Assignment: Victim-Focused Programs in the Criminal Justice System/Replies

Running head: VICTIM-FOCUSED PROGRAMS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM 1

Assignment: Victim-Focused Programs in the Criminal Justice System

Brianna M. Fernandez

Walden University

Dr. Tony Smith

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VICTIM-FOCUSED PROGRAMS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM 2

Assignment: Victim-Focused Programs in the Criminal Justice System

According to an article by Lydia Saad (2020), 15% of adults in the United States were

subject to criminal victimization within this past year, and approximately three percent were

victims of violent crime. Unfortunately, there is no genuine way to avoid victimization

throughout our lives. Every individual has come to be a victim; whether the victimization is a

result of a crime as an adult or perhaps being bullied as a child, either way, all victims need

support. This document will serve as a victim-focused program proposal to encourage positive

change concerning the needs of crime victims. Additionally, this paper will describe how and

why this proposal will be beneficial within the community and with aiding victims and offenders.

Victim-Focused Program Proposal

The program's victim-focused approach will provide advocacy services for every crime

victim by providing and accessing an assortment of resources tending to the needs of crime

victims and offenders. The goal of the program is to educate, assist, and support victims

throughout their healing process, as well as provide information to victims who are not yet

prepared to seek help. Additionally, the program will educate offenders on empathy, victim

impact, communication, conflict resolution, and utilize behavioral approaches to discourage

criminal behavior. The program promotes empowerment, dependability, advocacy, resiliency,

teamwork, and continuous personal development.

Within the community, the program will operate as an educational resource, providing

workshops on victim services, crime prevention, personal safety methods, and inform the

community on what they can do to help crime victims. Moreover, the workshops can possibly

bring the community closer together, allowing the victims to access a more extensive support

system.

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VICTIM-FOCUSED PROGRAMS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM 3

The program will provide overall support to crime victims based on research evidence on

the impact of support for victims following a crime. According to Green & Pomeroy (2007),

victims of violent and non-violent crimes have substantial differences in their experiences

following their victimization. To victims who are traumatized, positive social support is critical,

giving them reassurance that they have individuals who they feel safe going to when they need to

talk, companionship, and validation (Green & Pomeroy, 2007). Victims of non-violent crime

experience difficulties in asking for help, and their support system (e.g., family, friends) may not

validate their needs following a crime (Green & Pomeroy, 2007). The program's first

engagement with victims will focus on collecting information, assessing their individual needs

and connecting the victim to services such as mental health, medical, legal, victim support

groups, housing, and employment. Research evidence implies that the direct effect of social

support for victims significantly improves their emotional, mental, and physical health by

providing defense attributes towards stress (Green & Pomeroy, 2007). Additionally, the program

will employ case management strategies when interacting with victims by teaching them coping

skills, de-escalation techniques, assisting in legal proceedings, and accompanying victims to

court appearances.

A basis designed by The Centre states, "you cannot change offenders without also

changing the communities where offenders reside" (Byrne, 2013). The program will apply this

basis when providing services to offenders by collaborating with the criminal justice system for

rehabilitative services for offenders and assisting offenders in removing themselves from an

environment that encourages unlawful activities. To further support offender rehabilitation, the

program will provide an additional program, a cognitive skills program. According to research

by Hollin & Palmer (2009), cognitive skills programs aim to assist the offender in making

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VICTIM-FOCUSED PROGRAMS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM 4

personal changes, improving conflict resolution skills, and encourage alternative ways of

thinking, resulting in low reoffending rates. Behavioral approaches employed will be covert

sensitization, involving the offender repeatedly visualizing an offense scenario, in lucid sensory

detail, and the potentially severe implications that would follow (Hanafy, Clervoy & Brenot,

2016). The theory of classical conditioning theorizes that the offender will learn to replace the

stimulating emotion that motivated them to commit the crime will be replaced by the negative

sensations associated with the implications of committing the crime (Hanafy, Clervoy & Brenot,

2016).

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VICTIM-FOCUSED PROGRAMS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM 5

References

Byrne, J. M. (2013). Global perspectives on victims, offenders, and communities. Victims &

Offenders, 8(4), 347–356. https://doi-

org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1080/15564886.2013.846683

Finklea, K., Fernandes-Alcantara, A. L., & Siskin, A. (2014). Restoring Victims: Services and

Benefits. Congressional Research Service: Report, 4.

Green, D. L., & Pomeroy, E. C. (2007). Crime Victims: What Is the Role of Social

Support? Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 15(2), 97–113. https://doi-

org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1300/J146v15n02_06

Hollin, C., & Palmer, E. (2009). Cognitive skills programmes for offenders. Psychology, Crime

& Law, 15(2/3), 147–164. https://doi-

org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1080/10683160802190871

Hanafy, I., Clervoy, L., & Brenot, P. (2016). Exhibitionists, so much

inhibition…. Sexologies, 25(4), e61-e63.

Winkel, F. W. (1991). Police Communication Programmes Aimed at Burglary Victims: a review

of studies and an experimental evaluation. Journal of Community & Applied Social

Psychology, 1(4), 275.

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