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### **Law Enforcement-Based Victim Services:Upholding Rights, Developing Programs, Improving Service to Victims Program**

July 2020 | Volume 13 | Issue 7

Victim-centered responses and services are vital to the  safety, stability, and healing of crime victims, as their use ultimately reduces  and prevents future victimization.1 While  law enforcement agencies address victim needs in a variety of ways, the lack of  time, resources, and expertise needed can stall the efforts to develop and adopt  victim-centered approaches to establish or expand victim services units. Based  on the Law  Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey,  between 2003 and 2013 the number of local law enforcement agencies employing  100 or more sworn personnel that have a full-time victim services unit only  increased slightly—from 33 percent to 36 percent.2 While  this increase demonstrates advancement in the field of law enforcement-based  victim services, it also demonstrates the need for continued investment in program  development and growth. 

In 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) funded the Law  Enforcement– Based Victim Services and Technical Assistance Program (LEV Program).  The goal of the LEV Program is to increase the number of victim services  programs in state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies and expand  partnerships with community-based programs to serve the broader needs and  rights of all crime victims. OVC has funded a total of 52 state, local, and  tribal law enforcement jurisdictions as LEV Program grantees to date. These  agencies represent police departments, campus police, and sheriff’s offices and  include a blend of small, mid-sized, and large jurisdictions spread across the  United States. With additional sites being funded by OVC in FY 2020, more than  70 law enforcement agencies across the country will be actively working to  improve law enforcement–based victim services.

The International  Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is proud to serve as the dedicated training  and technical assistance (TTA) provider for the LEV Program. The IACP provides  TTA through a multifaceted approach, using 
          - virtual trainings geared towards both executive  leadership and program staff; 
          - publication resource series; 
          - in-person trainings through regional meetings  and site visits. 

While all LEV sites receive support and technical  assistance tailored to meet their needs, OVC and IACP prioritize the  availability of these resources to the larger law enforcement field. To diminish  the gap of resources intended specifically for the development and enhancement  of law enforcement–based victim services, IACP ensures LEV resources are accessible  through the LEV website and other channels. 

 The LEV publication series include topic-specific  resources and template packages. The**topic-specific resource****series** discusses important issues related to improving law enforcement–based victim  services. This series is intended to promote conversation and facilitate  decision-making related to victim services within each agency. The **template  package series** provides practical sample policies and forms that law  enforcement agencies can readily update to fit their own unique needs. 

 Four publications are currently available, including the  following: 
          - Topic-specific resource series                         - ***Establishing or  Enhancing Law Enforcement-Based Victim Services – What are the key  considerations?***  assists  agencies in assessing strengths and areas of improvement in their current  victim services capacity and provides and overview of concepts that are  critical for agencies to consider as they develop or enhance their victim  services programs.
            - ***Victims’ Rights  Jurisdiction Profiles***  provide  state-specific information related to victims’ rights legislation; foundational  information related to privacy, confidentiality, and privilege; and discussion  regarding legal intersections, such as  Brady  v.  Maryland  and  Giglio  v.  United States . 
          - Template package series                         - ***Template Package I:  Getting Started***  provides sample victim  services personnel job descriptions, interview questions, code of ethics, and  personnel standards and responsibilities.
            - ***Template Package II:  Protocols & Documentation***  provides sample victim  services protocols and documentation samples. 

Future publications are in development to expand on  content provided through virtual trainings and existing publications. The  future publications will be focused on the following topics: 
          - Topic-specific resource series                       - Advocacy Parameters  – What crime types are served? Where is the victim services unit placed in the  agency structure? Who supervises the victim services personnel? 
            - Documentation  – How is documentation handled? Have protocols been established for Brady  disclosure, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and the  Freedom of Information Act? 
            - Partnerships  – Does cross-training occur with victim services personnel and other agency personnel?  Are formal agreements established with community agencies?
            - Incorporating  Victim Services into the Agency  – Have victim services positions been  incorporated into the department budget? Have victim services personnel been  incorporated into department committees?
          - Template package series                       - *Template Package III*  –  Sample topic-specific pamphlets to support service  provision to victims. 
            - *Template Package IV* –  Sample forms and practices related to the use of student  interns and volunteers.
            - *Template Package V* – Sample training material to support internal and external training  on victim services topics.
            - *Template Package VI* – Provides a template for comprehensive victim services program assessment.

Law enforcement agencies interested in improving victim  services within their agencies are encouraged to visit the LEV  Program web page to find the most current publications, webinars, and other  tools. 

          Emily Burton-Blank and Ariel Ervin          Co-Program Directors, LEV Program           International Association of Chiefs of Police

Sharron Fletcher          Office for Victims of Crime

References:          1. Brian A. Reaves, Bureau of Justice Statistics. *Police  Response to Domestic Violence, 2006–2015*. NCJ 250180, Washington, DC: U.S.  Department of Justice. Office of Justice Programs; 2017.           Campbell, Rebecca. 2006. “Rape Survivors’ Experiences  With the Legal and Medical Systems: Do Rape Victim Advocates Make a  Difference?” Violence Against Women 12 (1): 1-16. doi:10.1177/1077801205277539.

2. Brian A. Reaves, Bureau of Justice Statistics. *Local Police Departments,  2013: Personnel, Policies, and Practices.*NCJ 248677, Washington, DC: U.S.  Department of Justice. Office of Justice Programs; 2015.

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