VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME - THE EFFECTS, THEIR NEEDS AND VICTIM ASSISTANCE In a forthcoming chapter on victims of violent crime, Commissioner OConnell explains: To cater for the whole range of victims’ needs a mix of practical, legal, rehabilitative and financial assistance should be available (JSU, 1999; JSU, 2000; Wyrsch 2002). Given the range of needs and effects, interventions should facilitate psychological ‘first aid’, including crisis responses, intermediate support and long-term-support (O’Connell 2013). Barriers to accessing assistance include having limited or no information about the availability of services or their potential benefit (Kelly, Merrill, Shumway, Alvidrez & Boccellari 2010). Freeman and Smith (2014) suggest that the police have a role to play as a source of information on victim support services and as referral agents, but also concede that many victims of violence do not report their victimisation, so other occupations also need to distribute information on medical, therapeutic, financial and practical assistance. Their list of probable occupations includes: doctors, community health workers, and psychologists. Many of the problems encountered in developing and implementing victim assistance programs mirror those inherent in the evolution of social welfare programs. These include competition between disciplines, short-falls in funding, lack of outreach, and, uncertainty regarding the efficacy of interventions, as well as the absence of ‘true’ measures of effectiveness (see Salasin, 1981). There is also the possibility of causing more harm. Campbell, Sefl, Barnes, Ahrens, Wasco, and Zaragoza-Diesfeld (1999) found that negative experiences with health professionals can increase post-traumatic stress symptoms. Helpers’ biases and misconceptions, for instance, can seriously undermine the therapeutic value of victim-oriented interventions and unskilled support workers can cause secondary victimisation (Winkel, Blaauw & Wiseman 1999; see also Wursch 2002 on mismatch of victims’ needs and victim assistance on offer to victims). Furthermore, the impact of violent crime can mean that victims will traverse both the criminal justice sector and the health sector; yet there can be competing objects between the sectors (Chemlinsky, 1981) and the efficient and effective functioning of linkages between these systems can bear strongly on victims’ experiences and their endeavours to cope (ACT Department of Justice & Community Safety, 2003). There is, therefore, a need for proper case management and integrated victim assistance (Davis, Lurigo & Skogan 1997). In addition, improved outcomes for victims might not be achieved if service integration is not contextualised and tailored mindful of the existence, availability, and accessibility of local services (Ochberg & Spates 1981). Australian research (e.g., Day et al., 2010; Meyer 2014) likewise highlights the importance of an integrated response network comprising services relevant to victims’ needs. Such a network should provide for stream-lined, inter-agency referrals and brokerage of needs-driven interventions.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 23:10:28 +0000
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