bedroom at the local shelter, and
take on responsibility for painting and providing furniture and
decorations to renovate the room for the women and children.

*     Conduct a candlelight vigil at the courthouse, city hall, Capitol
steps, local schools, churches or other facilities.

*     Ask local churches and the town hall to ring their bells
simultaneously at noon on Monday, April 24 to commemorate NCVRW
and to honor victims of crime.

*     Ask a local printer to reproduce copies of the 1996 NCVRW
theme bookmarks with victim service toll-free numbers on the reverse
side (included in this Resource Guide).  Provide the bookmarks to local
libraries and bookstores, and ask them to provide them to patrons and
customers free-of-charge at the checkout counters.

*     Place information about your program, along with the national
toll-free information telephone numbers (included in this Resource
Guide) in hospital emergency rooms, doctors' offices, and mental
health centers.

*     Ask local grocers to imprint grocery bags with NCVRW
camera-ready logo artwork.


SAMPLE PLANNING COMMITTEE LETTER

(Date)

Name/Title
Agency or Organization
Street Address or P.O. Box
City/State/Zip Code

Dear      :

You may be aware that April 21 to 27, 1996 has been declared
National Crime Victims' Rights Week.  During this special
commemoration, we will once again have the opportunity in
(community or state) to celebrate our accomplishments that benefit
crime victims, promote victims' rights and services, and generate
greatly needed community support for our activities.

We have received the official 1996 National Crime Victims' Rights
Week Resource Guide from the Office for Victims of Crime within the
U.S. Department of Justice.  The official theme presented in the
Resource Guide is "Victim Justice: A New Day Dawns."  The Guide
contains many resources -- including posters, buttons, media
materials, and suggested public awareness activities -- that can help us
plan our community outreach efforts.

I would like to invite you to join (community's) 1996 National Crime
Victims' Rights Week Planning Committee.  Our first meeting is
scheduled for (day), (date), at (time) at (location).  At this time, we
hope to complete preliminary plans for community outreach and public
education activities during this week, and assign responsibilities
for specific tasks to Planning Committee members.

We all look forward to making 1996 National Crime Victims' Rights
Week the best commemoration ever, and are confident that with your
support and involvement, our efforts will be successful.  If you have
any questions or need further information about 1996 National Crime
Victims' Rights Week or the (community) Planning Committee, please
contact me at (area code) telephone number.

We look forward to working with you on this important activity. 
Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Name
Title

NOTE:     Use the sample NCVRW letterhead included in the
          camera-ready artwork section of the Resource Guide.


SAMPLE PROCLAMATION

Whereas, the foundation of justice for all upon which our nation was
built includes justice for victims of crime; and 

Whereas, there are almost 44 million people in America who are
touched by crime each year, with over ten million falling prey to
violence; and 

Whereas, crime victims in the United States have many psychological, 
financial and physical needs that merit our nation's
attention and concern; and 

Whereas, the accomplishments of victims' rights advocates in America are 
numerous, including over 27,000 laws protecting victims' rights at the 
Federal and state levels, and over 8,000 agencies and organizations that 
provide support and services to victims of crime, including (#) in 
(city/county/state); and 

Whereas, a new day is dawning for victim justice in the United States, a 
day that begins with the sunrise of fair treatment, continues with 
participation and involvement in the justice process, and ends with a 
sunset of dignity and respect; and Whereas, April 21 to 27, 1996 has been
declared "National Crime Victims' Rights Week" in America; and

Whereas, crime victims' rights, needs and concerns deserve the
attention and support of the citizens of (community/state); Therefore,
be it 

Resolved, that (individual or entity) proclaims the week of April
21 to 27, 1996 to be (city/county/state) Crime Victims' Rights Week;
and be it further 

Resolved, that the (city/county/state) of (name of city/county/state) 
commits our individual and collective resources to helping victims of 
crime and supporting victim service programs not only during this special 
week, but throughout the year;  and be it further 

Resolved, that a suitably prepared copy of this proclamation be presented 
to (your organization).


SAMPLE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS

:30 seconds:  Nobody expects to be a victim of crime.  Nobody can
prepare for the shock and devastation that follow a criminal act.  Yet
last year in America, almost 44 million people living in our nation were
touched by crime, with 11 million victimized by violence.  It's
important that everyone in our community be aware of the many rights
and services available to help people who have been victimized.  We
hope you never need to utilize victims' services in (city/county/state). 
But if you know someone who has been victimized, or if you ever need
our assistance, we're here to help.  April 21 to 27 is National Crime
Victims' Rights Week, a time to commemorate the tremendous strides
made in our nation by crime victims and their supporters. You can help
us observe this special week by volunteering to help victims; by
referring victims you know for service and assistance; and by being a
source of personal support for victims of crime.  Get involved!  Call
(area code/telephone number) for more information.

:30 seconds:  Did you know that only one-third of all crimes committed
in the U.S. are reported to police?  This means that for 65 percent of
crimes, there is no possibility that criminals will be apprehended, will
be arrested, and will be held accountable for their actions!  Even
worse, it means that most crime victims will never receive the
assistance they so desperately need.  Reporting crime helps to ensure
that victims receive important information about their rights and the
services available to them.  This is National Crime Victims' Rights
Week.  For information about victims' rights and services here in
(city/county/state), please call (area code/telephone number).

:15 seconds:  As each new day dawns, over (*victims) will be (* type
of crime) in America. And as each new day dawns, the need for crime
victims' rights and services becomes stronger than ever. It's National
Crime Victims' Rights Week.  If you or someone you know is a victim
of crime, remember that victims have rights here in (state).  For
information about victims' rights and victim services, please call (area
code/telephone number).

*  64 people will be murdered in America (FBI, Uniform Crime
Reports, 1995).

*  1871 women will be raped in America ("Rape in America: A Report
to the Nation", 1992). 

*  1696 people will be robbed in America (FBI, Uniform Crime
Reports, 1995).

*  3068 people will be victims of aggravated assault in America (FBI,
Uniform Crime Reports, 1995).

*  At least 5,479 women will be victims of domestic violence in
America. (American Medical Assn.).

*  33,150 people will be victims of property crime in America. (FBI,
Uniform Crime Reports, 1995).


:15 seconds:  The American dream must begin with the American
family.   But each year in America, more than two million cases of
child abuse and neglect are reported.  April is Child Abuse Prevention
Month, and April 21 to 27 is National Crime Victims' Rights Week. 
It's time to stop the cycle of violence.  Call (city/state number) for
information about how you can help prevent child abuse and neglect.

:10 seconds:  Our community cares about our neighbors who are
victims of crime.  This is National Crime Victims' Rights Week.  Call
(area code/telephone) to volunteer for victims, or for information about
victims' rights and services and how you can get involved.

:10 seconds:   Our community cares about making our homes, our
schools, and our neighborhoods safe.  This is National Crime Victims'
Rights Week.  You can help make our community safe, and help your
friends and  neighbors who have been touched by crime.  Please call
(area code/telephone number) for information about crime prevention
and victim assistance.


SAMPLE PRESS RELEASE    

For Immediate Release:                    Contact: (Name)
(Date)                                    (Area Code/Telephone)

"Victim Justice: A New Day Dawns in (City/County/State)"

     (City/State) --- The 15th annual commemoration of National Crime
Victims' Rights Week will be observed nationwide and in (community)
from April 21 to 27, 1996.  During this special week, victim
advocates, criminal justice and allied professionals, and crime victims
will join together to educate citizens of (community) about victims'
rights and services, crime prevention, and related activities that make
our community a better place to live.  
     The theme for this special observance, "Victim Justice: A New Day
Dawns," describes the positive outlook held by victims' rights
advocates in America.  Today,
there are over 27,000 Federal and state laws that protect crime victims'
rights.  Every state -- including (your state) -- has a victim
compensation program to ease the financial burden imposed by crime in
our nation.  Perhaps most important, there are over 8,000 victim
service organizations -- including (#) in (community or county) --
that help victims by providing greatly needed support and services.
     According to Aileen Adams, Director of the Office for Victims of
Crime within the U.S. Department of Justice, the concept of "criminal
justice" is incomplete unless "victim justice" is part of the equation.
     "For the 44 million people in America who are touched by crime
each year, justice is a priority: justice for the criminal, for the victim,
and for the community-at-large," Adams noted.  "While our
accomplishments over the past 30 years are exemplary, we must
continue our efforts to aid victims in their time of need, and to
help all members of communities across America understand the
importance of supporting victims' rights and services."
     Here in (community or county), a variety of activities is planned
for observation of 1996 National Crime Victims' Rights Week,
including: (cite planned activities here).
     "It is important for all citizens of (community or county) to join us
in celebrating the dawn of a new day for victims' rights and services,"
(spokesperson) said.  "While victim justice is our ultimate goal, we
cannot begin to dream of reaching it without the support of all those
who believe in public safety and the fair treatment of crime victims."
     Anyone interested in participating in or volunteering for any of
(community's) 1996 National Crime Victims' Rights Week activities is
encouraged to call (agency) at (area code/telephone number).

END

Type your press release double-spaced.  If your press release exceeds
one page, type -- more-- in the bottom right corner, and paper clip (not
staple) the second page to the first page.  Add the title and date of the
press release, plus "page two," in the upper left corner of the second
page.


SAMPLE OPINION/EDITORIAL COLUMN

"Victim Justice: A New Day Dawns"

By (name of author)
(Title/Agency or Organization)

The basic premise upon which the foundation of America was
established is "liberty and justice for all" citizens of our great nation. 
When just one individual is denied justice, we all feel the sting.  And
when justice is handed down to  just one individual, we can feel
relieved that guilty criminals are held accountable for their actions, and
that our communities are much safer as a result.

Yet today in America, there is a growing population of individuals who
believe that "justice for all" must mean justice for victims of crime,
and comprehensive, meaningful victims' rights and services.  Today,
during 1996 National Crime Victims' Rights Week, the rallying cry for
victim justice will be heard louder than ever -- in communities large
and small, rural and urban, from individuals young and old,
representing all races and religions, because criminal justice in America
can never, ever be complete without justice for victims of crime.

Consider for a moment the important rights of persons accused of
crime in our nation.  Our Constitution guarantees them the right to be
informed of their rights, the right to counsel, the right to face their
accusers, and the right to a jury by their peers, among other significant
protections. Yet the Constitution is noticeably silent when it comes to
the rights of victims, who often endure great indignities and suffering
as a result of criminal acts committed against them.

Victim justice: What do these two words mean in America in 1996? 
They mean, first and foremost, that victims of crime only want to be
treated as well as alleged and convicted offenders.  They mean that
victims should be treated with dignity, compassion and respect, not
only by our justice system, but by all individuals with whom they have
contact in the aftermath of a crime.

Victim justice means that victims are no longer treated simply as
evidence in criminal and civil proceedings, but as active participants
with considerable stake in the outcomes.  They are informed of their
case proceedings.  They are not only allowed, but encouraged to
participate in all stages of the criminal justice process.  And their
voices are heard, so the system and our society can begin to truly
comprehend the devastating effects that crime wreaks on law-abiding
members of our community.

The accomplishments of our nation's victims' rights movement are
truly impressive.  In the past three decades, over 27,000 laws have
been passed at the Federal and state levels to protect and enforce crime
victims' rights.  Twenty states have passed constitutional amendments
guaranteeing victims the right to participate in the criminal justice
process. Every day in the U.S., 8,000 victim service organizations
provide information, support, assistance and referrals to victims of
crime and their loved ones -- individuals traumatized by child abuse
and neglect, rape and sexual assault, domestic violence, hate violence,
elder abuse and neglect, drunk driving, and homicide.  Here in (your
community or state), (describe two or three of your most significant
accomplishments). 

Do victims in (your state or community) truly receive justice?  Not
always.  But a new day is dawning for victims of crime....a day that
begins with the sunrise of fair treatment, continues with meaningful
participation and involvement in the justice process, and ends with a
sunset of dignity, compassion and respect.

It is a day that results from over 43 million persons in America being
victimized by crime each year, individuals who want involvement and
information.  It is a day when public safety and victim justice become a
reality in our homes, our neighborhoods and our communities.  And it
is a day in which we will all take tremendous pride that victims of
crime are no longer blamed for the heinous crimes that are committed
against them.

*     A day when violent rapes are no longer considered merely "sexual
acts"..... 
*     When domestic violence is no longer seen as "just a family
matter"..... 
*     When drunk driving crashes that kill and maim thousands
of Americans each year are no longer called "accidents"..... 
*     When all individuals in America are willing to support the rights 
of survivors of homicide victims who are mourning their devastating loss.

It is a day when VICTIM JUSTICE is no longer a dream, but a
precious reality for the millions of people in America who are touched
by crime each year.

(Provide a two-sentence description of the author or NCVRW coalition
here).

NOTE: This opinion/editorial column can also be utilized as an
actuality for radio or television.  Most stations require that radio/T.V.
actualities -- read by the author -- be limited to 60 seconds.  Please edit
as needed to deliver a comprehensive message that is personalized to
your community.


SAMPLE SPEECH

"Each day is a little life; every waking and rising a little birth..."
Arthur Schopenhauer

This year marks the fifteenth year that, as a nation, we will
commemorate Crime Victims' Rights Week in April.  When we
consider the progress made since crime victims were honored in a
White House ceremony for the first time in 1981, it is clear that the
crime victims' rights movement has had a profound impact on our
entire nation.  Of course, no movement for social change starts with a
Rose Garden ceremony.  Change in our criminal justice system has
been decades in coming.

Since the earliest beginnings of the movement for crime victims' rights
more than thirty years ago, thousands of laws have been passed,
thousands of crime victim programs have become established, and
thousands of individuals have joined the ranks as advocates and given
so much of themselves to assist victims.  Sadly, the strength of
the crime victims' movement has been born out of the shear numbers of
people who have suffered the trauma of crime, and the second injury
and indignity at the hands of our criminal justice system.

As we look back on the history of the crime victims' rights field, we
remember the way it was in America for crime victims.  The last three
decades have not been a journey without pain.  But looking back is
useful -- it helps to remember where we have been, so that we can keep
our focus on the horizon ahead.

When we reminisce, most people enjoy reveling in "the good old
days." We look back on our lives, and it's easy to smile at fond
memories of everyday occurrences that brought joy to us and to our
loved ones, at extraordinary events that shaped who we are today, at
landmark events that have long ago turned into anniversaries that are
celebrated and cherished.

Yet for so many victims of crime, the "old days" are anything but
good.  Because to be a victim of crime, traditionally in America, was
to be no more than a piece of evidence.  To be a victim of crime meant
you were blamed for the terrible tragedy that was committed against
you, and you were given no opportunity to voice your feelings and
concerns.

*     If you were an alleged offender, you were -- and are-- guaranteed
the right to be informed of your rights, which include due process, a
trial by a jury of your peers, the right to counsel, and the right to
confront your accusers.  If you were a victim of crime, you were more
often than not told "you have no rights" because the crime was
committed against the state, not an innocent resident of that state.

*     If alleged and convicted offenders were not kept apprised of key
activities involving their case, it was (and is) immediate ground for
appeals.  However, in the past, when victims were not informed about
the status of their case, grounds for redress were nonexistent.

*     Victims were excluded from courtrooms, forced to wait in
crowded hallways while "justice" was handed down in their cases.

*     They were left to wonder when their recovered property would be
returned, only to discover that the answer was "maybe never."

*     While convicted offenders were allowed to parade their mothers
and fathers and Boy Scout leaders and grade school teachers before the
judge to tell why he or she should not receive a stiff sentence, victims
could only remain silent and watch.

*     Think for a moment how many victims were thrilled when they
heard the two words "life sentence," only to discover that "life" meant
no more than the first parole hearing a few years in the future.

*     And far too often, the only notification victims received about
their offender's release from incarceration back into the community was
when s/he ran into him down at the local mall.

That was then, and this is now.....

The historical concerns about criminal justice in America are slowly but
surely being replaced by equal concern for victim justice.  With 44
million individuals in the United States victimized by crime each year,
victims are rapidly becoming a majority.  And that a vocal majority we
are!

We are proud to stand up and say that today, there are over 27,000
statutes that protect and restore victims' rights in our nation.  We are
proud that in 1996, 20 states have constitutional amendments that grant
victims the rights to participate in the criminal justice system.  We are
proud that the stigma of criminal victimization is slowly being replaced
by an understanding that any of us, at any time, in any place, can fall
prey to violence without it being our fault.

The accomplishments of our nation's victims' rights movement are
simply astounding. 

Victim justice: What do these two words mean in America in 1996? 
They mean, first and foremost, that victims of crime only want to be
treated as well as alleged and convicted offenders.  They mean that
victims should be treated with dignity, compassion and respect, not
only by our justice system, but by all individuals with whom they have
contact in the aftermath of a crime.  Victim justice means that
victims are no longer treated simply as evidence in criminal and civil
proceedings, but as active participants with considerable stake in the
outcomes.  They are informed of their case proceedings.  They are not
only allowed, but encouraged to participate in all stages of the criminal
justice process.  And their voices are heard, so the system and our
society can begin to truly comprehend the devastating effects that crime
wreaks on law-abiding members of our community.

Ladies and gentlemen, a new day is dawning for victims' rights and
services in America....a day that begins with the sunrise of fair
treatment, continues with meaningful participation and involvement in
the justice process, and ends with a sunset of dignity, compassion and
respect.  It is a day that results from the grim fact that countless
Americans are victimized by crime each year, Americans who want
involvement and information.  It is a day when public safety and victim
justice become a reality, in our homes, our neighborhoods, and our
communities.  And it is a day in which we will all take tremendous
pride that victims of crime are no longer blamed for the heinous crimes
that are committed against them.

It is a day when VICTIM JUSTICE is no longer a dream, but is a
precious reality for the millions of people in America who are touched
by crime each year.


SAMPLE SERMON

"VICTIM JUSTICE: A NEW DAY DAWNS"

A sermon by Rev. David W. Delaplane
Executive Director, The Spiritual Dimension in Victim Services

For more years than any of us would like to acknowledge, the plight of
the victim of crime has not been unlike that of the Psalmist who cried,
"I rise before the dawning of the morning and cry for help.  My eyes
are awake through the night watches."  (Psalm 119:147-148) We only
have to pause and reflect to begin to understand the pain of the mother
whose child has been molested, or the anxiety of the child herself
as she hears those fateful footsteps of dad or the live-in boyfriend
coming up the steps to perpetrate yet another confusing, painful and
criminal act.  We do not have to go to great efforts, but only take a
moment to reflect upon the trauma of the rape victim who has been
irreparably violated in the most intimate way, or of the battered woman
who lives in terror of the next unwarranted and fearfully anticipated
"incident."

The Psalmist's "night watches" referred to the three posting of the
guards through the night in cities of Biblical time.  When one is awake
"through the night watches," he or she has not slept all night.  How
many such sleepless nights has the survivor spent because of a loved
one having been ripped away by the cruel brutality of homicide,
whether by direct assault or through the senselessness of a drunk
driver?

And even in daytime, the night continues, as some insensitive officials
ignore, some sensation seeking media exploit, and defense attorneys put
the victim, instead of the perpetrator, on trial.  It probably does not
surprise us to learn that these injustices were as real in Biblical times as
today.  The great Hebrew prophet, Isaiah, spoke into this darkness,
complaining against those who "acquit the guilty for a bribe, and
deprive the innocent of his right." (Isaiah 5:23) And again he cried,
"No one enters suit justly, and no one goes to law honestly....The way
of peace they know not, and there is no justice in their
paths...Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not
overtake us.  We look for light, and for brightness, but we walk in
gloom." (Isaiah 59:4,8,9)

But, as it has often been said, "It is always darkest before dawn."  St.
Peter wrote that the prophetic word is "a lamp shining in a dark place
until the day dawns, and the morning star arises in your hearts." (2
Peter 1:19)

There is a phrase in a well known country gospel song that says,
"Every time I look into the Book, I want to tremble."  And it is true,
we can never take an honest look into the "Good Book" without finding
something that should be taken very seriously.  "Justice" and the
"Dawn of a New Day," both strongly emphasized in the Bible,
certainly apply to this year's theme for National Crime Victims' Rights
Week, "Victim Justice: A New Day Dawns."

Before the late 1970s, there seemed to be but small flickers of light
seeking to penetrate the darkness of the unjust experiences of crime
victims in America.  Yet they seemed to be very few, and very dim. 
However, when any injustice reaches an intolerable level, a
groundswell towards remediation begins to rise.  So it was that the 
unjust treatment of our colonies by England reached the intolerable
level that led to the American Revolution.

This incipient groundswell for crime victim justice of the late seventies,
led to the formation in 1982 of "The President's Task Force on Victims
of Crime," the first effort strong enough to at least send a beam of
penetrating light into the crime victims' dark night.  This initial torch,
and the subsequent Victims of Crime Act, ignited many flames destined
to create the first real light, enabling the crime victim to take the first
illuminated steps along the path of justice.

The brightest of those flames were the establishment of victim and
witness assistance programs in the offices of our prosecuting attorneys
and law enforcement agencies; the beginning of compensation to crime
victims for injuries sustained; the many direct services to crime victims
provided by caring organizations; and the passage of victims' rights
legislation both Federally and in many states.

And now victim justice is being seen, not just as the latest passing fad,
or a blip on the screen of American jurisprudence.  All of the prophetic
lights before the dawn are flaming into the sunrise of a new day, a day
not only of "criminal justice" in America, which has been around for a
long time, but also a day of "victim justice."  When the well-worn term
"criminal justice" is replaced by "victim/criminal justice," we will
know that the new day has dawned.  It is coming.  In the words of the
well known hymn, "Morning Light is Breaking in the Eastern Sky."

As the dawn approaches, and that new day begins, all who have been
holders of that flame in the darkness, of the lamp in the night of crime
victim injustice, are encouraged to not let it go down.  Rather, let us
maintain our hard earned victories.  Let us respond to the admonition
of the Apostle Paul, "Do not grow weary in well-doing, for in due
season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." (Galatians 6:9)

NOTE:  All scripture references are from the Revised Standard
Version.


NOTABLE QUOTABLES

You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist. Indira Gandhi

We acquire the strength we have overcome.  Emerson

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.   Emily Dickinson

What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult to each
other?  George Eliot

The things that haven't been done before
Are the tasks worthwhile today;
Are you one of the flock that follows, or
Are you one that shall lead the way?   Edgar Guest

When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. 
Franklin D. Roosevelt

It is much easier to tell a person what to do with his problem than to
stand with him in his pain.  David Augusburger

Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve.  You don't have
to have a college degree to serve.  You don't have to make your
subject and verb agree to serve.  You only need a heart full of grace. 
A soul generated by love.  Martin Luther King, Jr.

We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters, and
righteousness like a mighty stream.  Martin Luther King, Jr., based on
Amos 5:24

Smile at each other, smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at
your children, smile at each other -- it doesn't matter who it is -- and
that will help you to grow up in greater love for each other.  Mother
Teresa

Real leaders are ordinary people with extra ordinary determination. 
Unknown

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens, can
change the world. Indeed, its the only thing that ever has.  Margaret
Mead

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. 
But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.  Mother
Teresa

It is one thing to learn about the past; it is another to wallow in it. 
Kenneth Auchincloss

The difference between a helping hand and an outstretched palm is a
twist of the wrist.  Laurence Leamer

If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade.  Tom
Peters

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his
point of view.  Harper Lee 

Learning is finding out what you already know.  Doing is
demonstrating that you know it.  Teaching is reminding others that they
know it just as well as you.  You are all learners, doers, teachers. 
Richard Bach

Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right. 
Henry Ford

Experience is not what happens to a person. It is what a person does
with what happens to him.  Aldous Huxley

A diamond is a chunk of coal made good under pressure.  Unknown

Quotations Related to the 1996 Theme - "Victim Justice: A New Day
Dawns" Struck me kind of funny, seems kind of funny, sir, to me....
That at the end of every hard earned day, people find a reason to
believe.  Bruce Springsteen

Each day is a little life; every waking and rising a little birth; every
fresh morning a little youth; every going to rest and sleep a little death. 
Arthur Schopenhauer

The day breaks not, it is my heart.  John Dowland

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining.  Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow

To hear the lark begin his flight, And singing startle the dull night,
From his watch-tower in the skies, Till the dappled dawn doth rise. 
Milton

The rose was awake all night for your sake, Knowing your promise to
me; The lilies and roses were all awake, They sighed for the dawn and
thee.  Lord Tennyson


ACCESSING INFORMATION:

OVC RESOURCE CENTER AND OTHER SERVICES

VICTIMS' RESOURCES IN THE INFORMATION AGE
 
For victims and victim service providers, new information access
begins with the Office for Victims of Crime Resource Center (OVCRC)
and the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS).  As an
NCJRS  component, OVCRC (800-627-6872) specializes in delivering
timely and relevant information to the victim-serving community.

Today, victims and victim service providers can instantly access an
enormous store of information specific to the entire range of their
personal and professional concerns, including statistics; model
programs and protocols; grant funding sources; and local, State, and
national referrals to professional organizations in the victim-serving
community. Perhaps most important, this information is available
wherever and whenever it is needed -- in homes, shelters, and offices;
in the middle of a trial or in the middle of the night.

Since coming "online" in 1994, NCJRS and OVCRC have developed a
variety of online services to benefit the victim assistance professional. 
Each service is listed below with a description and online address. 
Together with other electronic access features -- including telephone
and online document ordering, and fax-on-demand -- NCJRS and
OVCRC have truly made a "quantum leap" forward in fulfilling their
mission of "bringing the right information to the right people...right
now."

ACCESSING NCJRS AND OVCRC ONLINE

NCJRS INTERNET GOPHER SITE:      Contains text of information
from each Office of Justice Programs (OJP) agency, the Office of
National Drug Control Policy, and NCJRS component clearinghouses.
Includes agency overviews, press releases, public announcements,
conferences, previews of new products and publications, direct
links to other criminal and juvenile justice resources on the Internet,
and direct connections to the NCJRS Bulletin Board System and the
Partnerships Against Violence NETwork (PAVNET). The gopher
address is <ncjrs.aspensys.com>.

NCJRS WORLD WIDE WEB HOMEPAGE:      Provides a graphical
interface (a connection that displays graphics or illustrations, as well as
text) to NCJRS information, as well as links to other criminal justice
resources from around the world. The NCJRS Web page provides
information about NCJRS and OJP agencies; grant-funding
opportunities; previews of selected new publications; key-word
searching of NCJRS publications; the current NCJRS Catalog; a topical
index; and direct connections to the NCJRS Gopher site and Bulletin
Board System, as well as PAVNET. The address for the NCJRS
Homepage is <http://www.ncjrs.org/>.

NCJRS ANONYMOUS FTP:      The NCJRS Anonymous FTP (File
Transfer Protocol) site allows users to quickly access and download
large, complex NCJRS publications and software, whether they are in
ASCII text or a binary document.  These documents may include
annual OJP agency program plans, which contain grant funding
information. The Anonymous FTP address is <ncjrs.org>.

JUSTICE INFORMATION (JUST INFO) ELECTRONIC
NEWSLETTER:      This free, online newsletter is distributed to your
Internet e-mail address on the 1st and 15th of each month. JUST INFO
contains information concerning a wide variety of subjects, including
news from all Office of Justice Programs (OJP) agencies and the
Office of National Drug Control Policy; criminal justice in the news;
news of international criminal justice; criminal justice resources on the
Internet; Federal legislation updates; criminal justice funding and
program information, and announcements about new NCJRS products
and services. To subscribe, send an e-mail to
<listproc@aspensys.com>. Further instructions will be automatically
forwarded.

E-MAIL: INFORMATION AND HELP:   First time users can send an
e-mail message to this address: <look@ncjrs.aspensys.com>. The
user will automatically receive a reply outlining the services of NCJRS.
User requiring technical assistance or having specific questions on
criminal and juvenile justice topics can send an e-mail to
<askncjrs@aspensys.com>.



PARTNERSHIPS AGAINST VIOLENCE NETWORK (PAVNET): 

PAVNET Online is a searchable database containing information about
hundreds of promising programs and resources, providing users with
key contacts; program types; target populations; location; project
startup date; evaluation information; annual budget; sources of funding,
and program description. Users may either go directly to the site at
<http://www.pavnet.org> or access it through the NCJRS Gopher
site at <ncjrs.aspensys.com> (look under the menu selection "Other
Criminal and Juvenile Justice Resources").

OTHER NCJRS ELECTRONIC INFORMATION SERVICES 

FAX-ON-DEMAND:  NCJRS has established a "fax-on-demand"
service which allows the user to obtain copies of selected NCJRS
documents directly through their own fax machine, using a toll-free
telephone number. To access the fax-on-demand menu, simply call
1-800-851-3420, and follow the prompts.

CD-ROM:  Users with CD-ROM capability can also obtain the NCJRS
Document Data Base on CD-ROM. This disk features citations and
abstracts of more than 130,000 criminal justice books, research reports,
journal articles, government documents, program descriptions, program
evaluations, and training manuals contained in the NCJRS Research and
Information Center library collection. The disk also contains search
software that supports retrieval using any combination of words
to search individual fields or all fields globally. The disk can be
searched using "free text" methods, or in combination with the National
Criminal Justice Thesaurus.  Details are available by calling NCJRS at
(800) 851-3420.

VICTIM-RELATED INTERNET SITES

The following is a list of sites on the Internet containing information on
selected crime victimization and criminal justice topics. The list is
intended only to provide a sample of available resources, and does not
constitute an endorsement of opinions or statements made therein. Be
sure to check the Victims section of the NCJRS World Wide Web
homepage for links to new and interesting sites online.


General Information Resources

Internet Resources for Crime Victims 
http://timon.sir.arizona.edu/govdocs/crmvctm/home.htm

National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, MUSC  
http://www.musc.edu/cvc/

National Criminal Justice Reference Service 
http://www.ncjrs.org

Office for Victims of Crime 
http://www.ncjrs.org/ovchome.htm

United States Department of Justice  http://justice2.usdoj.gov/


Child Abuse

American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children 
http://child.cornell.edu/APSAC/apsac.home.html

Child Abuse Prevention Network
http://child.cornell.edu/

National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect 
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/ACFPrograms/NCCAN/

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 
http://inept.scubed.com:8001/public_service/ncmec.html


Crime Victims Fund

Crime Victims Fund 
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/42/10601.html

Domestic and Family Violence

American Bar Association Comm. on Domestic Violence
http://www.abanet.org/textonly/domviol/home.html

Domestic Abuse Page of the Nashville Police Department 
http://www.telalink.net/~police/abuse/index.html

Family Violence Prevention Fund
http://www.fvpf.org/fund/index.html

Minnesota Higher Education Center Against Violence and Abuse 
http://www.umn.edu/mincava

Safety Net
http://www.cybergrrl.com/dv.html


Driving Drunk

MADD  
http://www.gran-net.com/madd/madd.htm 


Fraud

National Fraud Information Center 
http://seamless.com/talf/ftc/natfraud.html


Grant Funding Information

Funding News
gopher://gopher.igc.apc.org:7003/11/mny

Grant Getters Guide to the Internet 
gopher://gopher.uidaho.edu/11s/e-pubs/grant

Grants and Funding Information Page 
http://www.mssm.edu/library/grants/grants.html

Grants and Funding Menu 
http://www.sils.umich.edu/~nesbeitt/nonprofits/fundingmenu.html 


Links to Grants and Funding Information 
http://cbawcb.unomaha.edu/dept/econ/funding.htm


Sexual Abuse and Assault

Sexual Assault Information Page 
http://www.cs.utk.edu/~bartley/saInfoPage.html


Survivor Resources

David Baldwin's Trauma Information Page 
http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~dvb/trauma.htm

The Fly's Resource Page 
http://www.crl.com/www/users/Th/thefly/abuse.html


Victim-offender Mediation

Victim-Offender Mediation Association  
http://www.igc.org/voma/


RESOURCES ON CRIME & VICTIMIZATION

AVAILABLE FREE FROM NCJRS

Title:    Criminal Victimization in the United States:  1973-92 Trends
          (BJS)
Year:     1994
Order #:  NCJ 147006

Title:    Criminal Victimization 1993: NCVS Bulletin (BJS)
Year:     1995
Order #:  NCJ 151658

Title:    Highlights from 20 Years of Surveying Crime Victims (BJS)
Year:     1993
Order #:  NCJ 144525

Title:    The Costs of Crime to Victims (BJS)
Year:     1994
Order #:  NCJ 145865

Title:    Crime Victimization in City, Suburban and Rural Areas (BJS)
Year:     1992
Order #:  NCJ 135943

Title:    Crime and Neighborhoods (BJS)
Year:     1994
Order #:  NCJ 147005

Title:    Violence and Theft in the Workplace (BJS)
Year:     1994
Order #:  NCJ 148199

Title:    Elderly Crime Victims: Selected Findings (BJS)
Year:     1994
Order #:  NCJ 147186

Title:    Murder in Families (BJS)
Year:     1994
Order #:  NCJ 143498

Title:    Violence Between Intimates: Domestic Violence (BJS)
Year:     1994
Order #:  NCJ 149259

Title:    Child Rape Victims, 1992 (BJS)
Year:     1994
Order #:  NCJ 147001

Title:    The Criminal Justice and Community Response to Rape (NIJ)
Year:     1994
Order #:  NCJ 148064

Title:    Family Violence: Interventions for the Justice System (BJA)
Year:     1993
Order #:  NCJ 144532

Title:    The Cycle of Violence (NIJ)
Year:     1992
Order #:  Order #:  NCJ 136607

Title:    Understanding and Preventing Violence (NIJ)
Year:     1994
Order #:  NCJ 145645

Title:    Violent Crime: Selected Findings (BJS)
Year:     1994
Order #:  NCJ 147486

Title:    Project to Develop a Model Anti-stalking Code for States (NIJ)
Year:     1993
Order #:  NCJ 144477

Title:    Civil Protection Orders: Legislation, Current Court Practice,
          & Enforcement
          (NIJ)
Year:     1990
Order #:  NCJ 123263

Title:    Violence Against Women: Estimates from the Redesigned
          Survey (BJS)
Year:     1995
Order #:  NCJ 154348

Title:    Spouse Murder Defendants in Large Urban Counties (BJS)
Year:     1995
Order #:  NCJ 153256

Title:    Civil Legal Remedies for Crime Victims (OVC)
Year:     1993
Order #:  NCJ 146985

Title:    Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Later Criminal
          Consequences (NIJ)
Year:     1995
Order #:  NCJ 151525

Title:    Victim Programs to Serve Native Americans (OVC)
Year:     1992
Order #:  NCJ 133963

Title:    Juvenile Offenders and Victims: A Focus on Violence (OJJDP)
Year:     1995
Order #:  NCJ 153570

Title:    Violent Families and Youth Violence (OJJDP)
Year:     1994
Order #:  FS 009421

Title:    Hate Crime Fact Sheet (OJJDP)
Year:     1995
Order #:  FS 009529

Title:    Young Black Male Victims (BJS)
Year:     1994
Order #:  NCJ 147004

Title:    Breaking the Cycle: Predicting and Preventing Crime (NIJ)
Year:     1994
Order #:  NCJ 140541

Title:    Guns Used in Crime: Firearms, Crime, and Criminal Justice
          (BJS)
Year:     1995
Order #:  NCJ 148201

Title:    Drunk Driving: 1989 Survey of Inmates of Local Jails (BJS)
Year:     1992
Order #:  NCJ 134728

Title:    Crime and the Nation's Households, 1992 (BJS)
Year:     1993
Order #:  NCJ 143288

Title:    Drugs and Crime Facts, 1994 (BJS)
Year:     1995
Order #:  NCJ 154043

Title:    Victims of Crime Act: Crime Victims Fund Fact Sheet (OVC)
Year:     1995
Order #:  FS 000082

Title:    Victims of Crime Act: Victim Assistance Grant Program Fact
          Sheet (OVC)
Year:     1995
Order #:  FS 000081

Title:    Victims of Crime Act: Victim Compensation Grant Program
          Fact Sheet
          (OVC)
Year:     1995
Order #:  FS 000080

Title:    Victim & Witness Intimidation: New Developments &
          Emerging Responses
          (NIJ)
Year:     1995
Order #:  NCJ 156555

Title:    Threat Assessment: An Approach to Prevent Targeted Violence
          (NIJ)
Year:     1995
Order #:  NCJ 155000

Title:    Victimization of Persons By Fraud (NIJ)
Year:     1995
Order #:  NCJ 153727

Title:    President's Task Force on Victims of Crime: Final Report
          (OVC)
Year:     1982
Order #:  NCJ 087299


Title:    VOCA: Helping Victims of Child Abuse (OJJDP)
Year:     1995
Order #:  FS 009526

Title:    Prosecuting Child Physical Abuse Cases: A Case Study in San
          Diego (NIJ)
Year:     1995
Order #:  NCJ 152978

Title:    A Coordinated Approach to Reducing Family Violence:
          Conference Highlights (NIJ)
Year:     1995
Order #:  NCJ 155184

Title:    Resource Guidelines: Improving Court Practice in Child Abuse
          & Neglect Cases 
Title:    1995
Order #:  NCJ 156842

Title:    Victim Assistance Programs: Whom They Service and What
          They Offer (NIJ)
Year:     1995
Order #:  FS 00084

To order up to 5 reference documents free of charge from the U.S.
Department of Justice, either call the National Criminal Justice
Reference Service at (800) 851-3420, or write to: National Institute of
Justice/NCJRS, User Services, Box 6000, Rockville, MD, 20849-6000.  
Orders of 6 or more documents will be assessed shipping and handling 
charges.  To join the National Institute of Justice/NCJRS Clearinghouse, 
please use the NCJRS registration form accompanying the Resource Guide.
RESOURCE GUIDE EVALUATION

Please take a moment to let the Victims' Assistance Legal Organization
(VALOR) and Office for Victims of Crime know if the 1996 National
Crime Victims' Rights Week Resource Guide was useful to you and
your organization. Please assign each Resource Guide Component a
numerical value according to how useful the component was to you. 
Also, let us know any ideas you have that could be utilized in the 1997
Resource Guide.

RESOURCE GUIDE COMPONENT

3 - EXTREMELY HELPFUL
2 - SOMEWHAT HELPFUL
1 - NOT AT ALL HELPFUL

_____Tips for Using the 1996 NCVRW Resource Guide
_____Field-initiated Ideas for Public Awareness and Outreach
_____Sample Planning Committee Letter
_____Sample Proclamation
_____Sample Public Service Announcements
_____Sample Press Release
_____Sample Opinion/Editorial Column
_____Sample Speech
_____Sample Sermon
_____Notable Quotables
_____Accessing Information: OVC Resource Center and Other Services
_____Resources on Crime and Victimization from NCJRS
_____Crime Victims' Rights in America: An Historical Overview
_____Statistical Overviews
_____Sample Certificate of Appreciation
_____1996 NCVRW Resource Guide Computer Disk Order Form
_____Reproducible Brochures and Art
_____Posters
_____Bookmarks
_____Buttons
_____Logos
_____NCVRW Letterhead
_____National Toll-free Information and Referral Telephone Numbers

Please share your comments and ideas for improving or expanding the
National Crime Victims' Rights Week Resource Guide and attach
examples of your community's activities for 1996 National Crime
Victims' Rights Week.





Return this evaluation form to:  
Dr. Jane Nady Burnley, Executive Director
VALOR
P.O. Box 862
McLean, VA 22101-0862
FAX: 703-538-6898

Thank you for your assistance in evaluating the 1996 National Crime
Victims' Rights Week Resource Guide!
CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS IN AMERICA
An Historical Overview

*     "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens
can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."  
Margaret Mead
 
1972

The first three victim assistance programs are created:
*     Aid for Victims of Crime in St. Louis, Missouri;
*     Bay Area Women Against Rape in San Francisco, California; and
*     Rape Crisis Center in Washington, D.C.

1974

*     The Federal Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA)
funds the first victim/witness programs in the Brooklyn and Milwaukee
District Attorneys' offices, plus seven others through a grant to the
National District Attorneys Association, to create model programs of
assistance for victims, encourage victim cooperation, and improve
prosecution.

*     The first law enforcement-based victim assistance programs are
established in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Indianapolis, Indiana.

*     The U.S. Congress passes the Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act which establishes the National Center on Child Abuse
and Neglect (NCCAN).  The new Center creates an information
clearinghouse, provides technical assistance and model programs.

1975

*     The first Victims' Rights Week is organized by the Philadelphia
District Attorney.

*     Citizen activists from across the country unite to expand victim
services and increase recognition of victims' rights through the
formation of the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA).

1976

*     The National Organization for Women forms a task force to
examine the problem of battering. It demands research into the
problem, along with money for battered
women's shelters.

*     Nebraska becomes the first state to abolish the marital rape
exemption.

*     The first national conference on battered women is sponsored by
the Milwaukee Task Force on Women in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

*     In Fresno County, California, Chief Probation Officer James
Rowland creates the first victim impact statement to provide the
judiciary with an objective inventory of victim injuries and losses
prior to sentencing.

*     Women's Advocates in St. Paul, Minnesota starts the first hotline
for battered women. Women's Advocates and Haven House in
Pasadena, California establish the first shelters for battered women.

1977

*     Oregon becomes the first state to enact mandatory arrest in
domestic violence cases.

1978

*     The National Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCASA) is
formed to combat sexual violence and promote services for rape
victims.

*     The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) is
organized as a voice for the battered women's movement on a national
level.  NCADV initiates the introduction of the Family Violence
Prevention and Services Act in the U.S. Congress.

*     Parents of Murdered Children (POMC), a self-help support group,
is founded in Cincinnati, Ohio.

*     Minnesota becomes the first state to allow probable cause
(warrantless) arrest in cases of domestic assault, regardless of whether
a protection order had been issued. 

1979

*     Frank G. Carrington, considered by many to be "the father of the
victims' rights movement," founds the Crime Victims' Legal Advocacy
Institute, Inc., to promote the rights of crime victims in the civil and
criminal justice systems.  The nonprofit organization was renamed
VALOR, the Victims' Assistance Legal Organization, Inc., in 1981. 

*     The Office on Domestic Violence is established in the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, but is later closed in 1981.

*     The U.S. Congress fails to enact the Federal Law Enforcement
Assistance Administration (LEAA) and Federal funding for victims'
programs is phased out.  Many grassroots and system-based
programs close.

1980

*     Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is founded after the
death of 13-year-old Cari Lightner, who was killed by a repeat offender
drunk driver.  The first two MADD chapters are created in
Sacramento, 
California and Annapolis, Maryland.

*     The U.S.Congress passes the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act
of 1980.

*     Wisconsin passes the first Crime Victims' Bill of Rights.

     The First National Day of Unity in October is established by
NCADV to mourn battered women who have died, celebrate women
who have survived the violence, and honor all who have worked to
defeat domestic violence. This Day becomes Domestic Violence
Awareness Week and, in 1987, expands to a month of awareness
activities each October.

*     NCADV holds its first national conference in Washington, D.C.,
which gains Federal recognition of critical issues facing battered
women, and sees the birth of several state coalitions.

*     The first Victim Impact Panel is sponsored by Remove Intoxicated
Drivers (RID) in Oswego County, New York.

1981

*     Ronald Reagan becomes the first President to proclaim "Crime
Victims' Rights Week" in April.

*     The disappearance and murder of missing child Adam Walsh
prompts a national campaign to raise public awareness about child
abduction and enact laws to better protect children.

*     The Attorney General's Task Force on Violent Crime recommends
that a separate Task Force be created to consider victims' issues.

1982

*     In a Rose Garden ceremony, President Reagan appoints the Task
Force on Victims of Crime, which holds public hearings in six cities
across the nation to create a greatly needed national focus on the needs
of crime victims.  The Task Force Final Report offers 68
recommendations that become the framework for the advancement of
new programs and policies.  Its final recommendation, to amend the
Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to guarantee that "...the
victim, in every criminal prosecution, shall have the right to be present
and to be heard at all critical stages of judicial proceedings...,"
becomes a vital source of new energy pushing toward the successful
efforts to secure state constitutional amendments through the 1980s and
beyond.

*     The Federal Victim and Witness Protection Act of 1982 brings
"fair treatment standards" to victims and witnesses in the Federal
criminal justice system.

*     California voters overwhelmingly pass Proposition 8, which
guarantees restitution and other statutory reforms to crime victims.

*     The passage of the Missing Children's Act of 1982 helps parents
guarantee that identifying information on their missing child is promptly
entered into the FBI National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
computer system.

*     The first Victim Impact Panel sponsored by MADD, which
educates drunk drivers about the devastating impact of their criminal
acts, is organized in Rutland, Massachusetts.

1983

*     The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is created by the U.S.
Department of Justice within the Office of Justice Programs to
implement recommendations from the President's Task Force on
Victims of Crime.  OVC establishes a national resource center, trains
professionals, and develops model legislation to protect victims' rights.

*     The U.S. Attorney General establishes a Task Force on Family
Violence, which holds six public hearings across the United States.

*     The U.S. Attorney General issues guidelines for Federal victim
and witness assistance.

*     In April, President Reagan honors crime victims in a White House
Rose Garden ceremony.

*     The First National Conference of the Judiciary on Victims of
Crime is held at the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada.

*     President Reagan proclaims the first National Missing Children's
Day in observance of the disappearance of missing child Etan Patz.

*     The International Association of Chiefs of Police Board of
Governors adopts a Crime Victims' Bill of Rights and establishes a
victims' rights committee to bring about renewed emphasis on the
needs of crime victims by law enforcement officials nationwide.

1984

*     The passage of the Victims Of Crime Act (VOCA) establishes the
Crime Victims Fund, made up of Federal criminal fines, penalties and
bond forfeitures, to support state victim compensation and local victim
service programs.

*     President Reagan signs the Justice Assistance Act, which
establishes a financial assistance program for state and local
government and funds 200 new victim service programs.

*     The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 is enacted,
providing strong incentives to states without "21" laws to raise the
minimum age for drinking, saving thousands of young lives in years to
come

*     The first of several international affiliates of MADD is chartered
in Canada.

*     The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
(NCMEC) is created as the national resource for missing children. 
Passage of the Missing Children's Assistance Act provides a
Congressional mandate for the Center.

*     The Spiritual Dimension in Victim Services is founded to involve
the religious community in violence prevention and victim assistance.

*     Crime Prevention Week in February is marked by a White House
ceremony with McGruff.

     The Task Force on Family Violence presents its report to the U.S.
Attorney General with recommendations for action, including: the
criminal justice system's response to battered women; prevention and
awareness; education and training; and data collection and reporting.

*     The U.S. Congress passes the Family Violence Prevention and
Services Act, which earmarks Federal funding for programs serving
victims of domestic violence.

*     The ad-hoc committee on the constitutional amendment formalizes
its plans to secure passage of amendments at the state level.

*     Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) is organized at the first
police survivors' seminar held in Washington, D.C. by 110 relatives of
officers killed in the line of duty.

*     The first National Symposium on Sexual Assault is co-sponsored
by the Office of Justice Programs and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation.

*     A victim/witness notification system is established within the
Federal Bureau of Prisons.

*     The Office for Victims of Crime hosts the first national
symposium on child molestation.

*     Victim/witness Coordinator positions are established in the U.S.
Attorneys' offices within the U.S. Department of Justice.

*     California State University, Fresno initiates the first Victim
Services Certificate Program offered for academic credit by a
university.

*     Remove Intoxicated Drivers (RID) calls for a comprehensive Sane
National Alcohol Policy (SNAP) to curb aggressive promotions aimed
at youth.

1985

*     The Federal Crime Victims Fund deposits total $68 million.

*     The National Victim Center is founded in honor of Sunny von
Bulow to promote the rights and needs of crime victims, and to educate
Americans about the devastating effect of crime on our society.

*     The United Nations General Assembly passes the International
Declaration on the Rights of Victims of Crime and the Abuse of Power.

*     President Reagan announces a Child Safety Partnership with 26
members.  Its mission is to enhance private sector efforts to promote
child safety, to clarify information about child victimization, and to
increase public awareness of child abuse.

*     The U.S. Surgeon General issues a report identifying domestic
violence as a major public health problem.

1986

*     The Office for Victims of Crime awards the first grants to support
state victim compensation and assistance programs.

*     Over 100 constitutional amendment supporters meet in
Washington, D.C. at a forum sponsored by NOVA to refine a national
plan to secure state constitutional amendments for victims of crime.

*     Rhode Island passes a constitutional amendment granting victims
the right to restitution, to submit victim impact statements, and to be
treated with dignity and respect.

*     MADD's "Red Ribbon Campaign" enlists motorists to display a
red ribbon on their automobiles, pledging to drive safe and sober
during the holidays.  This national public awareness effort has since
become an annual campaign.

1987

*     The Victims' Constitutional Amendment Network (VCAN) and
Steering Committee is formed at a meeting hosted by the National
Victim Center.

*     Security on Campus, Inc. (SOC) is established by Howard and
Connie Clery, following the tragic robbery, rape and murder of their
daughter Jeanne at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.  SOC raises
national awareness about the hidden epidemic of violence on our
nation's campuses.

*     The American Correctional Association establishes a Task Force
on Victims of Crime.

*     NCADV establishes the first national toll-free domestic violence
hotline.

*     Victim advocates in Florida, frustrated by five years of inaction
on a proposed constitutional amendment by their legislature, begin a
petition drive.  Thousands of citizens sign petitions supporting
constitutional protection for victims' rights.  The Florida legislature
reconsiders, and the constitutional amendment appears on the 1988
ballot.

1988

*     The National Aging Resource Center on Elder Abuse (NARCEA)
is established in a cooperative agreement among the American Public
Welfare Association, the National Association of State Units on Aging,
and the University of Delaware.  Renamed the National Center on
Elder Abuse, it continues to provide information and statistics.

*     State v. Ciskie is the first case to allow the use of expert
testimony to explain the behavior and mental state of an adult rape
victim.  The testimony is used to show why a victim of repeated
physical and sexual assaults by her intimate partner would not
immediately call the police or take action.  The jury convicts the
defendant on four counts of rape.

*     The Federal Drunk Driving Prevention Act is passed, and states
raise the minimum drinking age to 21.

*     Vice President George Bush endorses victims' rights in a major
policy speech about crime and victimization in Trenton, New Jersey.

*     Constitutional amendments are introduced in Arizona, California,
Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, South Carolina and Washington. 
Florida's amendment is placed on the November ballot where it passes
with 90% of the vote.  Michigan's constitutional amendment passes
with 80% of the vote.

*     The first "Indian Nations: Justice for Victims of Crime"
conference is sponsored by the Office for Victims of Crime in Rapid
City, South Dakota.

*     VOCA amendments legislatively establish the Office for Victims
of Crime, elevate the position of Director by making Senate
confirmation necessary for appointment, and induce state compensation
programs to cover victims of homicide and drunk driving.

1989

*     Crime victims and advocates in Arizona plan to launch an
initiative/petition drive to secure a constitutional amendment.

*     The legislatures in Texas and Washington pass their respective
constitutional amendments, which are both ratified by voters in
November.

1990

*     The Federal Crime Victims Fund deposits total over $146 million.

*     The U.S. Congress passes the Hate Crime Statistics Act requiring
the U.S. Attorney General to collect data of incidence of certain crimes
motivated by prejudice based on race, religion, sexual orientation or
ethnicity.

*     The Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act, requiring
institutions of higher education to disclose murder, rape, robbery and
other crimes on campus, is signed into law by President Bush.

*     The Child Protection Act of 1990, which features reforms to make
the Federal criminal justice system less traumatic for child victims and
witnesses, is passed by the U.S. Congress.

*     U.S. Congress passes legislation proposed by MADD to prevent
drunk drivers and other offenders from filing bankruptcy to avoid
paying criminal restitution or civil fines.

*     The Arizona petition drive to place the victims' rights
constitutional amendment on the ballot succeeds, and it is ratified by
voters.

*     The first National Incidence Study on Missing, Abducted,
Runaway and Throwaway Children in America shows that over one
million children fall victim to abduction annually.

*     The National Child Search Assistance Act requires law
enforcement to enter reports of missing children and unidentified
persons in the NCIC computer.

1991

*     U.S. Representative Ilena Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) files the first
Congressional Joint Resolution to place victims' rights in the U.S.
Constitution.

*     The Violence Against Women Act of 1991 is considered by the
U.S. Congress.

*     California State University, Fresno approves the first Bachelors
Degree Program in Victimology in the nation.

*     The Campus Sexual Assault Victims Bill of Rights Act is
introduced in the U.S. Congress.

*     The results of the first national public opinion poll to examine
citizens' attitudes about violence and victimization, America Speaks
Out, are released by the National Victim Center during National Crime
Victims' Rights Week.

*     The Attorney General's Summit on Law Enforcement and Violent
Crime focuses national attention on victims' rights in the criminal
justice system.

*     The U.S. Attorney General issues new comprehensive guidelines
that establish procedures for the Federal criminal justice system to
respond to the needs of crime victims.  The 1991 Attorney General
Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance implement new
protections of the Crime Control Act of 1990, integrating the
requirements of the Federal Crime Victims' Bill of Rights, the Victims
of Child Abuse Act and the Victim and Witness Protection Act of
1982.

*     The first national conference that addresses crime victims' rights
and needs in corrections is sponsored by the Office for Victims of
Crime in California.


*     The first International Conference on Campus Sexual Assault is
held in Orlando, Florida.

*     The American Probation and Parole Association (APPA)
establishes a Victim Issues Committee to examine victims' issues and
concerns related to community corrections.

*     The International Parental Child Kidnapping Act makes the act of
unlawfully removing a child outside the United States a Federal felony.

*     The Spiritual Dimension in Victim Services facilitates a
conference of leaders of 13 religious denominations to plan ways in
which these large religious bodies can increase awareness of crime
victims' needs and provide appropriate services.

*     The New Jersey legislature passes a victims' rights constitutional
amendment, which is ratified by voters in November.

*     Colorado legislators introduce a constitutional amendment on the
first day of National Crime Victims' Rights Week.  Fifteen days later,
the bill is unanimously passed by both Houses to be placed on the
ballot in 1992.

*     In an 8-0 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Simon &
Schuster v. New York Crime Victims Board that New York's
notoriety-for-profit statute was overbroad and, in the final analysis,
unconstitutional.

1992

*     Rape in America: A Report to the Nation, published during
National Crime Victims' Rights Week by the National Crime Victims
Research and Treatment Center and the National Victim Center,
clarifies the scope and devastating effect of rape in this nation,
including the fact that 683,000 women are raped annually in the United
States.

*     The Association of Paroling Authorities, International establishes a
Victim Issues Committee to examine victims' needs, rights and services
in parole processes.

*     The U.S. Congress reauthorizes the Higher Education Bill which
includes the Campus Sexual Assault Victims' Bill of Rights.

*     The Battered Women's Testimony Act, which urges states to
accept expert testimony in criminal cases involving battered women, is
passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush.

*     In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court  -- in R.A.V.
vs.City of St. Paul -- struck down a local hate crimes ordinance in
Minnesota.

*     Five states -- Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Missouri and New
Mexico -- ratify constitutional amendments for victims' rights.

*     Twenty-eight states pass anti-stalking legislation.

*     Massachusetts passes a landmark bill creating a statewide
computerized domestic violence registry and requires judges to check
the registry when handling such cases.

1993

*     Wisconsin ratifies its constitutional amendment for victims' rights,
bringing the total number of states with these amendments to 14.

*     Congress passes the "Brady Bill" requiring a waiting period for
the purchase of handguns.

*     Congress passes the Child Sexual Abuse Registry Act establishing
a national repository for information on child sex offenders.

*     Twenty-two states pass stalking statutes, bringing the total number
of states with stalking laws to 50, plus the District of Columbia.

1994

*     The American Correctional Association Victims Committee
publishes the landmark Report and Recommendations on Victims of
Juvenile Crime, which offers guidelines for improving victims' rights
and services when the offender is a juvenile.

*     Six additional states pass constitutional amendments for victims'
rights - the largest number ever in a single year - bringing the total
number of states with amendments to 20.  States with new amendments
include: Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Maryland, Ohio, and Utah.

*     Congress passes the most comprehensive  package of Federal
victims' rights legislation as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law
Enforcement Act.  The Act includes:

*     Violence Against Women Act, which authorizes more than $1
billion in funding for programs to combat violence against women.
*     Enhanced VOCA funding provisions.
*     Establishment of a National Child Sex Offender Registry.
*     Enhanced sentences for drunk drivers with child passengers.

1995

*     The Federal Crime Victims Fund deposits total $233,907,256.

*     The Crime Victims' Rights Act of 1995 is introduced in the U.S.
Congress.

*     Legislatures in three states -- Indiana, Nebraska, and North
Carolina -- pass constitutional amendments which will be placed on the
ballot in 1996.

*     The National Victims' Constitutional Amendment Network
proposes the first draft of language for a Federal constitutional
amendment for victims' rights.

*     The U.S. Department of Justice convenes a national conference to
encourage implementation of the Violence Against Women Act.

_____________________________________________

Acknowledgements

Compiled by the National Victim Center with the support and
assistance of:

*     The U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime;

*     VALOR; and

*     The many national, state and local victim service providers who
offered documentation of their key victims' rights landmark activities.

Presented as a Public Service By:


CHILD ABUSE AND VICTIMIZATION

In 1994, an estimated 1,271 children died as a result of abuse or
neglect. (Wiese, David and Deborah Daro, 1995, "Current Trends in
Child Abuse Reporting and Fatalities: The Results of the 1994 Annual
Fifty State Survey," National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse,
Chicago, IL)

Approximately 3,140,000 cases of child maltreatment were reported to
child protective services in 1994.  Of these cases, 45 percent involved
neglect; 26 percent involved physical abuse; 11 percent involved sexual
abuse, three percent involved emotional maltreatment, and 15 percent
involved "other".  Each state averaged a 4.5 percent increase over 1993
figures. (Ibid.)

Twelve percent of adult Americans report that they were physically
abused during their childhood, which includes 13 percent of males and
10 percent of females. (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1995, Sourcebook
of Criminal Justice Statistics 1994, page 239, U.S. Department of
Justice, Washington, D.C.)

Homicide is one of the five leading causes of child mortality in the
United States.  (Goetting, A., 1990, "Child Victims of Homicide: A
Portrait of Their Killers and the Circumstances of Their Deaths, pp.
287-296, Violence and Victims)

The rates of assault, rape and robbery against those age 12 to 19 are
two to three times higher than for the adult population as a whole. 
(Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1991, "National Crime Victimization
Survey," U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.)

From the National Crime Victimization Survey, it can be estimated that
approximately 523,000 12-to-19-year-olds sustained physical injury due
to an assault in 1990, and approximately 132,900 received hospital care
as a result of any kind of violent crime (Ibid.)

More than six out of ten rape victims were sexually assaulted prior to
adulthood; 32.3 percent were raped between the ages of 11 and 17,
with 29.3 percent raped when they were less than 11 years old. 
(Kilpatrick, Dr. Dean, Christine Edmunds and Anne Seymour.  1992. 
"Rape in America: A Report to the Nation." National Crime Victims
Research and Treatment Center and National Victim Center,
Charleston, SC)

In a survey of 2,000 children aged 10 to 16, three times as many
respondents were concerned about the likelihood of being beaten up by
peers as were concerned about being sexually abused.  (Finkelhor,
David and Jennifer Dzuiba-Leatherman, "Victimization Prevention
Programs: A National Survey of Children's Exposure and Reactions,"
Child Abuse and Neglect, as reported in American Psychologist
Victimization of Children," March 1994)

Half of the women who reported they had been raped during 1992 were
juveniles under 18 years old, and 16 percent were younger than 12,
according to a U.S. Department of Justice study of 11 states and
Washington, D.C. (Langan, Ph.D., Patrick and Caroline Wolf Harlow,
Ph.D., 1994, "Child Rape Victims, 1992," p.1, Bureau of Justice
Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.)

Most child victims under 12 (94 percent), as reported by imprisoned
rapists, were family members (70 percent) or an acquaintance or friend
(24 percent); only six percent were strangers.  For child rape victims
ages 12 to 17, 36 percent were family members of the rapist, 45
percent were an acquaintance or friend, and 19 percent were strangers
(Ibid., p.2)


Presented as a Public Service by

COST OF CRIME

Crime victims in 1992 lost $17.6 billion in direct costs, according to
the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS).  These costs
included losses from property theft or damage, cash losses, medical
expenses, and amount of pay lost because of injury or activities related
to the crime. (Klaus, Patsy A., 1994, "The Costs of Crime to
Victims," page 1, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of
Justice, Washington, D.C.)

Economic loss of some kind occurred in 71 percent of all personal
crimes. For crimes of violence, economic loss occurred in 23 percent
of victimizations.  Household crimes of burglary, theft, and motor
vehicle theft involved economic loss in 91 percent of all victimizations. 
(Ibid., page 1)

Among crimes that involved loss, about 12 percent of personal crimes
and 24 percent of household crimes involved economic losses of $500
or more. (Ibid., page 1)

Lost property was not recovered in 89 percent of personal crimes and
85 percent of household crimes in 1992. (Ibid., page 1)

For crimes of violence involving injuries in which medical expenses
were known, 65 percent involved costs of $250 or more. (Ibid., page
2)

Property valued at $15.6 billion was stolen in connection with all
Crime Index offenses in 1994. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1995,
"Crime in the United States, 1994," U.S. Department of Justice,
Washington, D.C.)

The average dollar loss per reported arson in 1994 was $9,761. (Ibid.)

In 1994, the value of property stolen during burglaries was estimated at
$3.6 billion. (Ibid.)

The value of property stolen in connection with property crimes was
estimated at $15.1 billion for 1994, or $1,248 per offense reported.
(Ibid.)

Monetary loss attributed to property stolen in connection with robbery
offenses was estimated at $496 million.  Bank robberies resulted in the
highest average losses, $3,551 per offense; convenience store robberies
the lowest, $387. (Ibid.)

The estimated monetary loss due to motor vehicle thefts was nearly
$7.6 billion, for an average of $4,940 per vehicle. (Ibid.)

Crime victimizations occurring in the workplace cost about half a
million employees 1,751,100 days of work each year, an average of 3.5
days per crime.  This missed work resulted in over $55 million in lost
wages annually, not including days covered by sick and annual leave.
(Ronet Bachman, Ph.D., 1994, "Violence and Theft in the Workplace,"
page 1, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice,
Washington, D.C.)

Alcohol-related crashes cost society $44 billion per year, yet this
conservative estimate does not include pain, suffering and lost quality
of life.  These indirect costs raise the alcohol-related crash figure to a
staggering $134 billion in 1993. (Miller, Ted. R. and Lawrence J.
Blincoe, 1994,  "Incidence and Cost of Alcohol-involved Crashes," pp.
583-591, Accident Analysis & Prevention, Volume 26, Number 5)


Presented as a Public Service by

CRIME AND EDUCATION

On a daily basis, 100,000 students carry guns to school, 160,000 miss
classes due to fear of physical harm, and 40 are injured or killed by
firearms. (National Education Association, 1993, "School Violence,"
Washington, D.C.)

One-fourth of all suspensions from school nationally were for violent
incidents committed by elementary school students. (Harvard School of
Public Health, Louis Harris Poll as cited in "Education Week," August
4, 1993; and Centers for Disease Control, "The Battle Over Gun
Control," as cited in "Black Enterprise Magazine," 1993.)

Sixty-three percent of incidents involving guns on school property
involved high school students; 12 percent involved elementary students;
and one percent involved preschoolers. (Ibid.)

Seventy-eight percent of school board district respondents to a national
survey reported that they had experienced student assaults on students,
and 61 reported weapons in school.  Sixty percent of responding urban
districts reported student assaults on teachers, with 58 percent of urban
districts reporting some type of gang violence in their schools over the
past year. (National School Boards Association, 1993, "Violence in the
Schools: How America's School Boards are Safeguarding Our
Children," page 2, Alexandria, VA)

Thirty-five percent of school board districts believe student violence has
"increased significantly" in the last five years; 47 percent believe
student violence has "increased somewhat" in the last five years, with
12 percent reporting "no change." (Ibid, page 3)

The majority of public school teachers feel "very safe" (77 percent)
when they are in or around school, while only 50 percent of students
feel "very safe."  Forty percent of students feel only "somewhat safe."
(Letiman, Robert and Katherine Binns, 1993, "The America Teacher
1993: Violence in America's  Public Schools," page 3, Louis Harris
and Associates, Inc. for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New
York, NY)

Nearly one-fourth (23 percent) of America's public school students say
they have been the victim of an act of violence in or around school. 
More than one-tenth of America's public school teachers say they have
been victims of acts of violence that occurred in or around school, with
95 percent of these incidents involving students. (Ibid., page 7)

Thirteen percent of teens age 13 to 17 report having friends who were
sexually fondled against their will at school.  (Gallup, George H.,
March 1994, "Violence and Teens in the Home and in the Schools in
the 1990s," page 4, The George H. Gallup International Institute,
Princeton, NJ)

School crime as reported by America's youth (age 13 to 17) include:
Seven percent reported that they had been physically assaulted; 15
percent had money stolen at school; 14 percent had their property
vandalized at school; and 24 percent lived in a state of fear at school,
worrying about their physical safety. In addition, 30 percent said there
was " a very big problem" with classroom disturbances, with 23
percent saying fighting at school is "a very big problem." (Ibid., page
7)

The number of crimes reported on 796 college campuses in 1993 in
compliance with Federal law is as follows: 15 murders; 430 forcible
sexual offenses; 83 non-forcible sexual offenses; 367 rapes; 1,340
robberies; 3,103 aggravated assaults; 20,123 burglaries; and 7,032
motor vehicle thefts.  (The Chronicle of Higher Education, February 3,
1995)


Presented as a Public Service by

CRIME AND VICTIMIZATION

There was one violent crime every 16 seconds in 1993. (Federal
Bureau of Investigation, 1994, "Crime in the United States, 1993,"
U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.)

There were an estimated 43,547,400 criminal victimizations in the
United States in 1993, including 10, 848,090 crimes of violence, and
32,182,320 property crimes. (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1995,
"Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, page 230, U.S. Department
of Justice, Washington, D.C.)

Slightly over one-third (35.1 percent) of all crimes were reported to
police in 1993, with 41.6 percent of crimes of violence reported to
police. (Ibid., page 245)

In 1993, a weapon was used in 27.3 percent of crimes of violence in
the United States. (Ibid., page 236)

During 1994, law enforcement agencies made an estimated 14.6 million
arrests for all criminal infractions other than traffic violations.  The
arrest rate was 5,715 arrests per 100,000 population in the United
States.  Of all persons arrested in 1994, 45 percent were under the age
of 25; 80 percent were male; and 67 percent were white. (Federal
Bureau of Investigation, 1995, "Crime in the United States, 1994,"
U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.)

From 1993 to 1994, violent crimes collectively decreased by three
percent.  The 1994 total was, however, two percent higher than the
1990 figure and 40 percent above the 1985 level. (Ibid.)

From 1973 to 1991, 36.6 million people were injured as a result of
violent crime.  Annually, about two million people are injured as a
result of violent crime.  (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1993, "Highlights
from 20 Years of Surveying Crime Victims," page 15, U.S.
Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.)

Of victims of crime who are injured, 51 percent required some type of
medical treatment; 19 percent received treatment at a hospital
emergency room or were treated at a hospital and released that day,
and four percent required hospitalization for at least one night.  (Ibid.,
page 15)

One-third of violent crimes (32 percent) involve a weapon, including 92
percent of aggravated assaults, 55 percent of robberies, and 20 percent
of rapes.  (Ibid., page 29)

Victims take some type of measure to protect themselves in nearly 71
percent of all violent victimizations; 82 percent of rapes; 58 percent of
robberies; and 73 percent of assaults.  (Ibid., page 30)

More than 5.1 million Americans -- or almost 2.7 percent of the adult
population -- were under some form of correctional supervision in
1994.  Almost three-quarters of these men and women were being
supervised in the community on probation or parole.  The others were
confined in jail or prison.  (Gilliard, Darrell and Allen Beck, 1995,
"The Nation's Correctional Population Tops Five Million," Bureau of
Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.)

At the end of June 1995, there were 1,104,074 men and women
incarcerated in the nation's prisons.  (Gilliard, Darrell and Allen Beck,
1995, "Prisoners at Midyear, 1995," Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S.
Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.)


Presented as a Public Service by
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

It is estimated that every 15 seconds a  woman is battered. (Derived
from Strauss, M.R. Gelles and S.K. Steinmetz, 1980, "Behind Closed
Doors: Violence in the American Family," Garden City, NY: Anchor
Press)

Twenty-two to 35 percent of women who visit emergency departments
in the United States are there for symptoms related to on-going abuse. 
(Randall, T., 1992, "Domestic Violence Intervention Calls for More
than Treating Injuries," Journal of the American Medical Association
264[8]: p. 939)

Every year, domestic violence results in almost 100,000 days of
hospitalizations, almost 30,000 emergency department visits, and
almost 40,000 visits to a physician.  (American Medical Association,
1991, "Five Issues in American Health," Chicago, IL).

In a prospective study of 691 White, Hispanic, and African-American
pregnant women sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control, one in
six reported physical abuse during their present pregnancy.  One in
four reported physical abuse in the last calendar year.  (McFarlane,
Judith, et. al., 1991, "Assessing for Abuse During Pregnancy: Severity
and Frequency of Injuries and Associated Entry in to Prenatal Care,"
Journal of the American Medical Association 267[23]: pp. 3176-3178.)

In the United States, nine out of ten women murdered are killed by
men, half at the hands of a male partner. ("Crime in the United States:
Uniform Crime Reports 1986," 1987, Washington, D.C.: Federal
Bureau of Investigation)

In 1991, 28 percent of all female murder victims were slain by their
husbands or partners. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1993, "Crime
in the United States, 1991," Washington, D.C.)

Being abused or neglected as a child increases the likelihood of arrest
as a juvenile by 53 percent, as an adult by 38 percent, and for violent
crime by 38 percent. (Widom, C.S., 1992, "The Cycle of Violence,"
National Institute of Justice, Washington, D.C.)

Women are more likely to be victims of homicide when they are
estranged from their husbands than when they live with their husbands. 
The risk of homicide is higher in the first two months after separation. 
(Wilson, M.., and Daly, M., 1993, Violence and Victims, "Spousal
Homicide Risk and Estrangement,"  8:3-16)

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the average prison
sentence for men who killed their wives was 17.5 years; the average
sentence for women convicted of killing their husbands was 6.2 years.
(Bureau of Justice Statistics, November 1994, "Violence Between
Intimates", USDOJ, Washington, D.C.)

Results from The National Women's Study indicate that 3.7 percent of
women who have ever been married have suffered an aggravated
assault at the hands of a husband or ex-husband.  These results mean
that over 3.5 million American women are survivors of wife battering. 
(Kilpatrick, D.,  e.t al., 1992, "The National Women's Study,"
National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Charleston,
SC)

Thirty-four percent of Americans say they have witnessed an incident
of domestic violence, compared with only 19 percent who report
witnessing a robbery or mugging.  (Family Violence Prevention Fund
and EDK Associates, 1993, "National Survey on Domestic Violence," 
San Francisco, CA)



Presented as a Public Service by
DRUNK DRIVING

During the period from 1982 through 1994, approximately 283,000
persons lost their lives in alcohol-related traffic crashes. (National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1995, Fatal Accident Reporting
System, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C.)

In 1994, an estimated 16,589 persons died in alcohol-related traffic
crashes -- an average of one every 32 minutes.  These deaths
constituted 40.8 percent of the 40,676 total traffic fatalities. (Ibid.)

About 297,000 persons suffered injuries in crashes where police
reported alcohol was present -- an average of one person injured
approximately every two minutes. (Ibid.)

The 16,589 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 1994 represent a 30
percent reduction from the 23,758 alcohol-related fatalities reported in
1984. (Ibid.)

Traffic crashes are the greatest single cause of death for every age from
six through 28.  Almost half of these crashes are alcohol-related. (Ibid.)

About two in every five Americans will be involved in an
alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives. (Ibid.)

Alcohol-related crashes cost society $44 billion per year, yet this
conservative estimate does not include pain, suffering and lost quality
of life.  These indirect costs raise the alcohol-related crash figure to a
staggering $134 billion in 1993. (Miller, Ted. R. and Lawrence J.
Blincoe, 1994,  "Incidence and Cost of Alcohol-involved Crashes," pp.
583-591, Accident Analysis & Prevention, Volume 26, Number 5.)

It is estimated that 2.2 million drunk driving crashes each year
victimize 1.3 million innocent victims who are injured or have their
vehicles damaged. (Ibid.)

In 1990, one in 100 drivers had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .10
or greater.  About 21 billion miles were driven by drunk drivers.
(Ibid.)

More than 80 percent of impaired drivers admitted to hospital
emergency departments were not held responsible for their crime,
according to a recent study.  While a high rate of impairment existed in
seriously injured motorists (45 percent) in a metropolitan region, the
majority were not charged by the police. (Orsay, Elizabeth M. MD, et
al, 1994, "The Impaired Driver: Hospital and Police Detection of
Alcohol and Other Drugs of Abuse in Motor Vehicle Crashes," printed
in Annals of Emergency Medicine.)

More than half of the persons jailed for driving under the influence
(DUI) in 1989 had previous DUI convictions.  About one in six persons
jailed for DUI served at least three prior sentences in jail for drunk
driving. (Cohen, Robyn L., 1992, "Special Report: Drunk Driving,"
Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington,
D.C.)

Youths arrests (for under age 18) increased significantly from 1984 to
1993 for drunkenness (42.9 percent), driving under the influence (50.2
percent), and drug abuse (27.8 percent). (Federal Bureau of
Investigation, 1994, "Crime in the United States - 1993," U.S.
Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.)



Presented as a Public Service by
ELDER ABUSE AND NEGLECT

The following statistics are derived from the findings of a national
study of domestic elder abuse reports conducted by the National Center
on Elder Abuse in 1994.  Data on elder abuse reports were collected
from state adult protective service and state units on aging across the
nation for the years of 1993 and 1994.  It is important to note that
some experts estimate the only one out of 14 domestic elder abuse
incidents (excluding the incidents of self neglect) comes to the attention
of authorities.

In 1986, there were about 117,000 reports of domestic elder abuse in
the nation.  This figure rose to 241,000 reports in 1994, representing
an increase of 106 percent.

It is estimated that approximately 818,000 elders became victims of
various types of elder abuse in 1994.  This figure, however, excludes
self-neglecting elders.  If self-neglecting elders are added, the total
number of elder abuse victims would be 1.84 million individuals in the
same year.

In most states, certain types of professionals are designated as
"mandatory reporters of elder abuse" and are required by law to report
suspected cases of elder maltreatment.  In 1994, 21.6 percent of all
domestic elder abuse reports came from physicians and other health
care professionals, while another 9.4 percent came from service
providers, and family members and relatives of victims reported 14.9
percent of the reported cases of domestic elder abuse.

The majority of domestic elder abuse reports are substantiated after
investigations.  For example, 54.9 percent of reports were substantiated
in 1994.  Additionally, 54.9 percent of the substantiated reports were
self-neglect cases.  

Neglect is the most common form of elder maltreatment in domestic
settings.  Of the substantiated reports of elder abuse for which
perpetrators were identified in 1994, 58.5 percent involved neglect. 
Physical abuse accounted for 15.7 percent in the same year, while
financial/material exploitation was 12.3 percent of the substantiated
reports.

In 1994, 65.4 percent of the victims of domestic elder abuse was white,
21.4 percent were black, and Hispanic elders accounted for 9.6 percent
of the domestic elder abuse victims.

Adult children are the most frequent abusers of the elderly in domestic
settings.  It was found that 35 percent of the substantiated elder abuse
cases in 1994 involved adult children as abusers.  "Other relatives"
ranked as the second most frequent abusers (13.6 percent) and spouses
with 13.4 percent.

In 1994, the majority of abusers were female (52.4 percent) and
slightly more than three-fifths of victims were females (62.1 percent). 
Similarly, about three-fifths of self-neglecting elders were also females
(62.4 percent).

The median age of elder abuse victims was 76.4 years, according to
1994 data that excluded self-neglecting elders.

NCEA is operated by a consortium of the American Public Welfare
Association (APWA), the National Association of State Units on Aging
(NASUA), the University of Delaware, and the National Committee for
the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NCPEA), with funding assistance from
the Administration on Aging (AoA).


Presented as a Public Service by
HATE AND BIAS CRIMES


The following statistics are derived from "Hate Crime - 1994"
contained in the Uniform Crime Reports published by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation within the U.S. Department of Justice in 1995.

Preliminary figures show 5,852 hate crime incidents were reported to
the FBI during 1994, including incidents reported by more than 7,200
law enforcement agencies in 43 states and the District of Columbia.

Sixty percent of the incidents were motivated by racial bias; 18 percent
by religious bias; 12 percent by sexual-orientation bias; and 11 percent
by ethnicity/national origin bias.  The 5,852 incidents involved, 7,144
separate offenses, 7,187 victims, and 6,189 offenders.

Crimes against persons accounted for 72 percent of hate crime offenses
reported.  Intimidation was the single most frequently reported hate
crime, accounting for 39 percent of the total. Damage/destruction/
vandalism of property constituted 24 percent; simple assault; 18
percent; and aggravated assault, 14 percent.

Thirteen persons were murdered in hate-motivated incidents in 1994.

Individuals comprised 84 percent of all reported bias crimes in 1994,
with businesses, religious organizations, and varied other targets
comprising the remaining 16 percent.

Among the 6,189 known offenders reported to be associated with hate
crime incidents, 57 percent were white, and 30 percent were black. 
The remaining offenders were of other or multi-racial groups.


Presented as a Public Service by
HOMICIDE

The murder count for 1994 totaled 23,305, the lowest rate since 1989. 
The murder rate in the United States was nine per 100,000 inhabitants.
(Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1995, "Crime in the United States,
1994," U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.)

Based on supplemental data received, 79 percent of murder victims in
1994 were males, and 88 percent were persons 18 years of age or
older.  By race, 51 percent were black, and 47 percent were white.
(Ibid.)

Data based on a total of 25,052 murder offenders showed 91 percent of
the assailants were males, and 84 percent were 18 years of age or
older.  Fifty-six percent of the offenders were black, and 42 percent
were white. (Ibid.)

Forty-seven percent of murder victims were related to (12 percent) or
acquainted with (35 percent) their assailants.  Among all female murder
victims in 1994, 28 percent were slain by husbands or boyfriends.
(Ibid.)

By circumstances, 28 percent of murders in 1994 resulted from
arguments, and 18 percent from felonious activities such as robbery,
arson, etc. (Ibid.)

Firearms were the weapons used in approximately seven out of every
ten murders reported in 1994. (Ibid.)

Of the 23,271 homicides in which circumstances were known in 1993,
5.5 percent were narcotics-related. (Federal Bureau of Investigation,
1994, "Uniform Crime Reporting Program," U.S. Department of
Justice, Washington, D.C.)

A 1987 study found that an estimated 6.7 million adult Americans had
lost an immediate family member, other relative or close friend to
criminal homicide.  Of this number, 2.8 million had lost an immediate
family member to homicide.  (Amick-McMullen, A. Kilpatrick, D.G.
& Resnick, H.S., 1991, "Homicide as a Risk Factor for PTSD Among
Surviving Family Members," Behavioral Modification 15(4), 545-559.)

A survey of murder cases disposed in 1988 in the courts of large urban
counties indicated that 16 percent of murder victims were members of
the defendant's family.  (Dawson John M. And Patrick A. Langan,
Ph.D., 1994, "Murder in Families," U.S. Department of Justice Bureau
of Justice Statistics, Washington, D.C.)

Among murder victims, 6.5 percent were killed by their spouses, and
3.5 percent by their parents, 1.9 percent by their own children, 1.5
percent by their siblings, and 2.6 percent by some other family
member. (Ibid.) 

One-third of family murders involved a female as a killer.  In sibling
murders, females were 15 percent of killers, and in murders of parents,
18 percent.  But in spouse murders, women represented 41 percent of
killers.  In murders of their offspring, women accounted for 55 percent
of killers. (Ibid.)

Forty-five percent of family murder victims were female, compared to
18 percent of non-family murder victims. (Ibid.)

In murders of persons under age 12, the victims' parents accounted for
57 percent of the murderers. (Ibid.)


Presented as a Public Service by
JUVENILE CRIME AND VICTIMIZATION

The following statistics are derived from "Juvenile Offender and
Victims: A Focus on Violence," May 1995, by Howard N. Snyder and
Melissa Sickmund, National Center for Juvenile Justice, Pittsburgh, PA
and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention,
Washington, D.C.

Between 1988 and 1992, juvenile arrests for violent crime increased
nearly 50 percent. (Page iv)

In 1991, the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) found that
victims age 12 and older reported that the offender was a juvenile
(under age 18) in approximately 28 percent of personal crimes (i.e.
rape, personal robbery, aggravated and simple assault, and theft from a
person). (Page 1)

In 1991, juveniles were responsible for 19 percent of all violent crimes
(i.e., rape, personal robbery, and aggravated and simple assault). (Page
1)

Persons most likely to be victimized by juveniles were individuals
between ages 12 and 19 (NOTE: Crimes against children below age 12
are not a part of NCVS).  The offender was a juvenile in nearly half of
these violent crimes. (Page 1)

Law enforcement agencies made nearly 2.3 million arrests of persons
under age 18 in 1992. (Page 2)

In 1992, juveniles accounted for 13 percent of all violent crimes
reported to law enforcement agencies and 18 percent of all violent
crime arrests.  Based on 1992 clearance data, juveniles were
responsible for: 9 percent of murders; 12 percent of aggravated
assaults; 14 percent of forcible rapes; 16 percent of robberies; 20
percent of burglaries; 23 percent of larceny-thefts; 24 percent of
motor vehicle thefts; and 42 percent of arsons. (Page 3)

The years between 1988 and 1991 saw a 38 percent increase in the rate
of juvenile arrests for violent crimes. (Page 6)

The number of violent juvenile crime arrests is projected to increase 22
percent between 1992 and 2010.  If current trends continue, by the
years 2010 the number of juvenile arrests for murder is expected to
increase 145 percent over the 1992 level; for forcible rape, 66 percent;
and for robbery, 58 percent.  (Page 7)

Between 1987 and 1991, the risk that a person between the ages of 12
and 17 would become a victim of a nonfatal violent crime increased 17
percent. (Page 17)

Black juveniles are four times more likely than white juveniles to be
homicide victims...Young black males have the highest homicide
victimization rate of any race/sex group.  The rate for black males was
twice that of black females, five times that of white males, and eight
times that of white females. (Page 19)

When juveniles commit homicide, most of their victims are friends or
acquaintances (53 percent).  Thirty-two percent of juvenile murder
victims are strangers, and 15 percent are family members. (Page 24)


Presented as a Public Service by
RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT

Women annually reported about 500,000 rapes and sexual assaults (for
1992 and 1993), with friends or acquaintances committing over half of
these crimes, and strangers responsible for about one in five rapes and
sexual assaults. (Ronet Bachman, Ph.D. and Linda E. Saltzman, Ph.D.,
1995, "Violence Against Women: Estimates from the Redesigned
Survey," National Crime Victimization Survey, U.S. Department of
Justice, Washington, D.C.)

Women were about six times more likely than men to experience
violence committed by an intimate. (Ibid.)

The average sentence for criminals convicted of rape in the United
States (and released in 1992) is 117 months.  The average time served
is 65 months, which equates to 56 percent of the actual sentence
served. For crimes of sexual assault, the average sentence is 72
months, and the average time served is 35 months, equating to 49
percent of time served. (Greenfeld, Lawrence A., 1995, "Prison
Sentences and Time Served for Violence," page 1, Bureau of
Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.)

As of the end of 1994, 40 states provide for the registration of sex
offenders.  Most states impose the registration requirement on an
offender at the time he or she is released on parole or probation, and
the requirement usually continues for the duration of the parole or
probation period, or for an average of 10 years. (National Victim
Center, 1995, "Community Notification of the Release of Sex
Offenders," page 1, Arlington, VA)

Every single minute in America, there are 1.3 forcible rapes of adult
women; 78 women are forcibly raped each hour.  Every day in
America, 1,871 women are forcibly raped, equating to 56,916 forcible
rapes every month.  Every year in our country, 683,000 American
women are forcible raped. (Kilpatrick, D., C. Edmunds, A. Seymour,
April 1992, "Rape in America: A Report to the Nation, " from "The
National Women's Study" sponsored by the National Institute of Drug
Abuse, National Victim Center and National Crime Victims Research
and Treatment Center at the Medical University of South Carolina,
Washdington, D.C.)

Thirteen percent of adult American women (or at least 12.1 million)
have been victims of at least one forcible rape in their lifetime. (Ibid.) 

More than six out of ten of all rape cases (61 percent) occurred before
victims reached the age of eighteen.  (Ibid.)

Only 16 percent of rapes are ever reported to police.  Most cases were
reported within 24 hours after the rape.  However, a substantial
minority (25 percent) was reported more than 24 hours after the rape.
(Ibid.)

Rape has a devastating impact on the mental health of victims, with
nearly one-third of all rape victims (31 percent) developing
Rape-related Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (RR-PTSD) in their
lifetimes. (Ibid.)

Rape-related Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (RR-PTSD) dramatically
increases American women's risk for major alcohol and other drug
abuse problems.  Compared to women who have never been raped,
rape victims with RR-PTSD were 13 times more likely to have two
or more major alcohol problems (20.1 percent vs. 1.5 percent), and 26
times more likely to have two or more major drug abuse problems (7.8
percent vs. 0.3 percent). (Ibid.)


Presented as a Public Service by
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND CRIME


In 30 percent of violent crime victimizations in 1992, victims reported that
they believed their assailants were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  In
half of violent crime victimizations, the victim did not know whether the
offender was under the influence. (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1995, "Drugs
and Crime Facts, 1994," page 4, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington,
D.C.)

In 1991, 49 percent of all state prison inmates reported that they were under
the influence of drugs or alcohol or both at the time they committed the
offense for which they were currently sentenced: 17 percent were under the
influence of drugs only, and 14 percent were under the influence of drugs and
alcohol.  Half of the state prisoners said they had taken illegal drugs during
the month before committing the crime. (Ibid., page 6).

Nearly 40 percent of the youth incarcerated in long-term, state-operated
facilities in 1987 said they were under the influence of drugs at the time of
their offense. (Ibid., page 6)

Almost 83 percent of youth in long-term, state operated juvenile facilities in
1987 reported use of an illegal drug in the past, and 63 percent had used an
illegal drug on a regular basis.  The most commonly mentioned drugs were
marijuana, cocaine, and amphetamines. (Ibid., page 7)

Overall, ten percent of Federal prison inmates in 1991, 17 percent of state
prison inmates in 1991, and 13 percent of convicted jail inmates in 1989 said
they committed their offense to obtain money for drugs. (Ibid., page 8)

The National Pretrial Reporting Program found that in 1992, of all released
defendants rearrested for a drug offense, 59 percent were once again granted
pretrial release. (Ibid., page 16)

The number of suspects prosecuted for Federal drug offenses increased from
7,697 in 1981 to 25,663 in 1991. (Ibid., page 18)

In 1993, the Drug Use Forecasting Report on Drug Use Among Juvenile
Arrestees/Detainees found the percent positive for marijuana ranged from 14
to 51 percent, with a median value of 26 percent; in 1992, the range was from
5 to 38 percent with a median of 16.5 percent (an almost ten percent increase
in the median). (National Institute of Justice, 1994, "1993 Annual Report on
Juvenile Arrestees/Detainees: Drugs and Crime in America's Cities," page 3,
U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.)

Ninety percent of 12th graders have friends who use alcohol; 63 percent know
someone who has a drinking problem; and 26 percent have friends who use
LSD, cocaine or heroin. (Luntz Research Companies, 1995, "National Survey
of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse," Center on Addiction and
Substance Abuse at Columbia University, New York, NY)


Presented as a Public Service by
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE AND CRIME


Each year, nearly one million individuals become victims of violent crime
while working or on duty.  These victimizations account for 15 percent of the
over six-and-a-half million acts of violence experienced by Americans age 12
or older. (Ronet Bachman, Ph.D., July 1994, "Violence and Theft in the
Workplace," page 1, National Crime Victimization Survey, Bureau of Justice
Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.)

Crime victimizations occurring in the workplace cost about half a million
employees 1,751,100 days of work each year, an average of 3.5 days per
crime.  This missed work resulted in over $55 million in lost wages annually,
not including days covered by sick and annual leave. (Ibid., page 1)

Victims who were working were as likely to face armed offenders as those
victimized while not working.  Over 30 percent of victims who were working
during a violent victimization faced armed offenders.  Almost a third of these
offenders had a handgun.  (Ibid., page 1)

Six out of ten incidents of workplace violence occurred in private companies. 
(Ibid., page 1).

Homicide was the third leading cause of occupational death from 1980 to
1985, accounting for 13 percent of all workplace deaths. Homicide is the
leading cause of death in the workplace for women. (National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health, 1992, "Homicide in U.S. Workplace,"  Morgantown. W V) 

According to a 1993 survey, more than two million Americans were victims
of a physical attack at work during the past year.  Another six million
Americans workers were threatened, and 16 million were harassed. 
(Northwestern National Life Insurance Company, 1993, "Fear and Violence in
the Workplace," page 4, Minneapolis, MN)

Victims of violence or harassment experienced twice the rate of stress-related
conditions, including depression, anger, insomnia, headaches and ulcers as
non-victims (35 percent versus 18 percent); were 20 times more likely to say
their productivity was reduced (21 percent versus one percent); and were ten
times more likely to want to change jobs (39 percent versus four percent).
(Ibid., page 6)

Most attackers and harassers were people that victims dealt with on a daily
basis.  Customers, clients and patients accounted for the largest segment of
attackers (44 percent).  Co-workers and bosses accounted for 86 percent of all
harassment at work, one-third of threats, and one-fourth of workplace attacks.
(Ibid., page 10)

The rate of workplace homicide has tripled in the last decade, and is now one
of the fastest growing types of homicide in the United States. (S. Anthony
Baron, Ph.D., 1993, Violence in the Workplace: A Prevention and
Management Guide for Businesses, page 15, Pathfinder Publishing, Ventura,
CA)

Presented as a Public Service by
1996

National Crime Victims' Rights Week

Award of Appreciation


Presented to


for Outstanding Service to Crime Victims


Date                                 Director
1996 NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK
RESOURCE GUIDE
      Now Available on Computer Disk

In order to augment your National Crime Victims' Rights Week
planning activities at the state and local levels, VALOR and the Office
for Victims of Crime is pleased to offer the written components of this
Resource Guide on computer disk in WordPerfect 6.1 for Windows or
ASCII/DOS format.  Instead of re-typing the many resources included
in the Guide, victim service providers can simply personalize the
existing documents on disk, saving time and human resources.

There is a fee of  $15.00  ($17.00 if shipped outside the U.S.)  to
cover the cost of the computer disk, processing, shipping and handling.

To request the 1996 National Crime Victims Rights Week Resource
Guide on computer disk, please complete the information below and
send to:

OVC Resource Center
User Services
Dept. F,  P.O. Box 6000
Rockville, MD  20849-6000
Attn:  1996 NCVRW Computer Disk

Name: ____________________________________________________   
                                                                                          
Agency/Organization: _________________________________________ 
                                                                                          
Mailing Address: ___________________________________________   
                                                                                          
City:  ___________________________   State: __________  

Zip: ___________________________                         

Telephone:  __________________________________  

Fax: _________________________________________            

To specify format & disk size, please check one box below:
_____  WP 6.1 for Windows  3" disk (1587534H)   
_____  ASCII/DOS  3" disk (1587536H) 
_____  WP 6.1 for Windows  5" disk (1587535H)   
_____  ASCII/DOS  5" disk (1587537H) 

All payments must be in U.S. dollars and drawn on a U.S. bank.
______        Payment enclosed, payable to NCJRS
______        Deduct this item from my NCJRS Deposit Account
              Account No.:________________________________
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              Account No.:________________________________
              Exp. Date:  ________________________________
              Signature:  ________________________________

If you have any questions regarding the availability of the Resource
Guide on computer disk, please contact the OVC Resource Center at
(800) 627-6872.