Complete victim assistance programs offer a continuum of services, including prevention, crisis and initial intervention, recovery assistance, collaboration and advocacy. The loss has an identifiable cause. The legal or moral context of the loss entitles people to social concern. Underwood asked the audience to think about whether someone who's shot breaking into a house is a victim, whether a gang member hit in a drive-by shooting is a victim or whether an inmate assaulted in prison is a victim. Crime victims can be distinguished from victims of natural disasters such as floods, Underwood said.
People become crime victims as a result of actions by others and are usually isolated.
Flood victims have a sense of togetherness, because they've experienced the same event, and are accepted. Some crime victims may face stigmas. An exception is auto theft. About 85 percent of all crime is property crime, he said. People may not report crimes to police because of fear of retaliation, fear of the criminal justice system and desire not to have others know they were victims.