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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri

Time: 11:47 am

Results for victim services

146 results found

Author: Wang, Shirley Kohsin

Title: Rape: How Women, the Community and the Health Sector Respond

Summary: This review documents currently available research findings on the perceptions of adult women victims of sexual violence, their responses to incidents of sexual violence, and the types of interventions available to address issues of sexual violence, and to meet various needs of victims in the aftermath of assault.

Details: Geneva: World Health Organization, 2007. 127p.

Source: Internet Resource

Year: 2007

Country: United States

URL:

Shelf Number: 117317

Keywords:
Rape
Sexual Violence
Victim Services

Author: Graham, Jenny

Title: Testaments of Harm: A Qualitative Evaluation of the Victim Personal Statements Scheme

Summary: This report, commissioned by the U.K. Home Office, sought to explore the expectations and experience of victims of crime who had been offered the opportunity to participate in the Victim Personal Statement Scheme. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 28 victims of crime from two police force areas. This report presents the key research findings drawn from an analysis of the victims accounts of the scheme.

Details: London: National Centre for Social Research, 2004. 72p.

Source:

Year: 2004

Country: United Kingdom

URL:

Shelf Number: 117289

Keywords:
Victim Services
Victimization

Author: Clawson, Heather J.

Title: Study of HHS Programs Serving Human Trafficking Victims: Final Report

Summary: This report examines how the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services programs are currently addressing the needs of international and domestic victims of human trafficking in the United States, with an emphasis on identifying statutory, policy, programmatic, and other barriers to providing effective, comprehensive services to this population and possible promising practices to address these challenges.

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 2009. 48p., app.

Source:

Year: 2009

Country: United States

URL:

Shelf Number: 118159

Keywords:
Human Trafficking
Victim Services

Author: Mayhew, Pat

Title: Exploring Victimisation in Sole-Parent Households: Findings from the New Zealand Crime and Safety Survey 2006

Summary: This report presents further results from the 2006 New Zealand Crime and Safety Survey to look at the experiences of sole-parent households as victims of crime. The main focus of the report is on aspects of victimization risk among sole-parent households compared with other households with children. It looks at how the two family groups compared in regards to: their concern about crime; the coverage of and membership in Neighbourhood Support; and their awareness of agencies that can support victims.

Details: Wellington: New Zealand Ministry of Justice, 2009. 76p.

Source:

Year: 2009

Country: New Zealand

URL:

Shelf Number: 118368

Keywords:
Single-Parent Families
Victim Services
Victimization Surveys
Victims of Crime (New Zealand)

Author: Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies

Title: Date Rape Cases Among Young Women: Strategies for Support and Prevention

Summary: This report investigates the incidence of data rape among young women in five European countries including Cyprus, Greece, Latvia, Malta and Lithuania. The study investigates the incidence of data rape among female students in each participating country; explores the attitudes and experiences of female students regarding date rape; and develops recommendations, policies and strategies for victim support and the prevention of sexual violence and date rape.

Details: Nicosia, Cyprus: University of Nicosia Press, 2008. 55p.

Source:

Year: 2008

Country: Europe

URL:

Shelf Number: 118535

Keywords:
Date Rape
Rape
Sexual Assault
Sexual Violence
Victim Services

Author: Kifer, Misty M.

Title: To Protect and Serve: A Look at a Collaborative Effort to Address Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

Summary: This is an evaluation of a collaborative project in Bingham County, Idaho. Since 1997, three agencies in Bingham County, Idaho have received STOP funding at one time or another. The Bingham County Sheriff's Office, the Bingham Crisis Center, and the Blackfoot Police Department (BPD) received grant money to develop and strengthen support services for victims of domestic violence as well as improving law enforcement strategies to convict perpetrators of violent crimes against women. The first agency to receive STOP funding was the Bingham Crisis Center. This set the course for a very innovative program designed to address domestic violence and sexual assaults. Funds received in 1997 helped to establish the Bingham County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Task Force. This task force, comprised of thirteen key agencies, established a protocol in 1998 addressing each agency's responsibilities in cases involving domestic violence and sexual assaults. Task Force agencies include the Blackfoot Police Department, the Bingham County Sheriff's Office, the Bingham County Prosecutor's Office, 7th District Judicial Judges, local emergency room personnel, the Bingham Crisis Center and the Blackfoot City Prosecutors. The establishment of the task force allowed agencies to work together to identify problem areas, solutions, and opportunities for interagency training. In the following years, the Bingham County Sheriff's Office and the Blackfoot Police Department received funding for digital cameras and other recording devises to better document cases for prosecution. The Bingham County Sheriff's Office also received funding for a full-time domestic violence investigator. The Bingham Crisis Center received funding to provide victim services, such as individual and group counseling and bilingual/bicultural services for victims. Further, all three agencies participated in interagency training. This evaluation describes the project's genesis, its goals and structure, how it operated, the methods used to evaluate its success, and whether it met its goals. The majority of information provided in this evaluation is culminated from quarterly grant reports submitted by the three Bingham County subgrantees to the Idaho State Police Department of Planning, Grants and Research. These quarterly reports have consistently contained valuable information about project goals, objectives, and any obstacles or achievements reached by the program. Due to these self-evaluation efforts, resource and time restrictions, this report will utilize the data and information provided by these programs along with additional analysis of domestic violence offenses that have taken place within Bingham Countyand whether it met its goals. Information used in this report is taken from each project's quarterly program reports, the case management records of the Bingham Crisis Center and Bingham County Sheriff's Office, newspaper reports, as well as police reports submitted through Idaho's Incident-Based Reporting System (IIBRS).

Details: Meridian, ID: Idaho State Police, Planning, Grants and Research Bureau, Statistical Analysis Center, 2008. 33p.

Source: Accessed April 25, 2018 at: https://www.isp.idaho.gov/pgr/Research/documents/BinghamEvaluation6-24_001.pdf

Year: 2008

Country: United States

URL: https://www.isp.idaho.gov/pgr/Research/documents/BinghamEvaluation6-24_001.pdf

Shelf Number: 117145

Keywords:
Domestic Violence (Idaho)
Family Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Sexual Assault
Victim Services
Violence Against Women
Violent Crime

Author: Melton, Ada Pecos

Title: Final Report: Participatory Evaluation of the Tribal Victim Assistance Programs at the Lummi Nation and Passamaquaddy Tribe

Summary: This report summarizes the results of process evaluations of two tribal victim assistance (TVA) programs - the Lummi Victims of Crime (LVOC) Program in Washington State and the Passamaquoddy Tribal Victim Outreach Advocate (TVOA) Program in Maine - both of which are federally funded “on-reservation” victim assistance programs intended to provide permanent, accessible, and responsive crime-victim assistance services on tribal lands. The evaluation focus was: 1) to examine the process used by each TVA Program to address identified problems; 2) to determine how well the TVA programs fit or met victim needs in each tribal community; 3) to understand the program impact on clients; and 4) to identify possible outcomes achieved by the program.

Details: Final report to the U.S. National Institute of Justice

Source: Internet Resource

Year: 0

Country: United States

URL:

Shelf Number: 117346

Keywords:
American Indians
Domestic Violence
Victim Services
Victims of Crime
Violence Against Women

Author: Payne, Sara

Title: Redefining Justice: Addressing the Individual Needs of Victims and Witnesses

Summary: 'Redefining Justice’ reports on the findings of a nine-month study of services currently provided to victims and witnesses of crime in the U.K., based on meetings with around 1,000 people including victims, witnesses and staff in organisations that support them.

Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2009. 49p.

Source: Internet Resource

Year: 2009

Country: United Kingdom

URL:

Shelf Number: 117351

Keywords:
Victim Services
Witnesses

Author: Olotu, Michael K.

Title: Evaluation Report: National Victim Services Program

Summary: This evaluation was conducted in response to the Treasury Board Secretariat’s (TBS)requirement for an evaluation of the Correctional Service Canada’s (CSC) National Victim Services Program (NVSP) during the third year (2009-2010) of implementation of the program. It addressed the continued relevancy, success and cost-effectiveness of the program in the context of its implementation and in advance of a potential request for augmentation of resources. Prior to 2007, CSC had a process by which information sharing with victims was provided by institutional coordinators of case management and community parole supervisors. Due to the increasing rate of victim registrations and the federal government’s commitment to providing victims a voice in corrections and the criminal justice system, CSC implemented a new National Victim Services Program in September 2007 to better respond to the increasing needs of victims. The implementation of the NVSP consisted of the establishment of a model of service delivery based on regional clusters where dedicated regional positions provide services to victims within their respective regions. It was expected that the implementation of the NVSP would improve the integration of services within CSC, increase awareness among CSC staff members, victims and other criminal justice partners of services offered to victims by CSC, and improve relationships with victims and victim organizations. It was also intended to enhance relationships with other federal partners, including the National Office for Victims (NOV), the National Parole Board (NPB) and the Policy Centre for Victims Issues (PCVI). The evaluation examined the extent to which the NVSP attained or demonstrated progress towards the achievement of these key outcomes.

Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service Canada, Evaluation Branch, Policy Sector, 2010. 67p.

Source: Internet Resource: File #394-2-64: Accessed October 9, 2010 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/pa/nvsp/nvsp-eng.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: Canada

URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/pa/nvsp/nvsp-eng.pdf

Shelf Number: 119907

Keywords:
Victim Services
Victims of Crime, Services for

Author: Blixt, Madeleine

Title: Crime Victims' Contacts with the Justice System: An Augmentative STudy Based on the Swedish Crime Survey 2006-2008 and Focus Group Interviews

Summary: The treatment received by crime victims at the hands of the justice system should be characterised by consideration and professionalism. This is important for several reasons. When the agencies of the justice system create a sense of confidence and security, this increases both the crime victim’s chances of recovery and the chances of ensuring that the justice system will function effectively while at the same time safeguarding the legal rights of the individual. The perception that crime victims are well-treated by the police, prosecutors and the courts is also important for the public’s confidence in the justice system more generally. Against this background, it is not surprising that the agencies of the justice system have for a long time now been working to improve their treatment of crime victims. During the first decade of the 21st century alone, a wide range of initiatives have been taken to improve the situation of crime victims. The objective of this report is in part to identify well-functioning aspects of the justice system’s work, but also to focus on aspects that may still require further consideration in relation to the justice system’s contacts with the victims of crime. This publication represents a translation of an abridged version of the principal report published in connection with the study Crime victims’ contacts with the justice system, which in turn constitutes part of a more extensive research and development project that has been conducted at the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention, entitled The public’s contacts with and confidence in the justice system. The project has already resulted in two reports based on data from the Swedish Crime Survey (SCS), the one an analysis of Relationship violence against women and men (Brå 2009:12), the other a study of Teenagers’ confidence in the justice system and their propensity to report crime (Brå, 2009:20). This, the main report from the project, presents on the one hand a more detailed, quantitative analysis of Swedish Crime Survey data on public attitudes towards and experiences of the justice system, and on the other a qualitative analysis of data from focus group interviews conducted with crime victims. The report is first and foremost intended for those working in the police, the prosecution service and the courts, but its target audience also includes others who come into contact with crime victims in various ways, such as voluntary support organisations and the social services.

Details: Stockholm: Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention, 2010. 31p.

Source: Internet Resource: English Summary of Bra Report 2010:1: Accessed December 2, 2010 at: http://www.bra.se/extra/measurepoint/?module_instance=4&name=Summary_Crime_victims_contacts_with_the%20justice_system_webb.pdf&url=/dynamaster/file_archive/100902/bfd299001dae9e72db200a821d6f0b08/Summary%255fCrime%255fvictims%255fcontacts%255fwith%255fthe%2520justice%255fsystem%255fwebb.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: Sweden

URL: http://www.bra.se/extra/measurepoint/?module_instance=4&name=Summary_Crime_victims_contacts_with_the%20justice_system_webb.pdf&url=/dynamaster/file_archive/100902/bfd299001dae9e72db200a821d6f0b08/Summary%255fCrime%255fvictims

Shelf Number: 120338

Keywords:
Victim Services
Victimization
Victims of Crime, Services for (Sweden)

Author: Parkinson, Debra

Title: Supporting Victims Through the Legal Process: The Role of Sexual Assault Service Providers

Summary: The secondary victimisation suffered by women in sexual assault court cases is well documented and is a factor in women's reluctance to report sexual assault. Over recent years, state, territory and national governments have attempted to minimise the negative impacts of the law. Tasmania, for example, has introduced initiatives to increase access to Legal Aid and court support for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. The ACT has offered specialist training to police, prosecutors and victim support workers, with new legislation in 2008 providing victims with improved protection during the court process. In NSW, the Attorney-General's Criminal Justice Sexual Offences Taskforce developed 70 recommendations on ways to improve the responsiveness of the criminal justice system to victims of sexual assault. These government initiatives affirm a general awareness that women's experience of the criminal justice system must improve if more women are to pursue justice through the courts. This Wrap examines one initiative to improve women's experience the criminal justice system through the provision of support for victims throughout the process. It is informed by consultations with sexual assault counsellors who have worked extensively in helping women navigate the legal system, and by other key informants. It draws on their expertise to distil strategies for effective practice. The case studies at the end of this publication illustrate a range of initiatives designed to improve justice outcomes for victims of sexual assault.

Details: Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2010. 16p.

Source: Internet Resource: ACSSA Wrap No. 8: Accessed December 2, 2010 at: http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/wrap/wrap8/w8.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/wrap/wrap8/w8.pdf

Shelf Number: 120342

Keywords:
Rape
Sexual Assault (Australia)
Victim Services
Victims of Crimes

Author: van Staden, Lauren

Title: A Qualitative Study of a Dedicated Sexual Assault Investigation Unit

Summary: This report presents the findings of a research study looking at the perceptions of those working in a dedicated sexual assault unit, set up as a pilot project for six months in September 2008. The Unit included dedicated police and non-police staff and was responsible for the processing, investigation and charging of sexual assault cases and victim care. Perceived benefits of the Unit focused predominantly on the improved quality of investigations and enhanced victim care. Many perceived these improvements to have been facilitated by the creation of dedicated and co-located posts, which allowed for a faster and more focused service. However, despite the perceived benefits of a dedicated team, few of those working in the Unit felt that the team had contributed to improved case outcomes.

Details: London: Home Office, 2010. 23p.

Source: Internet Resource: Home Office Research Report 48: Accessed December 9, 2010 at: http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/horr48c.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/horr48c.pdf

Shelf Number: 110834

Keywords:
Police Investigations
Sexual Assault (U.K.)
Victim Services
Victims of Crime, Services for

Author: Kercher, Glen

Title: Assessing the Risk of Intimate Partner Violence

Summary: There has been a dramatic transformation over the past 20 years in the response to intimate partner violence (IPV). These changes are apparent in criminal justice processing, the availability of social and advocacy services, the provision of emergency medical services, and from public opinion. Agencies dealing with victims and offenders have adopted a number of mechanisms to identify high risk cases in order to respond appropriately to safeguard the victim and reduce the re-occurrence of violence. This has led to an increasing demand for accurate risk assessment. The central purpose of this report is to identify the predictors of IPV and to assess the accuracy of different approaches and models in predicting risk of future harm or lethality to victims. These findings have broad implications for law enforcement, victim services, and prosecutors.

Details: Huntsville, TX: Crime Victims' Institute, Sam Houston State University, 2010. 14p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 10, 2010 at: http://www.crimevictimsinstitute.org/documents/CVI_AssessingRiskFinal_1-21-10.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: United States

URL: http://www.crimevictimsinstitute.org/documents/CVI_AssessingRiskFinal_1-21-10.pdf

Shelf Number: 120084

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Risk Assessment
Victim Services

Author: Penhale, Bridget

Title: Intimate Partner Violence Against Older Women. National Report - United Kingdom

Summary: Intimate partner violence against older women (IPVoW) is a serious issue, which has received increasing attention over the past decade. However, the majority of this research has been conducted in the United States and there is a paucity of research investigating IPVoW in Europe. Research has largely neglected to investigate the issue of double marginality (age and gender) and the intersections between these forms of marginalization: research on elder abuse has focused on age and largely neglected considerations of gender, whilst research from within the sphere of domestic violence has not fully considered aspects relating to age. Therefore, the main aim of this national study was to investigate the extent and nature of the problem of partner violence against older women in the UK. The study formed part of a larger international research project which investigated the problem of IPVoW in six European countries which included: Austria; Germany; Hungary; Poland; and Portugal, as well as the UK, with the German Police University (DHPol) in Muenster German coordinating the international research project. All of the partner organizations contributed to the design of the research and employed the same methodological approaches to investigate the problem of IPVoW in their respective national contexts. The current research project had a multi-method and multi-perspective approach and consisted of five distinct research phases: 1. A review of existing literature was conducted to develop knowledge of the prevalence and incidence of intimate partner violence against older women. 2. An institutional survey was conducted to investigate key organizations’ experiences of providing support to older female victims of IPV. 3. Interviews with older female victims of IPV were carried out to explore older women’s experiences of partner violence and their help seeking behaviour. 4. Interviews with staff, that had experience of supporting older women and/or survivors of IPV, were also conducted to investigate their experiences and perspectives on this issue. 5. A national network of experts was convened, with representatives from national organizations (e.g. from the field of violence against women, law enforcement agencies and policy-makers). These networks supported data collection and contributed to the recommendations for further research/data collection, service development and policy. Chapter 2 of this national report appraises international research on IPVoW and provides a summary of research and policy relevant to this issue at the international level. Chapter 3 discusses the social and cultural issues relating to IPVoW and highlights key developments, which have occurred over recent decades that have been influential in how this problem is conceptualised and managed within UK society. Although the issue of elder abuse was first recognized in the UK in the mid 1970s, it was not until some 15 years later that the issue was fully iden- tified as a social problem in need of attention. The first policy guidance on the issue was produced in England in 1993 although this was somewhat limited in scope. Subsequent guidance was produced in England and Wales in 2000 and related to all adult service users who might be vulnerable to differing forms of abuse rather than specifically older people. The policy guidance in both nations is currently under review. Over the past decade the discrete nations of the UK have developed somewhat different approaches to the issue of abuse of vulnerable adults. Generally, the issue of IPVoW has not been considered separately to that of other adult service users of community and social care services, but is conceptualized as an element of the abuse of vulnerable adults (known as adults at risk in Scotland). Domestic violence has mostly been considered in relation to younger adult women and is dealt with differently to the issue of adult abuse. There has been rather limited attention to the issue of IPVoW within domestic violence services and provision until recent years. Chapter 4 presents the findings from the review of existing UK data. A series of information sources were reviewed including police and crime statistics and information provided by a range of support services. The data available on IPVoW was critically evaluated and suggestions regarding how some of the limitations of data collection methods could be overcome were presented. The review of existing data revealed that there is currently a shortage of accurate data relating to the prevalence, extent and nature of intimate partner violence against older women in the UK. The research also highlighted key areas, which warrant further investigation. It was suggested that in order to gain an understanding of the prevalence of IPVoW, methods which investigate the prevalence, as well as incidence, of partner violence against older women should be employed, routine collection of demographic information of service users by support services (older adult services, domestic violence agencies and adult safeguarding/protection teams) is required and women aged over 59 years should be included within the self completion module of British Crime Survey on domestic abuse. It is also proposed that future research needs to explore the perspectives and experiences of those older female victims of partner violence who have not engaged with support services. Chapter 5 describes the findings from the national institutional survey. Informa- tion obtained from the institutional survey revealed information on the extent to which older women have been engaging with support services for older people and/or services for victims of domestic violence in the past 4 years. Thus the survey was a first step in exploring the extent of case knowledge about IPVoW within relevant agencies; coupled with the interviews held with professionals about their knowledge and understanding of such situations and experiences of working in this field, a greater depth of information and understanding about the issue and about service responses to older women who experience IPVoW has been obtained. The survey also collected information on the types of support provided to older female victims of partner violence by the different agencies. The survey was sent out in the autumn of 2009, and unfortunately, only obtained a low response rate (19%). Some of the reasons for this low rate are discussed in the chapter, together with other limitations of this element of the study. Just under half of the respondents (46%) were from local authority Social Services and over one third (35%) were from domestic violence agencies. Of the responding agencies, 85% reported that they had knowledge of cases of IPV and older women in the relevant time period (2006-2009). Most of the respondents provided information about cases of IPVoW that their organization had been involved with between 2006 and 2008, some were also able to provide information pertaining to 2009. Almost three-quarters of responding agencies (73%) provided information covering the entire period of 2006-2009. Apart from one national organization, which reported relatively high numbers of cases known to them, most agencies reported modest numbers of cases that had been known to them, with a range between 0 and 331 cases of women over 60 years who had experienced IPV during 2006-2008 and a range between 0 and 121 such cases relating to the first nine months of 2009. The majority of cases known to agencies during this period concerned women in the age range of 60-74 years. Whilst 96% of responding agencies reported that they had knowledge of cases relating to older women aged between 60 and 74 years during the time period, only 82% of agencies indicated such knowledge about cases relating to older women who were older than 75 years. Chapters 6 and 7 describe findings from the series of interviews, which were conducted with 10 women who had experienced IPV and 35 professionals who had provided support to older women/survivors of domestic abuse. Victims’ and professionals’ experiences and perspectives relating to partner violence against older women were explored. One of the main findings from these series of interviews was that partner violence does not appear to decrease or stop as women enter into ‘older age’. Interestingly, however, in some cases the type of violence women were subjected to did change. Situations were described where perpetrators who were no longer capable of physical violence (e.g. due to physical frailty) resorted to using alternative methods of abuse (e.g. increased psychological abuse). Women felt that it was fear that had often caused them the greatest difficulties when it came to leaving their violent relationship, considering leaving the situation or accessing help for the violence they had experienced. Fear of other people’s reactions, fear that the violence would get worse if they tried to leave/sought help and fear they would not be able to support themselves financially were all significant barriers to leaving and even help seeking in more general terms. The findings seemed to suggest that a proportion of older women may be at an increased vulnerability because of the dependence on their partners for financial security and/or their health care needs (and that in some situations a double dependency may occur, which may further heighten risk). Both the staff and women interviewed felt that there was limited information available to older female victims of IPV regarding the help and support which is available to older women who have experienced partner violence. One of the main recommendations which emerged from the interviews with the female victims of IPV and the support service professionals, was that organizations (domestic violence and older adult services) need to raise older women’s awareness about the services and support they can offer for older female victims of intimate partner violence. This requires the adjustment of terminology used in publicity / campaigns so that it is more widely understood by this group of women (e.g. avoidance of terms such as ‘domestic violence’). Materials need to be developed in the languages that are used in local communities so that these campaigns are both inclusive and effective. It was also proposed that staff from services, which have regular contact with older women (e.g. health services, domiciliary care providers, housing services) should have training in the recognition, identification and management of intimate partner violence in older people. Another key recommendation was that there needs to be increased collaboration between specialist domestic violence agencies and organizations that provide support for older people/vulnerable adults, including relevant local authority teams, so that the sharing of experiences and knowledge transfer can be established, to the benefit of all (including most centrally older women who experience IPVoW. It was argued, by women and staff alike, that the provision of a variety of mobile interventions (e.g. floating support, support groups, ‘buddying’ schemes) and improved emergency accommodation, which is appropriate and accessible for older women, is also essential. An additional recommendation was that older women need to be able to access financial support if they choose to leave a violent relationship. It was suggested that financial support needs to be available for older women who are dependent on their abusive partners for financial security, and that this should include access to emergency financial support in cases of urgent need. In cases where women are not eligible for community care grants or housing benefits (because of savings or pensions) these women should be eligible for alternative sources of financial support, this may be particularly important in cases where women do not have access to their financial assets. Chapter 8 details how a national network of interested individuals and organizations was convened over the course of the two-year research study. A detailed account of how the national network contributed to the current research project and helped develop the final series of recommendations is outlined. Finally, chapter 9 discusses the findings from all of the different phases of the research study and presents the comprehensive list of recommendations relating to future research, policy and practice. Whilst it is recognised that some of the recommendations are specific to older female victims of IPV it is proposed that a number of these recommendations would benefit all victims of domestic violence and/or vulnerable older women. It is suggested that the recommendations made within this national report need to be given due attention by all those who are involved with this issue at policy, research or service levels so that older women are not left to suffer from partner violence in silence and that their voices may be heard.

Details: Sheffield, UK: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sheffield, 2010. 243p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2011 at: http://www.ipvow.org/images/stories/ipvow/reports/IPVoW_UK_englisch_final.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.ipvow.org/images/stories/ipvow/reports/IPVoW_UK_englisch_final.pdf

Shelf Number: 121243

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Elder Abuse (U.K.)
Elderly Victims
Intimate Partner Violence
Victim Services

Author: Toth, Olga

Title: Initimate Partner Violence Against Older Women. National Report - Hungary

Summary: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) committed against elderly women has been an unexplored area in Hungary so far, thus the results of the project are stop-gap. - Aims and objectives of the research: gathering information on IPV against elderly women as a social phenomenon, becoming familiar with the how much the institutions and experts know about the cases and what their attitudes are, revealing the experiences of the victims, and above all, directing public attention to the phenomenon. - In Hungary research on intimate partner violence began in late 1990s. There are only comparatively few data of this topic, and the researches are usually not built upon one another. The specific problems of elderly women do not really receive great priority in the researches either. - The system of institutions dealing with the victims of IPV is less developed than in the Western countries, and the institutions themselves or the preparedness of the experts cannot be characterized as adequate either. - The social attitude to the topic is rather rejecting than accepting, its importance is not recognized. Institutional knowledge about cases of intimate partner violence against older women was a crucial component of research in the frame of the present study. Professionals working with older victims can provide information on phenomena of IPV in old age as well as on help-seeking behavior of older women, services offered, service usage, and case outcome. Since the study did not aim at representative data on prevalence and incidence but had its focus on older female victims’ needs, help-seeking and service usage, institutions and professionals within these institutions were a primary source of information. It has been again proved what other sociological research studies have demonstrated that use of self-completion questionnaires in Hungary is not expedient. Completing a questionnaire independently causes difficulties to and by all means evokes antipathy in many people. Therefore, if a similar kind of investigation is made in the future, it must be prepared more profoundly, possibly by involving the supervisory authorities of institutions. We distributed 125 short and 224 long questionnaires; the return rate was 23%. In the course of sampling we tried to involve a wide range of institutions (the police, public prosecutor’s offices, crisis centres, family helpers, help lines, institutions looking after and caring for the elderly, etc.). It was also due to low degree of sensitivity to the topic that only one-fourth of questionnaires sent out were returned. When we asked the institutions that had not returned the questionnaire for the second time to fill in at least the opinion questions and the questions regarding the institution even if they had no cases, we were often given the reply orally that they considered the topic uninteresting, unimportant. For this reason they feel the completion of the questionnaire is a kind of waste of time. In better cases, they underlined another form of violence from their practice as a more important subject more suitable for research (e.g. violence of elderly persons by their children, grandchildren). In worse cases, they judged the entire topic of violence within the family unimportant. The use of two kinds of questionnaires has brought no benefit to us. The short questionnaire did not motivate any better to complete it. It occurred that an institution asked for a long questionnaire but eventually did not complete it. The lesson learned from this study is that in similar researches in the future we must use one kind of questionnaire. Statistical data are available in aggregate form and many institutions have no clear knowledge about the most important socio-demographic features of victims and perpetrators. It means that institutions have no official data but estimation or we have obtained rather different data regarding the number of elderly female IPV victims. In addition to the aggregating data, the family relation of the perpetrator with the victim is the most properly documented question. Based on the data available to us, the institutions – where it is documented – met mostly with cases where physical-spiritual-financial violence goes together. The overall majority of violence was one-sided, multiply, long-lasting and starting before the age of 60. The perpetrator is generally the spouse or divorced spouse living together with the victim if the parties do not manage to move apart. We have received little information as to how the institutions got into contact with victims and what services they provided for them. It was mostly domestic violence service type institutions that gave the more detailed data about victims and services. These organizations provided several kinds of services to victims: primarily psycho-social support, legal advice and crisis intervention. Due to low-key information supplied on services, it would be difficult to make proposals on improving them. Yet, we can state that the experts of domestic violence organizations are the most prepared and the most suitable for providing help; therefore, improvement of these institutions and increasing the number of experts would be of key importance. Regarding the improvement of services, it is expedient for Hungary to use the experience of the other countries that take part in the project. The group that considers the topic less important constituted a minority, yet appeared among the respondents (27.8 %). Presumably, this view is more widely held among those who have not returned the questionnaire. A part of the experts assert that relationships of the elderly do not contain any element of violence; others consider the abusive role of other family members more important. However we think that sending out questionnaires and processing responses have brought some results. The most important is the fact that experts’ attention has been driven to this issue. It can be hoped that the institutions that have so far not dealt with this issue at all will pay somewhat more attention to this topic in the future.

Details: Muenster, Germany: German Police University and Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei, 2010. 150p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2011 at: http://www.ipvow.org/images/stories/ipvow/reports/IPVoW_Hungary_English_final.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: Hungary

URL: http://www.ipvow.org/images/stories/ipvow/reports/IPVoW_Hungary_English_final.pdf

Shelf Number: 121244

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence (Hungary)
Elder Abuse
Elderly Victims
Intimate Partner Violence
Victim Services

Author: Quixley, Suzi

Title: The Right to Choose: Enhancing Best Practice in Responding to Sexual Assault in Queensland

Summary: This report proposes an evidence-based, holistic response to sexual assault in Queensland. It advocates a system designed to enable Queensland to move toward the reduction, and ultimate elimination, of sexual violence. This requires viewing sexual assault as primarily a social, rather than an individual or medical, problem.

Details: Brisbane(?): Queensland Sexual Assault Services, 2010. 67p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 11, 2011 at: http://www.communitydoor.org.au/sites/default/files/Right%20to%20choose%20final%20pdf%20with%20covers.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.communitydoor.org.au/sites/default/files/Right%20to%20choose%20final%20pdf%20with%20covers.pdf

Shelf Number: 122360

Keywords:
Rape
Sexual Assault (Australia)
Sexual Violence
Victim Services

Author: Halliday, Donna

Title: Anfield Victim Champion: Final Evaluation Report

Summary: The Victim Champion project was implemented in Liverpool in 2010 to improve the level of support provided to victims and witnesses of anti-social behaviour (ASB) across the city. In addition to this, the role of the Victim Champion coordinator was to deliver the Making WAVES project (Anderson et al, 2008) in the Anfield area. Evaluations of the Making WAVES projects implemented in other areas across Liverpool (Anderson et al, 2008; Eckley et al, 2011; Quigg et al, 2011; Warren et al, 2011) have shown them to be successful in: providing tailored support to intimidated victims and witnesses, encouraging them to enter and progress through the criminal justice system; facilitating a multiagency approach to tackling crime and providing support; and building trust between the community and local agencies. The Making WAVES strand of the Victim Champion project was introduced in Anfield, an area where residents were subjected to high rates of crime and intimidation (Harrison et al, 2010a). The Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University has been commissioned to conduct a process and outcome evaluation of the Victim Champion project, specifically the Anfield Making WAVES element. In 2010, a community crime and witness intimidation survey was conducted to inform the development of the project (Harrison et al, 2010a). An interim process evaluation report was produced in November 2010, providing recommendations for project development in its early stages (Harrison et al, 2010b). This report provides the overall evaluation, including: caseload analysis; key partner and project user views on the project; and an assessment of the impact of the project on crime and intimidation in the local community.

Details: Liverpool: Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University, 2011. 37p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 6, 2011 at: http://www.cph.org.uk/showPublication.aspx?pubid=729

Year: 2011

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.cph.org.uk/showPublication.aspx?pubid=729

Shelf Number: 122665

Keywords:
Victim Services
Victims of Crimes
Witness Intimidation (U.K.)

Author: Eckley, Lindsay

Title: Speke. Making Waves. Final Evaluation Report

Summary: Following the successful development and implementation of the Making WAVES pilot project in Breckfield, Liverpool (Anderson et al, 2008), in 2009 the project was established in Speke to facilitate local multi-agency work in identifying intimidated witnesses and supporting them through the criminal justice system (CJS) and beyond (Anderson et al, 2008). At that time, there were high levels of crime in the neighbourhood and residents were reluctant to report crime to any agency due to the fear of reprisals and of being labelled a grass (Furness et al, 2009). The Speke Making WAVES project was implemented to help alleviate such issues by acting as a neutral and confidential route for reporting crime and providing access to support services. The Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University was commissioned to conduct a process and outcome evaluation of the project. This report summarises the overall evaluation, including: project implementation and development; project benefits and impact; caseload analysis; key partner and project user views on Making WAVES; and project recommendations.

Details: Liverpool: Liverpool John Moores University, Centre for Public Health, 2011. 46p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 16, 2011 at: http://www.cph.org.uk/showPublication.aspx?pubid=728

Year: 2011

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.cph.org.uk/showPublication.aspx?pubid=728

Shelf Number: 122749

Keywords:
Victim Services
Victims of Crime
Witness Intimidation (U.K.)

Author: Warren, Ian

Title: Princes Park: Making WAVES. Final Evaluation Report

Summary: The Making WAVES (Witness and Victim Encouragement and Support) project has been established in several areas in Liverpool to facilitate local multi-agency work in identifying and supporting intimidated witnesses (Anderson et al, 2008). Witness intimidation is often perpetrated by individuals with the intention of preventing a crime being reported to the police or preventing evidence being given in court. It can take many forms, from low-level threats to organised operations aimed at scaring victims and witnesses (Fyfe and McKay, 2000). Intimidation may also occur at a community level, with a general fear of reporting crime due to the risk of reprisals by the offender or the perception that the authorities will not do anything (Healy, 1995; Anderson et al, 2009; Warren et al, 2009). Furthermore, the stigma attached to being labelled a ‘grass’ deters victims and witnesses from reporting crimes (Yates, 2006). The consequences for the victim or witness can be serious in terms of the potential for physical harm as well as social and emotional distress (Home Office, 1998). To inform the development of the Making WAVES projects that have been implemented across Liverpool, the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University was commissioned to conduct a suite of process and outcome evaluations. This report presents the findings from the evaluation of the Princes Park Making WAVES (Witness and Victim Encouragement and Support) project. The evaluation was split into three stages. In 2009, a community crime and witness intimidation survey was conducted to inform the development and implementation of the project (Warren et al, 2009). A focus group was also conducted with members of the black and minority ethnic (BME) community to complement this survey. The project area has a sizeable and diverse non-white population and the aim of the focus group was to gather their opinions on crime and witness intimidation in their community (Warren et al, 2010). The focus group explored the residents’ perceptions of levels of crime and witness intimidation in Princes Park. During stage two, an interim report was produced that provided recommendations for the development of the project in its early stages (Warren et al, 2010). The report presented here brings together the overall evaluation (stage three), including: project set up and implementation; caseload and key stakeholder and project user (cases) views on project implementation.

Details: Liverpool: Liverpool John Moores University, Centre for Public Health, 2011.40p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 16, 2011 at: http://www.cph.org.uk/showPublication.aspx?pubid=727

Year: 2011

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.cph.org.uk/showPublication.aspx?pubid=727

Shelf Number: 122750

Keywords:
Victim Services
Victims of Crime
Witness Intimidatioin (U.K.)

Author: Barrett, Nicole A.

Title: An Exploration of Promising Practices in Response to Human Trafficking in Canada

Summary: This report was commissioned by the Government of Manitoba on behalf of the Federal-Provincial- Territorial (“FPT”) Forum of Senior Officials responsible for the Status of Women. Its purpose is to identify and explore promising practices focused on human trafficking prevention and victim support that could be considered by Canadian Federal/Provincial/Territorial (“FPT”) governments to better address human trafficking in Canada. The report has three parts. The first part discusses the legal and sociological context required to understand human trafficking issues as they relate to prevention and victim services. In this regard, the Trafficking Protocol to the Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, the first internationally agreed upon definition of trafficking in persons, frames the discussion. The report outlines Canada's laws against human trafficking: section 279.01 of the Criminal Code, passed in 2005, and section 118 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, passed in 2002. Canada's existing human trafficking coordination bodies and victims services at the federal, provincial and territorial levels are briefly canvassed. The second section explores promising practices in human trafficking prevention and victim services while the third offers brief conclusions and recommendations on the practices presented.

Details: Vancouver: International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy, 2010. 84p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2011 at: http://www.icclr.law.ubc.ca/files/2010/An%20Exploration%20of%20Promising%20Practices%20in%20Response%20to%20Human%20Trafficking%20in%20Canada.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: Canada

URL: http://www.icclr.law.ubc.ca/files/2010/An%20Exploration%20of%20Promising%20Practices%20in%20Response%20to%20Human%20Trafficking%20in%20Canada.pdf

Shelf Number: 122768

Keywords:
Human Trafficking (Canada)
Organized Crime
Sexual Exploitation
Victim Services

Author: Carter, Rachel

Title: Stella Project Evaluation: September 2006

Summary: Through innovative and positive approaches, the Stella Project works to promote, at practice and policy level, the development of inclusive, integrated service provision for survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence who experience problematic substance use. The Stella Project supports drug, alcohol and domestic violence agencies to effect sustained change in service delivery and outcomes. At a strategic level, the project works to influence and support policy development with the view of catalysing change on the ground. Underlying the project’s approach is the belief that where domestic violence and substance use overlap, interventions undertaken in partnership across the sectors will improve the safety of clients and prevent ineffective repeat interventions. This report summarises the findings of an evaluation of the effectiveness of the training and events which the Stella Project has delivered over the past four years. In addition, it provides recommendations for future directions for the work of the Stella Project. Section one introduces the history and achievements of the Stella Project. This is followed by a description of the aims, objectives and activities of the Project including a detailed outline of the different training programmes offered. Section two outlines the purpose of the evaluation and the methodology used which includes post training and conference evaluation forms, email questionnaires for past trainees and semi-structured telephone interviews. 704 post training evaluations, 73 post conference evaluations and 32 email questionnaires were returned. In addition 8 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Section three presents the findings of the evaluation. Overall, the findings reveal there is a high level of satisfaction with the range of services offered by the Stella Project.

Details: London: The Stella Project, 2006. 40p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 20, 2011 at: http://www.avaproject.org.uk/media/24057/stella%20evaluation%202006.pdf

Year: 2006

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.avaproject.org.uk/media/24057/stella%20evaluation%202006.pdf

Shelf Number: 122792

Keywords:
Battered Women
Domestic Violence (U.K.)
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Brennan, Shannon

Title: Violent Victimization of Aboriginal Women in the Canadian Provinces, 2009

Summary: In Canada, numerous programs and policies have been developed to address violence against women (Johnson and Dawson 2010; Status of Women Canada 2002). Despite these efforts, previous studies have shown that violence against women in Canada continues to be a persistent and ongoing problem, one that is compounded for Aboriginal women (Brzozowski 2006). Given these findings, it is important to differentiate between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women’s experiences of victimization, to better understand the extent of violence against Aboriginal women and the context in which it occurs. One source of information that can be used to measure violence against Aboriginal women in Canada is the General Social Survey (GSS) on Victimization. By asking respondents aged 15 years or older to recount their experiences of victimization, the GSS captures detailed information on criminal incidents that may or may not have been brought to the attention of police. Using GSS data from 2009, this article looks at the prevalence and nature of self-reported violence against Aboriginal women in the ten provinces. In addition, reporting of victimization to police, victims’ use of formal and informal support services, and the consequences of violent victimization are discussed. Finally, this report examines Aboriginal women’s perceptions of personal safety and their satisfaction with the criminal justice system.

Details: Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2011. 21p.

Source: Internet Resource: Juristat Article: Accessed September 20, 2011 at: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2011001/article/11439-eng.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: Canada

URL: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2011001/article/11439-eng.pdf

Shelf Number: 122794

Keywords:
Aboriginals
Crime Statistics
Indigenous Peoples
Victim Services
Victimization Surveys
Victims of Crime
Violence Against Women

Author: Victim Support

Title: Summing Up: A Strategic Audit of the Criminal Justice System

Summary: This audit looks at the performance of the principal justice agencies through the eyes of the victims and witnesses who use them. There are many aspects of our justice system that are very positive – for example, the fall in crime and anxiety, and rise in public confidence – but this audit shows that despite these changes, victims and witnesses are still not treated as well as they should be. Victimisation remains a common reality for many – one in five are victimised every year – and is clustered around specific groups, such as young people and those living in deprived areas. The justice system gets less than 5% of government spending and less than 1p in every £1 of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) budget is spent on victims and witnesses directly. This low level of funding does not reflect a low level of need: more than one in five victims wants some form of support, but at least three out of ten do not get the support they need. The public has very low confidence in how the criminal justice system (CJS) treats victims: just over a third (36%) of the general public feel that the CJS meets the needs of victims. Moreover, victims in particular are less satisfied with the justice system and have a poorer opinion of the police than non-victims, suggesting that interaction with the CJS actually reduces rather than improves confidence. However, contact with Victim Support can help reverse this situation. New research shows that those who have had contact with Victim Support have more confidence in the CJS, are more likely to think that the police do an excellent job, have a greater satisfaction with the police’s handling of their case and greater trust in the fairness of the CJS. Unfortunately, access to victims’ services is predominantly through the police, yet less than half of victims report the crime to the police. Moreover, the police response to victims of crime varies considerably depending on where they live. Referral to support services ranges from 20% to 100%, and those living in London are less than half as likely to recall being given the opportunity to make a victim personal statement (VPS) than those living in Northumbria.

Details: London: Victim Support, 2011. 32p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 7, 2011 at: http://www.victimsupport.org.uk/sitecore/content/RSS%20Feeds/~/media/28B7772DE9174CB9819CFDA9052ED40D.ashx

Year: 2011

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.victimsupport.org.uk/sitecore/content/RSS%20Feeds/~/media/28B7772DE9174CB9819CFDA9052ED40D.ashx

Shelf Number: 123252

Keywords:
Victim Services
Victims of Crimes (U.K.)

Author: Connors, Edward

Title: National Evaluation of the Legal Assistance for Victims Program

Summary: In November 2000, the National Institute of Justice, with funding support from the Office on Violence Against Women, awarded a grant to the Institute for Law and Justice (ILJ), in partnership with the National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC), to conduct a national evaluation of the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) grant program. The LAV program provides funding to organizations throughout the country to provide comprehensive, free or low-cost civil legal and advocacy services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The evaluation focused on the provision of civil legal and other services to victims of domestic violence and examined LAV projects that were funded in 1998 through 2000. Overall, the LAV program has been a success. LAV has made it possible to provide desperately needed civil legal services to more victims of domestic violence who cannot afford a private attorney. It has also promoted the delivery of high quality, comprehensive services by encouraging collaboration and cross-training among legal services organizations and domestic violence victim services programs. Yet even with LAV funding, there is still a chronic unmet need for attorneys and other personnel to assist and represent domestic violence victims who cannot pay legal fees, either because of their poverty or because their access to financial resources is controlled by the batterer. The LAV grant program is authorized under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, as amended, and is administered by the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), which awarded the first LAV grants in 1998. The purpose of the LAV program is to increase the capacity of local organizations—primarily legal services agencies, domestic violence victim services programs, bar associations, and law schools—to provide free or low cost, comprehensive civil legal and advocacy services to victims of domestic violence. The LAV program was expanded in 2000 to include civil legal and advocacy services to victims of sexual assault and stalking.1 The LAV program advocates a holistic approach to delivering high quality services. It is concerned with the whole system of service providers and with all of a victim’s needs, both legal and non-legal. Local organizations receiving LAV funding provide (1) legal assistance and representation with protection orders and other family law matters; (2) advocacy services that address victims’ safety, health, and other needs; and (3) legal services to resolve housing, employment, public benefits, and other issues. Because very few organizations are able by themselves to fully address all three of these program elements, OVW requires that LAV projects represent collaborations among organizations, and that the projects conduct cross-training of attorneys and victim advocates. Individual LAV projects are given the flexibility to employ various approaches to meet the specific needs identified in their jurisdictions. In addition to hiring staff attorneys to provide legal assistance and representation, many LAV projects develop pro bono programs (in which private attorneys provide services free of charge); hold legal clinics and develop materials for victims who proceed with their cases pro se (on their own); and conduct outreach to traditionally underserved populations, including members of racial, ethnic, and cultural minority groups and victims living in rural areas.

Details: Alexandria, VA: Institute for Law and Justice, 2005. 325p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 9, 2011 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/208612.pdf

Year: 2005

Country: United States

URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/208612.pdf

Shelf Number: 123269

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Legal Aid
Restraining Orders
Victim Services
Victims of Family Violence

Author: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Title: The Criminal Justice Response to Support Victims of Acts of Terrorism

Summary: The handbook draws on the national experiences of a broad range of geographically representative criminal justice experts regarding programmes of assistance and support for victims of acts of terrorism. This handbook is intended to share experiences related to support mechanisms for victims of terrorism, and to give policymakers and criminal justice officials practical insights into challenges faced, and good practices developed, by their counterparts at the national and regional level. Our hope is that this handbook will aid Member States in the development and implementation of programmes of assistance and support for victims of acts of terrorism within their respective criminal justice systems. Victims have long played a secondary, and mostly silent, role in criminal trials. UNODC recognizes the importance of representing victims’ interests in criminal proceedings and the relevance of developing comprehensive programmes that effectively provide adequate treatment to victims of acts of terrorism. Effective criminal prosecution of alleged perpetrators is a crucial factor in reducing the perception of victimization and of impunity for terrorist acts. Granting victims equal and effective access to justice is also essential. In order to further integrate the perspective of victims into UNODC’s capacity-building activities addressing the criminal justice aspects of countering terrorism, the role of victims and their surviving family members in criminal proceedings needs to be emphasized. The publication of this handbook comes at a moment of great sorrow for UNODC and for the entire United Nations. On 26 August 2011, the United Nations office in Abuja, Nigeria, was the target of a terrorist attack that shocked the world and drew global condemnation. The car bomb that was detonated cut short the lives of twenty-four friends and colleagues working for the betterment of humanity. The attack targeted not only the United Nations presence in Nigeria, but also its universal values and global missions of peace. In the face of such heinous acts, we have responded with strengthened resolve to fight against terrorism and build a safer, more just and peaceful world for all. We dedicate this publication to our colleagues who lost their lives in Abuja, and in the increasing number of terrorist attacks on United Nations’ premises in recent years, as well as to all victims of terrorist acts worldwide.

Details: Vienna: UNODC, 2011. 118p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 10, 2012 at: http://www.unodc.org/documents/terrorism/Victims_Rights_E-Book_EN.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: International

URL: http://www.unodc.org/documents/terrorism/Victims_Rights_E-Book_EN.pdf

Shelf Number: 123547

Keywords:
Terrorism
Victim Services
Victims of Terrorism

Author: Northern Ireland. Criminal Justice Inspection

Title: The Care and Treatment of Victims and Witnesses in the Criminal Justice System in Northern Ireland

Summary: The criminal justice system has a responsibility to ensure victims and witnesses feel safe, are supported and are consequently able to give evidence. Victims and witnesses also have a right to expect a straightforward and co-ordinated service from the criminal justice agencies. They are often the primary or sole witness of an offence, and they merit vigilant attention by all those involved in the criminal justice process. In addition, the needs of families of victims also have to be taken into consideration. Victims of some serious crime, and their families, are often subject to very traumatic events which change the course of their lives forever. It is important that the criminal justice system treats them sensitively and that their needs are taken into consideration in the design and delivery of justice services. Furthermore, the requirements of victims are often complex and need effective integration between not only the justice system, but other Government departments, such as health and the voluntary and community sector (VCS). The aim of this inspection report was to ensure that effective mechanisms were in place to increase the confidence of victims and witnesses so that they would fully participate within the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland. The inspection considered the experiences of victims and witnesses, as well as interagency working and governance arrangements for victims and witnesses services at a strategic level. It is axiomatic that if fitting services are provided by the criminal justice system, together with links to support systems from the voluntary sector, then more people may voluntarily come forward to report crime and give evidence in court. Individuals and their families will also be able to access appropriate services at the right time. This report is the third inspection into the experiences of victims and witnesses conducted by CJI since 2005. In terms of progress, Inspectors can report that of the 37 recommendations made by CJI in its 2005 report only two (5%) remain outstanding in their totality. This is a creditable performance and represents much good work and effort on the part of the criminal justice agencies and others.

Details: Belfast: Northern Ireland Criminal Justice Inspection, 2011. 110p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 13, 2012 at: http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/ba/ba2a6e4b-0e39-4e1f-af17-c6165a7c827f.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/ba/ba2a6e4b-0e39-4e1f-af17-c6165a7c827f.pdf

Shelf Number: 123611

Keywords:
Victim Services
Victims of Crime, Services for (Northern Ireland)
Witnesses

Author: Rana, Sheetal

Title: Addressing Domestic Violence in Immigrant Communities: Critical Issues for Culturally Competent Services

Summary: mmigrant women as a social category are a diverse group. In the U.S., there are approximately 18 million women and girls who have emigrated from many countries around the world, under a myriad of circumstances, and with different types of immigration status (American Community Survey, 2008). They are from various socio-economic, cultural, and religious backgrounds. Their age, sexual orientation, individual abilities, and levels of acculturation to the mainstream society vary. Amidst this diversity, immigrant women may share experiences, everyday realities, and a collective identity as immigrants, making them different from the mainstream society. These differences and similarities among immigrant women pose challenges in offering services to immigrant survivors of domestic violence, as well as highlight the importance of culturally competent services. Central to culturally competent domestic violence services to immigrant women is an in-depth understanding of domestic violence in immigrant communities. Cultural competence is a process that involves individual practitioners and systems responding to their clients in ways that recognize, value, and respect the clients’ cultures, languages, classes, races, ethnic backgrounds, religions, and other diversity factors (NASW National Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity, 2001; Rothman, 2008). In offering culturally competent domestic violence services to immigrant women, knowledge about socio-economic, cultural, and political contexts within which immigrant women experience domestic violence can be a useful guide. Such knowledge may contribute to the development and implementation of policies, programs, and approaches that respectfully as well as effectively respond to the unique and specific needs of immigrant survivors. With this purpose in mind, this paper focuses on what we can learn from existing research on immigrant women and domestic violence. This paper is organized into three sections: 1) overview of methodological issues in research used to generate knowledge of the nature and dynamics of domestic violence in immigrant communities; 2) research findings that help us understand the broad contexts within which immigrant women experience domestic violence; and 3) considerations for culturally competent services. Legal protections available for immigrant women survivors are discussed in another VAWnet Applied Research document by Shetty and Kaguyutan (2002) and, therefore, are not discussed in this paper. The terms “immigrant women survivors,” “immigrant survivors,” and “survivors” are used throughout this paper to refer to immigrant women who survive domestic violence.

Details: National Online Resource Harrisburg, PA: Center on Violence Against Women, 2012. 11p.

Source: VAWnet.org Applied Research: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2012 at http://www.vawnet.org/Assoc_Files_VAWnet/AR_DVImmigrantComm.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United States

URL: http://www.vawnet.org/Assoc_Files_VAWnet/AR_DVImmigrantComm.pdf

Shelf Number: 124671

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Female Victims
Immigrants
Victim Services

Author: Stiegel, Lori A.

Title: Final Technical Report to the National Institute of Justice on "A Multi-Site Assessment of Five Court-Focused Elder Abuse Initiatives"

Summary: We assessed the five court-focused elder abuse initiatives in existence when our study began to examine how they handle elder abuse cases and determine whether they improve the criminal justice response to those cases. The initiatives were the: “Elder Protection Court” in Alameda County, California; “Elder Justice Center” in Hillsborough County, Florida; “Elder Justice Center” in Palm Beach County, Florida; “In-Home Emergency Protective Order Initiative” in Jefferson County, Kentucky; “Elder Temporary Order of Protection” Initiative in Kings County, New York. Our goal was to provide judges, court administrators, policymakers, and funders with evidence-based knowledge about the structure, process, and outcomes of these initiatives so they can make informed decisions about supporting similar initiatives in their communities. Guided by a multidisciplinary advisory committee, we: reviewed research literature; identified and surveyed key informants; identified key stakeholders from an array of disciplines; developed four question sets for stakeholder interviews; created a case file review sheet; conducted five site visits at which we interviewed 92 stakeholders, including three victims, and reviewed 68 court case files; coded and analyzed (qualitatively and quantitatively) stakeholder interview and court case file data; and developed findings and arrived at conclusions. We found that the initiatives improved handling of elder abuse cases and enhanced the criminal justice response to elder abuse in several ways, including: facilitating greater access to justice and better court outcomes for victims through court accommodations, increasing judges’ and other professionals’ knowledge about elder abuse, and providing emotional support throughout the court process; providing services to courts or to victims that enhance victim safety and prevent further abuse; connecting victims with services that may help address underlying problems and prevent future court cases; providing services to courts or to victims that may facilitate prosecution of elder abuse cases; and handling elder abuse cases more efficiently and with fewer delays. We also found that the initiatives do almost nothing to self-assess their impact and outcomes and should strengthen evaluation and data collection efforts. Each initiative does a better job of handling elder abuse cases than do courts and communities without such initiatives. Given the extent of elder abuse now, its anticipated growth, and its devastating effects on victims, we recommend that judges, court administrators, service providers, policymakers, and funders in other communities give serious consideration to implementing similar efforts.

Details: American Bar Association and University of Kentucky Research Foundation, 2011.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 25, 2012 at http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/uncategorized/2011/2011_aging_ea_multi_assess.authcheckdam.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United States

URL: http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/uncategorized/2011/2011_aging_ea_multi_assess.authcheckdam.pdf

Shelf Number: 124741

Keywords:
Case Processing
Elder Abuse and Neglect
Problem-Solving Courts
Victim Services

Author: Turley, Caroline

Title: Early Learning from Victim Support’s Homicide Service

Summary: This research assessed the implementation, delivery and effect of Victim Support’s Homicide Service during its first 14 months of operation. Qualitative research was conducted involving Homicide Service staff, the police, other organisations involved in service delivery, and bereaved families. Performance management data was also analysed. The research found that the Homicide Service had a positive effect on bereaved service users; however, there was considerable pressure on resources to deliver the service. This could be alleviated through more effective use of volunteers, and improvements to technology and training. The performance management data could also be improved to better monitor service delivery.

Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2012. 79p.

Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Research Series 2/12: Accessed July 25, 2012 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/early-learning-victim-support-homicide-service.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/early-learning-victim-support-homicide-service.pdf

Shelf Number: 125779

Keywords:
Homicides (U.K.)
Victim Services

Author: Neal, Melissa

Title: Mindful of the Consequences: Improving Mental Health for D.C.'s Youth Benefits the District

Summary: Improving public safety in D.C. depends on a comprehensive approach that involves multiple strategies spanning all City agencies. One facet of such a comprehensive approach is to improve outcomes for youth so that fewer become caught up in the justice system, a victim of crime, or both. This brief is part of a series explaining how improving youth outcomes in D.C. can also result in better public safety outcomes for the District as a whole. The power of good mental health is underestimated in maintaining safety and wellbeing within D.C.’s communities. But, as our understanding of brain science expands, the connections between public safety and health promotion are increasingly clear. Historically, the role of mental health as a crucial component of overall wellness and health has been “misunderstood and often forgotten.”

Details: Washington, DC: Justice Policy Institute, 2012. 26p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 30, 2012 at: http://www.justicepolicy.org/uploads/justicepolicy/documents/mindful_of_the_consequences.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United States

URL: http://www.justicepolicy.org/uploads/justicepolicy/documents/mindful_of_the_consequences.pdf

Shelf Number: 125805

Keywords:
Delinquency Prevention
Mental Health Services (Washington, DC)
Victim Services

Author: Kulu-Glasgow, I.

Title: Categorical Accommodation and Assistance for Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings. A Study of Four European Countries

Summary: The shortage of adequate and suitable shelter facilities for victims of trafficking in human beings (THB) has been on the agenda now for several years in the Netherlands. Until recently, female victims of THB were usually accommodated in women’s shelters; male victims mostly in shelters for the homeless, or public shelters. There have been signals that these types of shelters do not meet the specific needs of this particular group of victims (e.g. lack of specialised assistance and sufficient security measures) (Ministerie van VWS, 2010; NRM 2009, 2010). In June 2010, the Dutch government started a pilot project on categorical accommodation and assistance (CAA) for adult victims of THB (for national or non-national victims of exploitation in all sectors), which will continue until the end of 2014. The aim of this research is to look at the experiences that other European countries have had with CAA for adult victims of THB, and present an overview of the organisation and implementation of CAA in these countries. This includes descriptions of the bottlenecks these countries have experienced, any possible solutions they have employed, and the perceived advantages and disadvantages of CAA. The study may provide input for the possible further implementation of CAA in the Netherlands. Four countries were selected: Belgium, the Czech Republic, Italy and Spain. These countries were chosen with an eye on the diversity of the organisation and implementation of CAA, and their similarity with the Netherlands (all countries are transit and destination countries for victims of THB) and with the Dutch pilot on CAA (a broad target group). The three central research questions in this study are: 1 What are the objectives of CAA for victims of THB in the selected EU countries and what is the target group? 2 How is CAA for victims of THB organised and implemented in the selected countries? Are there any bottlenecks? 3 What are the perceived advantages and disadvantages of CAA for victims of THB? To answer the above research questions the following methods were used: • a literature survey, • interviews with 22 representatives of ministries, specialised NGOs providing CAA, and other relevant institutions in the selected countries; additionally, another five representatives of these organisations provided exclusively written information. In Belgium and the Czech Republic, representatives of all the specialised NGOs providing CAA to victims of THB were interviewed (three NGOs and three shelters and two NGOs and three shelters respectively). In Italy representatives from two Italian NGOs (operating two and six shelters respectively), and in Spain from one NGO (operating three shelters) were interviewed. Considering the large number of NGOs in these two countries, the results of this study do not cover all variations in the implementation of CAA in Italy and Spain.

Details: The Hague: Dutch Minister of Security and Justice., Research and Documentation Centre, 2012. 203p.

Source: Internet Resource: Cahier 2012-8: http://english.wodc.nl/onderzoeksdatabase/vergelijkend-landenonderzoek-naar-de-categorale-opvang-van-slachtoffers-mensenhandel.aspx?cp=45&cs=6799

Year: 2012

Country: Europe

URL: http://english.wodc.nl/onderzoeksdatabase/vergelijkend-landenonderzoek-naar-de-categorale-opvang-van-slachtoffers-mensenhandel.aspx?cp=45&cs=6799

Shelf Number: 126681

Keywords:
Housing
Human Trafficking (Europe)
Victim Services

Author: Guasp, April

Title: One Minority at a Time: Being Black and Gay

Summary: There are over 400,000 black and minority ethnic lesbian, gay and bisexual people living in Great Britain. They are Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Black Caribbean and a whole host of other identities. Some are open about their sexual orientation living, socialising and even praying with heterosexual friends and family. Some are not open. Some worry about how they might be treated if people were to know about their sexual orientation. For many, the decision about whether to be open about their sexual orientation is one that requires a great deal of thought and consideration. All gay people consider whether people will reject them when they learn about their sexual orientation. As a society we have decided that our public services should serve all citizens; black, white, straight or gay. This report highlights where we may not yet be getting this right and suggests some actions that service deliverers could take to match our aspirations with the needs and experiences of lesbian, gay and bisexual service users from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. This report has been produced by Stonewall, the lesbian, gay and bisexual charity and Runnymede, the UK’s leading independent race equality think tank. Researchers from Stonewall and Runnymede have spoken to over 50 lesbian, gay and bisexual people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. They have shared their experiences about being gay as well as their experiences of accessing public services. The Equality Act 2010 places a duty on public bodies to proactively consider the needs and experiences of their lesbian, gay and bisexual service users. A similar duty has existed in relation to race since 2002 and although some progress has been made to understand the experiences of black and minority ethnic people very few public bodies have taken into account the fact that some black people are also gay or disabled or indeed both.

Details: London: Runnymede Trust; Stonewall, 2012. 19p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 12, 2012 at http://www.stonewall.org.uk/documents/one_minority_at_a_time_final.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.stonewall.org.uk/documents/one_minority_at_a_time_final.pdf

Shelf Number: 126924

Keywords:
Black British
Discrimination (U.K.)
Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals
Minorities
Public Services
Victim Services

Author: Malloch, Margaret

Title: Care and Support for Adult Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings: A Review

Summary: This evidence and practice review was commissioned by the Scottish Government to examine the care and support needs of victims of human trafficking and what works to meet those needs. This review is not an evaluation; rather it provides an overview of the identified care and support needs of victims of different forms of human trafficking exploitation; considers good practice in recent adult victim care by identifying different models of care and support in a range of jurisdictions; and considers the extent to which existing evidence is able to provide an indication of what works to meet the needs of different victims. The review also aims to consider how effectively the needs of different adult victims of trafficking are met in Scotland, on the basis of review of international evidence; and to highlight any existing gaps in services and support provision. While acknowledging the interconnection of other issues such as provision of compensation and repatriation, this review is limited to the provision of crisis and short to mid term care and support services. The review is based on an extensive search of local, national and international documentary data including research reports, evaluations, practice guides, policy documents and website data collection. Until recently, the main sources of information on trafficking came from reports produced by international organisations and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), often reporting on their experiences in practice and focused upon outlining the extent and nature of trafficking. More recently, attention has been given to the support and protection of trafficking victims. However, as this review highlights, there is a distinct lack of evidence-based data which provides a basis from which the most appropriate and/or cost-effective interventions can be determined.

Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Government Social Research, 2012. 49p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 26, 2012 at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0040/00404917.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0040/00404917.pdf

Shelf Number: 127002

Keywords:
Human Trafficking (Scotland)
Sexual Exploitation
Victim Services
Victims of Human Trafficking, Services for

Author: Warnken, Heather

Title: Violence Against Women Needs Assessment Program

Summary: Under California law, victims and witnesses of crime are granted certain statutory and constitutional rights, including that they be treated with dignity and respect. In 1982, California established itself as a national leader in the rights of crime victims in passing the Victim’s Bill of Rights. As a key component of these protections, Victim/Witness Assistance Centers (VWACs) arose in 1983 in an effort by the Legislature to reduce the trauma and insensitive treatment that victims and witnesses experienced in the criminal justice system. Today, state and federally funded VWACs operate in each of the 58 counties and in the City of Los Angeles and play a vital role in California’s criminal justice system. Despite the large numbers VWACs, however, very little research has been done to date on the work of California’s VWACs or of government provided victim/witness advocates in general. In particular, very little has been done on their work with one of the most vulnerable populations of crime victims: women victims of violence. Reports about government-based and community-provided Violence Against Women (VAW) victim services tend to fall into two general categories: reports that describe government provided services to all crime victims, with VAW victims as just one category of victim; and reports that focus on combating VAW with services mentioned only as one step to be taken by government. The California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) funded a needs-assessment study of VWACs to be carried out by the California Crime Victims Assistance Association (CCVAA), in partnership with the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA). As part of this assessment, in 2011, the Chief Justice Earl Warren Institute on Law and Social Policy, at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, conducted a two-part survey including follow-up interviews with all 59 of the VWACs. The following questions formed the basis to this assessment: 1. Numbers of VAW victims served by VWACs for the past three to five years; 2. Demographics of VAW victims served by VWACs; 3. Types and numbers of services provided to VAW victims by VWACs; 4. Identification of VWAC prevention-related services provided to VAW victims; 5. Marsy’s Rights information and procedures provided to VAW victims; 6. Collaborations and referrals between VWACs and rape crisis centers and women shelters; 7. Descriptions of “best practices” with VAW victims used by VWACs; 8. Description of the current organizational capacity of the CCVAA (representing the statewide network of VWACs) to adequately meet the gaps in service needs of VAW victims served by VWAC; 9. Identification of other resources (potential funding sources) that would be necessary to build the capacity of the CCVAA to meet the needs of VAW victims served by VWAC. This report, based on the Warren Institute’s data collection, is the first comprehensive study ever done in California of the work and services that VWACs provide to women victims of violence. It represents VWACs’ perceptions of the importance of their work with VAW victims, the gaps in this work, and their needs for further expanding their services to victims of VAW crimes. It addresses all questions above for which VWACs had data. With these findings, Cal EMA, CCVAA, allied victim service organizations, and policy makers will be better equipped to make informed decisions regarding VWAC program development, resource allocation, advocate training, and organizational capacity-building benefitting VAW victims.

Details: Berkeley, CA: California Crime Victims Association; California District Attorneys Association; University of California, Berkeley School of Law, Chief Justice Earl Warren Institute on Law and Social Policy, 2012. 70p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 24, 2013 at: http://www.law.berkeley.edu/files/bccj/VAW_Study-FINAL.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United States

URL: http://www.law.berkeley.edu/files/bccj/VAW_Study-FINAL.pdf

Shelf Number: 127381

Keywords:
Abused Wives
Crime Victims
Domestic Violence
Victim Services
Victims of Domestic Violence
Violence Against Women (California)
Witnesses

Author: London Assembly. Police and Crime Committee

Title: Duty of Care: Improving Support for Victims of Crime

Summary: Providing a good quality service to victims is a crucial aspect of the police and other criminal justice agencies’ roles. However, victims in London do not always get the service they deserve from the MPS and other statutory services. The Committee heard concerning evidence showing that not all victims are treated with respect or sensitivity by police officers when they report a crime. We also found that victims are not always given information they need about the progress of their case, and can be frustrated by different statutory agencies failing to work together effectively. As a result, victim satisfaction with the MPS is the lowest in the country, and the further victims get into the criminal justice system, the less satisfied they become. The Committee found examples of good practice in victim care in parts of the MPS. We heard from some victims who were impressed by the service they had received from the MPS and felt that they had been provided with all the information, support and advice they needed. However, the MPS must make sure frontline officers and staff get the training they need to provide every victim with this level of service. The MPS should involve organisations that support victims in the development and delivery of its victim care training to ensure the quality of the training, and to effectively challenge some officers’ preconceptions about certain groups of victims. The MPS must also improve the quality and accessibility of the information provided to victims about the progress of their case. Victims of crime need to receive a consistently better service as they progress through the criminal justice system. Criminal justice agencies including the London Probation Trust and Crown Prosecution Service are working to improve some aspects of the victim experience. However, criminal justice agencies must develop better and more efficient information sharing systems so that victims receive the information and protection they need, when they need it. The Committee recommends the establishment of a multi-agency task group to improve information sharing, and to drive forward improvements throughout the victims’ journey. The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) has responsibilities for engaging with victims, and for holding the MPS to account. One of the key measures of MOPAC’s success will therefore be how it oversees improvements in the service the MPS provides to victims. In order to achieve these improvements, MOPAC must set the MPS challenging annual targets for increasing victim satisfaction, and assess success using a balanced evidence base. MOPAC will also be taking on responsibilities for commissioning victim care services across the capital over the next few years. The Committee recommends that MOPAC uses this opportunity to improve the currently patchy and inconsistent provision of support services across London. The MPS is implementing Total Victim Care, a new corporate strategy to improve the service victims receive. This strategy has the potential to make a positive difference to victims’ satisfaction. However, at the same time, the MPS is undergoing a major change programme: restructuring its frontline and back office functions, with cuts to the number of administrative staff and supervisors, and neighbourhood teams taking on investigative responsibilities. It is essential that these changes do not have a negative impact on victim care.

Details: London: Greater London Authority, 2013. 47p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 29, 2013 at: http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/13-01-23-victim-care-final-report-NON-Embargoed.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/13-01-23-victim-care-final-report-NON-Embargoed.pdf

Shelf Number: 127428

Keywords:
Victim Services
Victims of Crimes (London, UK)

Author: Keesbury, Jill, Onyango-Ouma, W.

Title: A Review and Evaluation of Multi-Sectoral Response Services (One-Stop Centers) for Gender-Based Violence in Kenya and Zambia

Summary: While data are very limited on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Africa, estimates suggest that SGBV is a major health, human rights, and development issue in the region, as it is globally. Approximately half of the women aged 15-49 (48%) in Zambia have experienced physical violence, and one in five women have experienced sexual violence (Zambia DHS, 2007). In Kenya, 39% of women aged 15-49 have ever experienced physical violence since the age of 15, and one in five (21%) reported sexual violence. Given complicated stigma and reporting issues, it is likely that these national Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) underestimate the true prevalence and incidence of violence. Children are not immune to this epidemic. A global school-based survey found that 31% of girls and 30% of boys aged 13-15 in Zambia had been forced to have sex (Brown et al., 2009). Results of the study based on responses from males and females aged 18 to 24 indicate that lifetime exposure to childhood violence is exceedingly and unacceptably high in Kenya. Nearly one in three females and one in five males experience at least one episode of sexual violence before reaching age 18 – an experience that can shape their futures in terms of their attitudes towards violence, their adoption of risky behaviors and their emotional health. The figures for physical violence were even more startling, with two in three females and three in four males suffering at least one episode of physical violence. This was defined as slapping, pushing, punching, kicking, whipping, or being beaten with an object (UNICEF et al., 2012). An increasingly popular strategy for addressing SGBV is through the establishment of 'one-stop centers‘ (OSCs), which provide integrated, multi-disciplinary services in a single physical location. The basic services of the OSC model in low resource settings in East and Southern Africa comprise health care (including psychosocial support), police and justice sector responses, and ongoing social support (Population Council, 2008; Keesbury & Askew, 2010). These are often provided within the context of a health facility due to the highly medicalized nature of the initial response services. Although a number of variations exist, at the core of this approach is a system of integrated medico-legal and counseling services. This system can either be physically co-located or can consist of a referral network that links the sectors. The goals of this assessment were two-fold: First, to assess the effectiveness of different OSC models in terms of health and legal outcomes for survivors, and the cost-effectiveness of these models; and second, to identify lessons learned in OSC implementation with recommendations for both start-up and scale-up. The assessment was conducted in three sites in Zambia and two in Kenya using a comparative case study approach to address the objectives. Three distinct OSC models were examined to determine the core strengths and weaknesses of each. Each OSC was considered as a "case" and multiple data sources were triangulated to assess their individual effectiveness, as well as the comparative effectiveness across sites. Fieldwork took place in Zambia from July-August 2011 and in Kenya from September-December 2011. Data were collected through: facility inventories (including cost data); client record reviews; court transcript reviews; and key informant interviews with survivors and local stakeholders.

Details: Nairobi, Kenya: Population Council, 2012. 89p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 31, 2013 at: http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/2012RH_SGBV_OSCRevEval.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: Africa

URL: http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/2012RH_SGBV_OSCRevEval.pdf

Shelf Number: 127461

Keywords:
Child Sexual Abuse
Gender-Based Violence (Kenya and Zambia)
Sexual Violence
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: McGregor, Kiah

Title: ACT Victims of Crime Referral Project: Final Report

Summary: The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) was contracted by the Australian Federal Police (ACT Policing) and Victim Support ACT to conduct a research project that examines the experiences of victims referred by police to support services and the operation of the referral process in the Australian Capital Territory. The findings of the research were presented to Victim Support ACT and ACT Policing in late 2009 and included a number of policy-focused recommendations to enhance the experiences of victims of crime in the Australian Capital Territory. The publication of the research findings not only ensures transparency, but it establishes a baseline upon which improvements to policies and programs concerning victims of crime in the Australian Capital Territory can be measured. The tender guidelines for this project specifically outlined several activities that were to be covered in the project. These included: conduct a statistical description of victims reporting incidents to police within a 12 month period; conduct a survey of a sample of victims who identified their expectations of police and support agencies; undertake key person and stakeholder interviews; examine victim support referral models in Australia and other jurisdictions, with a view to determining current best practice; conduct an environmental scan and gap analysis of victim liaison and victim support services in the Australian Capital Territory; identify policy options for victim referral including any cost/resource implications and the identification of possible performance indicators for the options. This report presents the findings of the research that were presented to ACT Policing and Victim Support ACT in December 2009.

Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2013. 63p.

Source: Internet Resource: Technical and Background Paper Series no.55; Accessed March 7, 2013 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tbp/41-60/tbp055.html

Year: 2013

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tbp/41-60/tbp055.html

Shelf Number: 127856

Keywords:
Victim Services
Victims of Crimes (Australia)

Author: Mossman, Elaine

Title: Victims of Crime in the Adult Criminal Justice System: A Stocktake of the Literature

Summary: This report responds to a request by the Ministry for a literature review that collates, describes and evaluates the evidence base relating to appropriate responses to victims of crime in the adult criminal justice system. The aim of this literature review is to summarise available evidence that can be used to: inform the development of the Victims Code and the Victims Centre’s thinking on strategies to further improve victim services assist agencies dealing with victims of crime to provide the best support possible inform the Ministry’s future work and planning, such as by identifying information gaps about optimal responses to victims of certain crimes and certain subgroups of victims.

Details: Wellington, NZ: New Zealand Ministry of Justice, 2012. 121p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 9, 2013 at: http://www.justice.govt.nz/publications/global-publications/v/victims-of-crime-literature-review/publication

Year: 2012

Country: New Zealand

URL: http://www.justice.govt.nz/publications/global-publications/v/victims-of-crime-literature-review/publication

Shelf Number: 127908

Keywords:
Victim Services
Victims of Crimes (New Zealand)

Author: Brunovskis, Anette

Title: A Fuller Picture: Addressing trafficking-related assistance needs and socio-economic vulnerabilities

Summary: Given the importance of assistance and protection in the lives of trafficked persons, it is critical that interventions are designed to meet their actual needs at various stages of their post-trafficking recovery. A comprehensive picture of assistance needs necessitates engaging directly with trafficked persons in the design, implementation and evaluation of assistance interventions. That is, what do trafficking victims themselves see as important and useful assistance in order to be able to recover and move on from trafficking? To what extent are these needs being met within the existing assistance system? How could interventions better respond to their different needs? These questions are the main focus of this paper. A second focus is the broader social and economic context of victims’ needs. For many victims, their assistance needs are not tied directly to trafficking but to their social and economic exclusion and vulnerability. Disentangling when victims’ assistance needs are directly caused by trafficking and which are manifestations of their general social and/or economic vulnerability, situates human trafficking in a wider context of socioeconomic vulnerability. In so doing, it pinpoints when and how trafficking involves distinct, specific needs and responses and when victim needs might be addressed within the existing social protection framework. This report is based on interviews with victims of trafficking in Albania, Moldova and Serbia.

Details: Oslo, Norway: Fafo; Washington, DC: NEXUS Institute, 2012. 48p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2013 at: http://www.fafo.no/pub/rapp/20256/20256.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: Europe

URL: http://www.fafo.no/pub/rapp/20256/20256.pdf

Shelf Number: 128603

Keywords:
Human Trafficking (Albania, Moldova, Serbia)
Socioeconomic Status
Victim Services
Victims of Trafficking

Author: Surtees, Rebecca

Title: Re/integration of Trafficked Persons: Supporting Economic Empowerment

Summary: Meaningful re/integration is a complex and costly undertaking. It requires a full and diverse package of services for the individual (and often also the family) to address the root causes of trafficking as well as the physical, mental and social impacts of their exploitation. Obstacles to sustainable recovery and re/integration for trafficking victims are myriad and often specific to the socio-cultural, economic or political situation in the country where re/integration takes place. Central to any assistance programme must be a victim and human rights centred philosophy with sustainable re/integration as the measure of success. This philosophy lies at the core of the Foundation’s strategy which aims not only to support different models and approaches to re/ integration in different countries but also to analyse the strengths of the various strategies as well as any inhibitors to full re/integration success. This paper is the third of a series that aim to shed light on good practices in the area of re/integration as well as important lessons learned. With its focus on monitoring and evaluation, it addresses one of the most challenging and under-considered aspects of re/integration work. Often perceived simply as paperwork that needs to be done in order to meet donors’ requirements, monitoring and evaluation is put forward here as a major tool to systematise re/integration work and to ensure that assistance is appropriate and effective.

Details: Brussels: King Baudouin Foundation; Washington, DC: NEXUS Institute, 2012. 98p.

Source: Internet Resource: Issue paper #4: Accessed May 2, 2013 at: http://www.nexusinstitute.net/publications/pdfs/Re-integration%20of%20trafficked%20persons,%20developing%20m&e%20mechanisms,%20KBF%20&%20NEXUS%202009.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: International

URL: http://www.nexusinstitute.net/publications/pdfs/Re-integration%20of%20trafficked%20persons,%20developing%20m&e%20mechanisms,%20KBF%20&%20NEXUS%202009.pdf

Shelf Number: 128604

Keywords:
Economics
Human Trafficking
Reintegration
Socioeconomic Status
Victim Services

Author: Brunovskis, Anette

Title: No Place Like Home? Challenges in family reintegration after trafficking

Summary: When trafficking exploitation ends, victims face a new set of challenges as they return and integrate into their home environment. A critical aspect is victims’ relationship and interaction with their family. Family provides not only emotional and social support but also (often vital) economic backstopping. Considering and accommodating family dynamics and relationships in reintegration responses has the potential to contribute substantially to more efficient and appropriate assistance and protection. At the same time, there are family tensions and issues, which can serve to undermine the reintegration process. Considering relationships within the family – with parents, children, spouses and so on – is critical in the design of reintegration responses. Moreover, socio-economic vulnerability amongst trafficking victims is well known and one of the main reasons assistance is provided. Multiple vulnerabilities can create additional strain on the family system, which, in turn, diminishes the ability to function as a safety net and a welfare provider. Tensions potentially heighten the victim’s vulnerability as it can lead to family rejection, not serving as a security net and/or not assisting her in a situation of crisis. The two main sources of additional stress on and conflict in families post-trafficking are tied to financial hardship and stigma. This report is based on interviews with victims of trafficking in Albania, Moldova and Serbia.

Details: Oslo, Norway: Fafo; Washington, DC: NEXUS Institute, 2012. 64p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2013 at: http://www.fafo.no/pub/rapp/20257/20257.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: Europe

URL: http://www.fafo.no/pub/rapp/20257/20257.pdf

Shelf Number: 128605

Keywords:
Human Trafficking (Albania, Moldova, Serbia)
Reintegration
Victim Services

Author: Brunovskis, Anette

Title: Leaving the past behind? When victims of trafficking decline assistance

Summary: While many victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation are assisted within the numerous anti-trafficking programmes developed in countries of destination and origin, an increasingly noted trend has been that many identified victims decline the assistance offered to them. To date, little systematic knowledge has been available on why this is so, and what the consequences are. This report analyses the issue based on interviews with 39 victims of trafficking and 13 women and transgender persons in street prostitution whose status with respect to trafficking could not be determined, as well as a large number of anti-trafficking actors, in Albania, Moldova and Serbia. The authors found that victims decline assistance for a large variety of reasons, stemming from their personal circumstances; because of the way assistance is organized; and due to factors in their social surroundings, including negative assistance experiences in the past. Many do not accept because they feel it is not a real option, and are left to cope on their own with unattended post-trafficking problems. The insight that victims who decline often have other assistance needs than those catered for within the assistance system today should be incorporated into future assistance planning and design.

Details: Oslo, Norway: Fafo; Washington, DC: NEXUS Institute, 2007. 162p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2013 at: http://www.fafo.no/pub/rapp/20040/20040.pdf

Year: 2007

Country: International

URL: http://www.fafo.no/pub/rapp/20040/20040.pdf

Shelf Number: 109314

Keywords:
Human Trafficking
Victim Services

Author: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime

Title: Vision 21: Transforming Victim Services: Final Report

Summary: The Vision 21: Transforming Victim Services Final Report presents a cohesive and comprehensive framework for strategic change in the victim services field and addresses ways to overcome political, policy, and philosophical challenges in the field. OVC anticipates that this report will catalyze important first steps in the strategic direction and focus of the victim assistance field. The Vision 21: Transforming Victim Services Final Report discusses: •Major challenges to the integration of research into victim services. •The tremendous need for crime victims to have access to legal assistance to address the wide range of legal issues that can arise following victimization. •The impact of advances in technology, globalization, and changing demographics on the victim assistance field. •The capacity for serving victims in the 21st century and some of the infrastructure issues that must be overcome to reach that capacity. Furthermore, the final report outlines recommendations for beginning the transformative change, which fall into the following four broad categories: •Conducting continuous rather than episodic strategic planning in the victim assistance field to effect real change in research, policy, programming, and capacity building. •Supporting research to build a body of evidence-based knowledge and generate, collect, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data on victimization, emerging victimization trends, services and behaviors, and victims’ rights enforcement efforts. •Ensuring the statutory, policy, and programmatic flexibility to address enduring and emerging crime victim issues. •Building and institutionalizing capacity through an infusion of technology, training, and innovation to ensure that the field is equipped to meet the demands of the 21st century. With this information, OVC and the field will be better equipped to ensure that all victims of crime receive access to appropriate services delivered by skilled, compassionate professionals and are afforded the legal rights to which they are entitled. Equipped with the information in the report, we have an opportunity to turn today’s bright new vision into tomorrow’s reality for all victims of crime in this country.

Details: Washington, DC: Office for Victims of Crime, 2013. 63p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 8, 2013 at: http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/vision21/pdfs/Vision21_Report.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/vision21/pdfs/Vision21_Report.pdf

Shelf Number: 129266

Keywords:
Victim Services
Victims of Crimes (U.S.)

Author: Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. Criminal Justice Research Center

Title: Report on the Human Trafficking Services Needs Assessment Survey

Summary: Relatively limited information exists on the needs of human trafficking victims and the needs of service providers working to meet those needs in Virginia, therefore an online needs assessment survey on human trafficking services was conducted by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) in the summer of 2012. The 118 survey respondents were from victim-witness service providers, domestic violence/sexual assault service providers, adult and juvenile state probation/parole agencies, and adult and juvenile correctional facilities. Of these, 47% (55) were from agencies that had provided services to trafficking victims during the fiveyear period from 2007–2011, and 53% (63) were from agencies that had not.

Details: Richmond, VA: Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, 2012. 28p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 16, 2013 at: http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/victims/documents/HTNeedsAssessmentSurvey.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United States

URL: http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/victims/documents/HTNeedsAssessmentSurvey.pdf

Shelf Number: 129412

Keywords:
Human Trafficking (Virginia, U.S.)
Victim Services
Victims of Human Trafficking

Author: Van Selm, Joanne

Title: Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Measures for the Integration of Trafficked Persons

Summary: The Evaluation of the effectiveness of measures for the integration of trafficked persons study has been carried out in the frame of the Foster and Improve Integration of Trafficked persons (FIIT) project. The FIIT project has been funded by the EC fund for the integration of third-country nationals, the Italian Ministry of the Interior and the British NGO Migrant Helpline and implemented in five EU Member states: Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy and the United Kingdom from January 2012 to June 2013. Based on more than 100 interviews with service providers, policymakers and former victims of trafficking, the study analyses and compares the integration measures dedicated to victims of trafficking in the five case countries. It also provides recommendations to enhance the integration of victims of trafficking in host countries.

Details: Geneva, SWIT: International Organization for Migration, 2013. 93p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 22, 2013 at: http://publications.iom.int/bookstore/free/FIIT_study_ENG.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: Europe

URL: http://publications.iom.int/bookstore/free/FIIT_study_ENG.pdf

Shelf Number: 129673

Keywords:
Human Trafficking (Europe)
Victim Services

Author: Birdsey, Emma M.

Title: Reporting Violence to Police: A survey of victims attending domestic violence services

Summary: Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate what proportion of domestic violence (DV) victims who seek help from DV services choose not to report the violence to police and to investigate factors and reasons associated with non-reporting. Method: Data was collected by interviewing 300 victims attending DV services. The interview was conducted by telephone and included questions on (a) victim characteristics, (b) characteristics of victims' most recent incident, and (c) victims' reasons for not reporting to police. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were undertaken to determine characteristics associated with the decision to report a domestic violence incident to police. Results: Approximately half (51.8%) of victims reported their most recent incident to the police. Victims were more likely to report if they had an AVO against the offender, if their property had been damaged, if they were physically injured, if the abuse was physical or sexual, if they felt their children were at risk or if they had reported previous DV incidents. Victims were less likely to report if they were pregnant or experienced more than 5 previous incidents of abuse. The top three reasons for not reporting to police were fear of revenge/further violence (13.9%), embarrassment/shame (11.8%), or the incident was too trivial/unimportant (11.8%). The primary barrier to reporting, according to those interviewed, is that police either do not understand or are not proactive in handling DV (17.1%). Conclusion: Half of victims reported DV to the police, leaving the remainder without official legal intervention and professional support.

Details: Sydney: New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2013. 9p.

Source: Internet Resource: Bureau Brief, Issue Paper No. 91: Accessed January 27, 2014 at: http://www.women.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/280912/Reporting_Violence_to_the_Police_-_BOCSAR_survey.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.women.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/280912/Reporting_Violence_to_the_Police_-_BOCSAR_survey.pdf

Shelf Number: 131804

Keywords:
Battered Women
Domestic Violence
Family Violence
Victim Services
Victims of Domestic Violence

Author: Campbell, Rebecca

Title: Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Implementation and Collaborative Process: What Works Best for the Criminal Justice System

Summary: Historically, community services for sexual assault victims have been uncoordinated and inadequate (Martin, 2005). Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs) were created to coordinate efforts of the legal, medical, and mental health systems, and rape crisis centers, in order to improve victims' help-seeking experiences and legal outcomes. SARTs are espoused as best practice and have been adopted widely across the U.S. (DOJ, 2013; Ledray, 2001). Descriptive research (using convenience sampling) suggests that how SARTs are structured varies from community to community (Zajac, 2006). However, studies have not yet examined how differences in SARTs' structure relate to their effectiveness (Greeson & Campbell, 2013). To address this gap, Study 1 sought to (1) use random sampling methods to identify a nationally representative sample of 172 SARTs; (2) understand the structure and functioning of U.S. SARTs; (3) identify patterns of SART implementation; and (4) examine how these patterns relate to SARTs' perceived effectiveness at improving victim and legal outcomes. Consistent with prior studies of domestic violence coordinating councils, this study examined SART members' perceptions of their SARTs' effectiveness. Specific features of SARTs' structure that were examined included: membership breadth (the number of different stakeholder groups that participated in the collaboration) and implementation (their formalization and use of recommended collaborative activities). Findings confirmed that U.S. SARTs vary in their structure. Using cluster analysis, three types of SARTs were identified. SARTs in the "Low Adopters" cluster (38% of the sample) utilized fewer formal structures, were less likely to institutionalize multidisciplinary trainings and policy/protocol review into their collaboration, and did not engage in program evaluation. The "High Adopters except Evaluation" cluster SARTs (47%) used more formal structures and had greater institutionalization of multidisciplinary trainings and policy/protocol review; however, none of them engaged in program evaluation. The "High Adopters plus Evaluation" cluster (16%) also used more formal structures and had greater institutionalization of multidisciplinary trainings and policy/protocol review, and in addition, engaged in program evaluation. These clusters, and other features of the SARTs and their communities, were examined as predictors of SARTs' perceived effectiveness. The "High Adopters plus Program Evaluation" cluster was perceived as more effective than the "Low Adopters" cluster on all four effectiveness measures. SARTs in the "High Adopters plus Program Evaluation" group perceive themselves as more effective on one of the four domain of effectiveness than SARTs in the "High Adopters except Evaluation" cluster. In addition, active membership from a greater number of sexual assault stakeholder groups was associated with higher perceived effectiveness on all three forms of legal effectiveness. These findings suggest that formalization, regular collaborative processes, and broad active membership from diverse stakeholder groups are key components of successful SARTs. SARTs in the Study 1 "High Adopters plus Evaluation" cluster--the most effective cluster--were then selected to participate in a study of model SARTs. Specifically, in Study 2, we used social network analysis to examine the structure of inter-organizational relationships within model SARTs. Within each SART, all organizations were asked about their relationships with all other organizations that participated in their team (specifically, frequency of communication, the extent to which they felt that other organizations valued their role, and the extent to which they felt that other organizations were a resource to their own organization's work). Findings are based on the three SARTs that fully participated. Results revealed a high degree of connection between organizations both within and across sectors (criminal justice vs. not) in model SARTs. However, findings also revealed occasional stratification of relationships within SARTs. Finally, there was evidence that inter-organizational relationships tended to be mutual, and the three types of relationships were positively correlated with one another.

Details: East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University, 2013. 226p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 27, 2014 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/243829.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/243829.pdf

Shelf Number: 131810

Keywords:
Collaboration
Interagency Cooperation
Rape
Sexual Assault
Sexual Assault Response Teams
Victim Services

Author: Winters, Lyn

Title: Sexual Violence Needs Assessment For Merseyside: Final Report

Summary: This sexual violence needs assessment aims to ensure that provision meets actual need and to reduce organisational barriers. The needs assessment reviews current activity in sexual violence services in Merseyside utilising data from police, third sector and health and social care agencies for those aged 13 years and above. Intelligence on need is supplemented from the British Crime Survey. The review also summarises the factors associated with sexual violence. The findings from this review will inform the strategic review of the commissioning arrangements for the provision of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) services for the population of Merseyside. It will ensure that all people will receive optimum high quality care when they need it, not being dependent on their age or area of residence within Merseyside.

Details: Liverpool: Liverpool Public Health Observatory, University of Liverpool, 2011. 78p.

Source: Internet Resource: Observatory Report Series No. 85: Accessed march 20, 2014 at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/media/livacuk/instituteofpsychology/publichealthobservatory/85_Final_Report_Sexual_Violence_Needs_Assessment_for_Merseyside.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.liv.ac.uk/media/livacuk/instituteofpsychology/publichealthobservatory/85_Final_Report_Sexual_Violence_Needs_Assessment_for_Merseyside.pdf

Shelf Number: 131992

Keywords:
Rape
Sexual Assault
Sexual Violence
Victim Services

Author: Woodley, Alex

Title: Breaking the Silence but Keeping Secrets: What Young People Want to Address Sexual Violence

Summary: Teen sexual assault and abuse in New Zealand is a significant problem, with nearly one in five New Zealand teens reporting unwanted sexual touching or being made to do sexual things that they did not want to. Statistically, young people aged 15-24 years are at the highest risk of sexual assault in any age group. HELP (Auckland Sexual Abuse HELP Foundation) is a specialist organisation that has been providing sexual abuse support services since 1982. It works with women and children in the Auckland area suffering from the effects of sexual abuse, helping them to regain their lives. Tu Wahine Trust is a Kaupapa Maori organisation providing services to Maori sexual abuse survivors, whanau and families. The research has been commissioned by HELP and the Tu Wahine Trust and is funded by the Lotteries Commission. This report, which is part of an overall research project which aims to identify the needs of young people affected by sexual abuse or assault, aims to investigate the psycho-social service needs of young people who have experienced sexual abuse in order to support improvements to services for sexual abuse victims/survivors. Cultural considerations were particularly important in this project. HELP and Tu Wahine partnered on the research approach, design, and methodology of this project. Whilst HELP focused on identifying the pyscho-social service needs of tauiwi (non-Maori) young people, Tu Wahine focused on the needs of rangatahi Maori (Maori young people). The sister organisations then worked together on the parts of the research process that sought the views of rangatahi Maori who had accessed, or might potentially access, mainstream services. The data collection for this report was undertaken in 2012, and comprised: - A literature review - Interviews with refugee and new migrant stakeholders (including GPs, practice nurses, health workers and youth workers) - Twenty-six focus groups, hui and fono with young people, in which 222 young people participated - Three stakeholder hui (organised by Tu Wahine). - Interviews with 16 service providers and stakeholders

Details: Auckland, NZ: Tu Wahine Trust and HELP (Auckland Sexual Abuse HELP Foundation, 2013. 61p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 24, 2014 at: http://helpauckland.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Breaking-The-Silence-FINAL-FINAL.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: New Zealand

URL: http://helpauckland.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Breaking-The-Silence-FINAL-FINAL.pdf

Shelf Number: 132162

Keywords:
Aboriginals
Child Sexual Abuse
Child Sexual Assault
Rape
Sexual Violence
Victim Services

Author: Bluett-Boyd, Nicole

Title: Victim/Survivor-Focused Justice Responses and Reform to Criminal Court Procedure: Implementation, Current Practice and Future Directions

Summary: Many of the key narratives of sexual assault that have informed approaches to law reform highlight the unique disadvantage that victim/survivors face within the criminal justice process. Primarily, these concepts - including definitions of the "real" rape standard and the existence of an "ideal" "victim/survivor" draw on problematic, gendered social constructs and requirements that are rarely met by the reality of sexual assault. When projected onto trial settings, these constructs are often exploited through the practices of legal actors and the flexibility of current legislation. This ensures that the process of a criminal trial, and of providing testimony in particular, is traumatising for victim/survivors of sexual assault. The past three decades have seen reform at numerous levels to address these issues, both within and outside of the criminal justice process. While reforms are variable across jurisdictions, key changes include: - the expansion of counsellor/advocate services; - increased specialisation of police and prosecutions; - legislative amendments to the types of evidence that can be introduced at trial; - alternative provisions for giving evidence at trial; and - changes to the instructions given by the judiciary to the jury, including efforts to contextualise sexual assault. Many of these reforms are based on an understanding of the needs of victim/survivors within the criminal justice process. Until relatively recently these needs have conceptually been aligned with those of the justice system; with a focus on increasing convictions and ensuring punitive measures are taken. Recent reforms, including those identified above, appear to reflect an expanded definition of "justice needs", recognising that the criminal justice process intersects with therapeutic and social forms of redress.

Details: Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2014. 89p.

Source: Internet Resource: Research Report No. 27: Accessed April 28, 2014 at: http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/resreport27/rr27.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/resreport27/rr27.pdf

Shelf Number: 132184

Keywords:
Criminal Courts
Rape
Sex Offenders
Sex Offenses
Sexual Assault
Sexual Violence
Victim Services
Victims of Crime

Author: U.S. Department of Justice

Title: Federal Strategic Action Plan on Services for Victims of Human Trafficking in the United States, 2013-2017

Summary: In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the Obama Administration reaffirmed the American values of freedom and equality by asking federal agencies to develop a plan to strengthen services for victims of human trafficking. Coordination, Collaboration, Capacity, the Federal Strategic Action Plan on Services for Victims of Human Trafficking in the United States, 2013-2017 (the Plan) embraces these principles and builds on the progress that our Nation has made in combating human trafficking and modern day forms of slavery through government action, as well as partnerships with allied professionals and concerned citizens. As our understanding of the scope and impact of human trafficking evolved over the years, we now recognize a more complex web of exploitation affecting diverse communities across the country. Today, we acknowledge that human trafficking affects U.S. citizens and foreign nationals, adults and children, and men, women, and transgender individuals who are victimized across a wide range of commercial sex and forced labor schemes. This Plan details a series of coordinated actions to strengthen the reach and effectiveness of services provided to all victims of human trafficking, regardless of the victims' race, color, national origin, disability, religion, age, gender, immigration status, sexual orientation, or the type of trafficking they endured. The purpose of this Plan is to describe the steps that federal agencies will take to ensure that all victims of human trafficking in the United States are identified and have access to the services they need to recover. This includes steps to create a victim services network that is comprehensive, trauma-informed, and responsive to the needs of all victims. While prevention and prosecution activities fall outside the scope of this document, the Administration recognizes that addressing human trafficking through prevention, exploring and implementing demand reduction strategies, and using prosecution to hold offenders accountable are critical elements in the U.S. Government's comprehensive approach to combating all forms of human trafficking. The Plan focuses on providing and coordinating support for victims and it aligns with all other efforts of the Federal Government to eliminate human trafficking and prevent further victimization, particularly as outlined in the Attorney General's Annual Report to Congress and Assessment of U.S. Government Activities to Combat Trafficking in Persons. The Plan identifies several "core values" related to trafficking victims' services and key areas for improving service delivery. Recognizing that government alone cannot stop this insidious crime, the Plan is written to appeal to a wide audience in order to bring additional resources, expertise, and partnerships to end human trafficking and better support victims. For example, public awareness must be increased to engage more stakeholders and increase victim identification. There must also be an expansion of access to victim services. Finally, the quality of the services, not merely the quantity, must be addressed to ensure that victims are supported throughout their long-term journey as survivors. The Plan lays out four goals, eight objectives, and contains more than 250 associated action items for victim service improvements that can be achieved during the next 5 years. Federal agencies will coordinate efforts and work toward each of these goals simultaneously. Actions to improve victim identification are woven through each of the goals.

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, 2014. 84p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 19, 2014 at: http://www.ovc.gov/pubs/FederalHumanTraffickingStrategicPlan.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://www.ovc.gov/pubs/FederalHumanTraffickingStrategicPlan.pdf

Shelf Number: 132396

Keywords:
Forced Labor
Human Trafficking (U.S.)
Human Trafficking Victims
Partnerships
Prostitution
Sexual Exploitation
Victim Services

Author: Harvey, Shannon

Title: Barriers Faced by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People in Accessing Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment, and Sexual Violence Services

Summary: In 2012, the Welsh Government began consultation on legislation to end violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence. Stakeholders, in early White Paper consultations, suggested that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people may experience specific barriers when seeking support (Faraz Bhula, 2012). Alongside the development of Wales' men's domestic abuse service, some research has been conducted around gay and bisexual men's experiences of domestic abuse. However, LGBT people remain under-represented in referrals to the All Wales Domestic Abuse & Sexual Violence Helpline and Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) across Wales, despite evidence suggesting that they experience domestic and sexual abuse at similar rates to heterosexual, cis women (Donovan et al, 2006; Henderson, 2003). Service provision in Wales and elsewhere in the UK has remained focused on the needs of heterosexual, cis women and knowledge of any differences in LGBT people's support needs is limited. Seeking to further develop policy-making and legislation in this area, the Welsh Government (2013) committed to identifying barriers faced by LGBT people in accessing domestic abuse, stalking and harassment, and sexual violence services. NatCen Social Research was commissioned in January 2014 to conduct this research.

Details: Cardiff, Wales: Welsh Government Social Research, 2014. 80p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 17, 2014 at: http://wales.gov.uk/docs/caecd/research/2014/140604-barriers-faced-lgbt-accessing-domestic-abuse-services-en.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://wales.gov.uk/docs/caecd/research/2014/140604-barriers-faced-lgbt-accessing-domestic-abuse-services-en.pdf

Shelf Number: 132489

Keywords:
Bias-Motivated Crimes
Discrimination
Domestic Violence
Gays, Crime Against
Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals, Crime Against
Hate Crimes
Minority Groups
Sexual Harassment
Sexual Violence
Stalking
Victim Services

Author: Seelinger, Kim Thuy

Title: Safe Haven: Sheltering Displaced Persons from Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. Comparative Report

Summary: As part of its Sexual Violence Program, the Human Rights Center conducted a one-year study in 2012 to explore and improve understanding of the options for immediate, temporary shelter for refugees, internally displaced persons, and other migrants fleeing sexual and gender-based violence in countries affected by conflict or natural disaster. We define "shelter" flexibly. For example, it may come in the form of a traditional safe house, a network of community members' homes, or another safe space coordinated by a base organization. Our aim was to generate research-based evidence to inform donors, policymakers, and international and local actors about types of relevant models, priority challenges, and promising practices. The study focused on three key objectives: 1. Identify and describe shelter models available to refugees, the internally displaced, and migrants fleeing sexual and gender-based violence. 2. Identify unique challenges experienced by staff and residents in these settings and explore strategies to respond to these challenges. 3. Explore protection needs and options for particularly marginalized victim groups, such as male survivors, sexual minorities, sex workers, and people with disabilities. The aim and objectives were the same across each of the studies carried out in Colombia, Haiti, Kenya, and Thailand. Our research focused primarily on programs that served communities of refugees, migrants, and internally displaced persons (IDPs), including those operating in a camp setting. We also studied mainstream shelters to identify protection options and innovations in urban settings. Study outputs include four country-specific reports and one comparative assessment that contain guiding considerations for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other stakeholders involved in the provision of protection to these populations.

Details: Berkeley, CA: Human Rights Center, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, 2013. 81p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 19, 2014 at: http://www.alnap.org/resource/8607

Year: 2013

Country: International

URL: http://www.alnap.org/resource/8607

Shelf Number: 132514

Keywords:
Gender-Based Violence
Refugees
Sexual Violence
Victim Services
Victims of Violence

Author: Freccero, Julie

Title: Safe Haven: Sheltering Displaced Persons from Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. Case Study: Thailand

Summary: With one of the longest-running civil wars in history, Burma has been plagued by internal conflict between a military-backed government and many ethnic minority insurgent groups for over six decades. Widespread human rights abuses, the confiscation of land, the destruction of villages, and livelihood vulnerability have forcibly displaced millions of people in Eastern Burma, primarily ethnic minorities. Many flee to neighboring Thailand, where an estimated 142,000 Burmese refugees reside in camps along the border and over two million Burmese migrants live throughout Thailand as a whole. Without access to official refugee status in Thailand, Burmese asylum seekers are allowed to temporarily reside in one of the nine camps along the Thailand-Burma border. If they leave the camps without proper documentation, however, they are generally regarded as illegal migrants and are subject to arrest, detention, and deportation by Thai authorities. In the refugee camps, it is believed that insufficient resources, protracted confinement, and high rates of alcohol use contribute, to a high incidence of domestic violence. Service providers have also documented rape, sexual exploitation, and trafficking as significant problems. Outside the camps, local women's groups have identified domestic violence, rape, and trafficking as significant problems in migrant communities. Reporting of this violence is rare, however, as it exposes undocumented migrants to arrest and deportation. Additionally, limited economic opportunity and the undocumented or temporary legal status of migrants leave many vulnerable to sexual exploitation and abuse by employers, Thai authorities, and others in their communities. In an era of increased attention to conflict-related violence, we are now beginning to understand the continuum of sexual and gender-based harm that men, women, and children can suffer during armed conflict, in flight, and while temporarily resettled in refugee or internal displacement camps. Violence such as rape, gang rape, sexual torture, and sexual slavery can occur during periods of armed conflict, perpetrated by different actors for different reasons. Those fleeing a conflict may still be susceptible to rape, sexual exploitation, or trafficking while attempting to secure transport, cross borders, and find lodging. Finally, even after flight - whether to refugee or internal displacement camps or within urban centers - vulnerability to harm persists, perhaps due to a lack of protective networks, immigration status, or basic resources. In fact, displacement is believed to increase vulnerability through new and exacerbating conditions, such as the breakdown of family and community ties, collapsed gender roles, limited access to resources, insufficient security, and inadequate housing in camp settings. When refugees or internally displaced persons experience sexual and gender-based violence, their needs can be particularly urgent and complex. Survivors may experience compounded levels of physical or psychological distress resulting from individual and collective harms suffered. Unfortunately, multisectoral service options are often scarce in forced displacement settings. It is important to better understand the options for immediate physical shelter that exist in these contexts. In addition to providing immediate physical protection, programs that provide shelter to displaced persons fleeing sexual and gender-based violence may help to facilitate access to other critical services in resource-constrained settings. However, data about shelter-providing programs in such contexts is extremely limited. Evidence-based information about shelter models, client and staff needs, service challenges, and strategies is urgently required to inform policy, programming, and implementation guidance for international, national, and local entities that design or oversee these protection programs.

Details: Berkeley, CA: Human Rights Center, University of California - Berkeley, School of Law, 2013. 145p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 19, 2014 at: http://www.law.berkeley.edu/files/HRC/SS_Thailand_web.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: Thailand

URL: http://www.law.berkeley.edu/files/HRC/SS_Thailand_web.pdf

Shelf Number: 132528

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Gender-Based Violence
Human Trafficking
Rape
Refugees
Sexual Exploitation
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Horn, Rebecca

Title: Safe Haven: Sheltering Displaced Persons from Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. Case Study: Kenya

Summary: In the first eight months of 2012, the Dadaab refugee camp complex at the Kenya-Somalia border registered nearly 6,000 new arrivals from Somalia, bringing the total population of the northeastern camps to 474,000. If the Dadaab complex were a city, it would be Kenya's third largest, after Nairobi and Mombasa. A similar population explosion occurred on the other side of the country, in Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya's northwest. Nearly 13,000 new refugees were registered between January to August 2012, mostly from South Sudan. The total camp population is now over 101,000. By August 2012, the total number of registered refugees and asylum-seekers in Kenya came to over 630,000-with 55,000 of these residing having migrated internally to Nairobi.2 Camp overpopulation and ongoing security concerns have led to extreme resource constraints and protection challenges. UNHCR's implementing partners report cases of aggression within the camps, including rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence. Further south in the country, 664,000 Kenyan citizens were displaced as a result of the post-election violence that occurred immediately after December 2007's presidential election results were announced.3 During the two months of inter-ethnic conflict that ensued, approximately 1000 cases of sexual and gender-based violence were treated by the two major gender violence clinics in Nairobi.4 Today, many Kenyans remain displaced, with entire camp communities still clustered in central and western Kenya. Security and service delivery to the camps is low. Rates of sexual and gender-based violence are difficult to assess, but assumed to be largely underreported. In an era of increased attention to conflict-related violence, we are now beginning to understand the continuum of sexual and gender-based harm that men, women, and children can suffer during armed conflict, in flight, and while temporarily resettled in refugee or internal displacement camps. Violence such as rape, gang rape, and sexual torture or slavery can occur during periods of armed conflict and may be perpetrated by different actors for different reasons. Those fleeing a conflict may still be susceptible to rape, sexual exploitation, or trafficking while attempting to secure transport, cross borders, and find lodging. Finally, even in settlement-whether in refugee or internal displacement camps or in urban centers-vulnerability to harm persists due to a number of factors, including lack of protective networks, immigration status, and basic resources. Displacement also increases vulnerability through new and exacerbating conditions, including the breakdown of family and community ties, collapsed gender roles, limited access to resources, insufficient security, and inadequate housing in camp settings. Refugees and internally displaced persons fleeing armed conflict or even natural disasters have few options for immediate physical protection from sexual or gender-based violence-either during flight or in camps. Further, the needs of refugees or internally displaced persons who also experience sexual and gender-based violence are likely to be urgent and complex. They may experience compounded levels of physical or psychological distress stemming from both conflict-related displacement and their experience of sexual and gender-based violence. Providing services to people with such complex vulnerabilities requires multisectoral approaches that address the special needs created by these circumstances. It is important to better understand the options for immediate safe shelter that exist in these contexts. In addition to providing immediate physical protection, programs that shelter those fleeing sexual and gender-based violence may help to facilitate access to other critical services in resource-constrained displacement settings. However, data about shelter-providing programs in these contexts is extremely limited. Evidence-based information about shelter models, client and staff needs, service challenges, and strategies is urgently required to inform policy, programming, and implementation guidance for international, national, or local entities that design or oversee these protection programs.

Details: Berkeley, CA: Human Rights Center, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, 2013. 113p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 19, 2014 at: http://www.unhcr.org/51b6e2fd9.html

Year: 2013

Country: Kenya

URL: http://www.unhcr.org/51b6e2fd9.html

Shelf Number: 132529

Keywords:
Gender-Based Violence
Human Trafficking
Rape
Refugees
Sexual Exploitation
Sexual Violence
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Feldman, Sara

Title: Safe Haven: Sheltering Displaced Persons from Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. Case Study: Colombia

Summary: The Human Rights Center conducted a review of scholarly and non-governmental organization (NGO) literature on shelter services in Colombia and on the response to sexual and gender-based violence both generally and specific to internally displaced persons. This review provided information on the context of sexual and gender-based violence in Colombia, key actors, and available protection mechanisms. Fieldwork was conducted over five weeks in April and May 2012. In-depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with a total of ten shelter staff and seven shelter residents from a total of eight shelters located in the cities of Bogota, Medellin, and Pasto. Interviews were audio-recorded, and files were translated, transcribed, and coded with qualitative data analysis software (Dedoose). Human Rights Center researchers also carried out twenty-eight key informant interviews with representatives from the government, UN agencies, NGOs, and faith-based organizations involved in Human Rights Center researchers examined eight shelter programs available to displaced individuals fleeing sexual and gender-based violence in three locations: Bogota, Medellin, and Pasto. Shelters included in this study were designed to serve one of three different populations: survivors of domestic violence, the displaced population generally, and displaced persons at particularly high security risk. The domestic violence shelter programs visited were funded and managed by the mayor's offices of Bogota and Medellin. Shelters serving internally displaced persons were funded by government entities, faith-based organizations, and international donors. Displacement shelters were managed by faith-based organizations and NGOs. In Bogota, shelter sites included four a'traditional safe houses": one for survivors of domestic violence, two for the general IDP population, and one for the high-risk IDP population. Researchers also visited one "hybrid" income-generating program offering hotel or apartment-based housing to displaced indigenous women. In Medellin, shelter sites included a "community host system" in which women in the Medellin area shelter survivors of domestic violence in their homes and a traditional safe house program that houses IDPs at high risk. In Pasto, Human Rights Center researchers visited one traditional safe house serving the general IDP population. The length of stay in these programs ranged from three days to four months. Shelter programs offered a variety of services both on-site and through referral, including psychosocial support, legal aid, medical care, vocational training, and employment assistance. The extent of services varied considerably from one site to another.

Details: Berkeley, CA: Human Rights Center, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, 2013. 105p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 1, 2014 at: http://www.law.berkeley.edu/files/HRC/SS_Colombia_web.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: Colombia

URL: http://www.law.berkeley.edu/files/HRC/SS_Colombia_web.pdf

Shelf Number: 132587

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Gender-Based Violence
Refugees
Sexual Violence
Victim Services
Victims of Violence

Author: Patton, Shirley

Title: Pathways: How women leave violent men

Summary: At the Justice and Change Conference held in Canberra (1999), Professor Liz Kelly (Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit, University of North London) argued that there should be a shift in the direction of domestic violence policy and service research, from what prevents women from leaving a male partner who assaults them, to what enables them to do so. This research is a response to that challenge. It has focused on who and what enabled women to leave a male partner who had assaulted them - the pathways to leaving and establishing a new life. The study differs from previous research in that it focuses on: 1. Women's own identification of what enabled them to negotiate their way successfully out of violent relationships. 2. The identification and analysis of effective supports, services and strategies for establishing violence-free lives. The research is of both National and State significance, with the issue of domestic violence on political agendas at both levels. Most recently, the Tasmanian Government committed to: 'Reduce by one-third the incidence of family violence by 2020' (Tasmania Together 2001). Women Tasmania, the government department that has key responsibility for women's policy issues, commissioned this research, with funding provided by the Federal Partnerships Against Domestic Violence (PADV) strategy. Research aims and questions The primary aim of the research has been to identify how and where government and nongovernment policy makers and service providers could best use their resources to provide more timely and appropriate assistance to women leaving violent male partners, and to maximise their safety. To this end, it worked with women in Tasmania to identify and explore the formal and informal pathways they used to leave a male partner who assaulted them, the pathways they used to establish and maintain a new, violence-free life for themselves and their children, and what has assisted them in this process. The main research question was: What are women's perceptions of the turning points and pathways in leaving and remaining out of a violent relationship with a male partner?

Details: Hobart, Tasmania: Women Tasmania, Department of Premier and Cabinet, 2003. 222p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 10, 2014 at: http://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/47012/pathways_how_women_leave_violent_men.pdf

Year: 2003

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/47012/pathways_how_women_leave_violent_men.pdf

Shelf Number: 132642

Keywords:
Abusive Men
Domestic Violence
Family Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Victim Services
Victims of Family Violence
Violence Against Women (Australia)

Author: Breckenridge, Jan

Title: Traversing the Maze of 'Evidence' and 'Best Practice' in Domestic and Family Violence Service Provision in Australia

Summary: This paper considers how 'evidence' is constructed and translated into 'best practice'. It contends that the experience and understanding of practitioners within domestic and family violence (DFV) services constitute important contributing knowledge for the evidence-base. However, practice wisdom alone is not sufficient, since other forms of knowledge also play an important role in optimising outcomes. Ultimately this paper promotes the engagement of DFV practitioners in formal research and evaluation, not only to substantially inform the evidence but also to critically examine the effects of their interventions against all manner of valid evidence, in a recursive process of knowledge translation. It is suggested that a critical, reflexive engagement with formal evidence is ultimately the defining feature of 'best practice' in the continuous drive towards an effective response to violence against women.

Details: Sydney: Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse, 2014. 15p.

Source: Internet Resource: Issues Paper 26: Accessed July 7, 2014 at: http://anrows.org.au/sites/default/files/page-attachments/IssuesPaper26-May2014.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: Australia

URL: http://anrows.org.au/sites/default/files/page-attachments/IssuesPaper26-May2014.pdf

Shelf Number: 132738

Keywords:
Domestic Violence (Australia)
Evidence-Based Practices
Family Violence
Victim Services
Victims of Family Violence
Violence Against Women

Author: Reichert, Jessica

Title: National survey of residential programs for victims of sex trafficking

Summary: Through a survey, researchers sought to learn about residential programs for trafficking victims in the U.S. The purpose was to share available programs and services with other jurisdictions to better serve victims of trafficking. A listing of programs identified through the survey is provided in Appendix B. The following are key findings about residential programs for victims of sex trafficking in the U.S. Nationally, a total of 33 residential programs were found to be currently operational and exclusive to trafficking victims with a total of 682 beds, two in Illinois. Residential programs were open in 16 states and the District of Columbia; California had the most with nine residential programs offering 371 beds for victims. The Western region of the country had the most residential programs for victims with 59 percent of the total beds available there. In California, there were ten residential programs with approximately 54 percent of all beds for trafficking victims. Twenty-eight states had no residential programs for victims of sex trafficking and no plans to open any. Most of the programs accepted both domestic and international victims (64 percent) and 36 percent were exclusive to victims of domestic sex trafficking. Most available beds in residential programs (75 percent) were designated for minor victims of sex trafficking. Of the surveyed programs, there were fewer than 28 beds for male victims of sex trafficking. All but one of the residential programs indicated they offer residential services 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Twenty-eight of the 37 operational facilities have aftercare services for the victims leaving the residential program. Many agencies indicated that they would be opening a residential program�a total of 27 programs offering 354 more beds.

Details: Chicago, IL: The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2013. 37p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 25, 2014 at: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/ResearchReports/NSRHVST_101813.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/ResearchReports/NSRHVST_101813.pdf

Shelf Number: 132776

Keywords:
Human Trafficking
Sex Trafficking
Sexual Exploitation
Victim Services

Author: Simich, Laura

Title: Improving Human Trafficking Victim Identification - Validation and Dissemination of a Screening Tool

Summary: Statement of problem Human trafficking occurs on an enormous scale in the United States, but only a fraction of victims are identified, hindering provision of victim services and prosecution of traffickers. Purpose of the study To provide a solution, the Vera Institute of Justice (Vera) designed, field-tested and validated a comprehensive screening tool to improve victim identification, victim services and law enforcement efforts on a nation-wide scale. Working with 11 victim service providers, Vera collected original data on more than 230 cases from interviews with potential trafficking victims and case file reviews to determine if the screening tool could reliably identify victims-including adults and minors, and domestic and foreign-born-of sex and labor trafficking. Vera also facilitated participatory evaluation by conducting focus groups and 36 in-depth interviews with service providers, trafficking survivors and law enforcement personnel to identify best practices in implementation of the screening tool. Summary of results The study achieved its validation and evaluation objectives and identified good practices in victim identification. Analysis demonstrated that the screening tool accurately measures several dimensions of human trafficking and is highly reliable in predicting victimization for both sex and labor trafficking across diverse sub-groups, including those divided by age, gender and country of origin. The majority of questions asked in the three domains-migration, work, and working/living conditions-in which indicators were measured, were significant predictors of trafficking after controlling for demographics: - 87% of the questions significantly predicted trafficking victimization in general; - 71% were significant predictors of labor trafficking specifically; and - 81% were significant predictors of sex trafficking. Statistical validation determined that a short version of the tool consisting of 16 questions (approximately half of the questions tested) accurately predicts victimization for both sex and labor trafficking cases. The tool can be further shortened if an interviewer suspects a specific type of trafficking victimization (sex or labor) based on circumstances. Of the 180 individuals in the sample who responded to the screening questions, 53% (N=96) were trafficking victims and 47% (N=84) were non-trafficking victims, i.e. victims of other crimes such as domestic violence, smuggling, prostitution or labor exploitation. Of the trafficking victims, 40% (N=38) were sex trafficking victims and 60% (N=58), labor trafficking victims. Few studies have described characteristics of trafficking victims and factors associated with trafficking among diverse sub-groups. While this study sample is not representative of trafficking victims in general, data analysis revealed, for example, that trafficking victims in this sample were more likely than non-trafficking victims to report that they spoke ―good‖ or ―excellent‖ English and to have more education compared to non-trafficking victims. Females were more likely to have been subjected to some form of sexual exploitation and isolation, while males were more likely to have experienced labor exploitation. Evaluation demonstrated that the efficacy of the screening tool depends upon its appropriate use. Because of the trauma and fear that trafficking victims endure, a sensitive approach is paramount. Building trust, ensuring safety and meeting victims' legal, social and health needs are fundamental considerations in victim identification. More resources, training and collaboration are essential in this process.

Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2014. 454p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 12, 2014 at: http://www.vera.org/sites/default/files/resources/downloads/human-trafficking-identification-tool-technical-report.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://www.vera.org/sites/default/files/resources/downloads/human-trafficking-identification-tool-technical-report.pdf

Shelf Number: 132999

Keywords:
Forced Labor
Human Trafficking (U.S.)
Prostitution
Sex Trafficking
Victim Identification
Victim Services
Victims of Crime

Author: Seelinger, Kim Thuy

Title: Safe Haven: Sheltering Displaced Persons from Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. Case Study: Haiti

Summary: As part of its Sexual Violence Program, the Human Rights Center conducted a one-year study in 2012 to explore and improve understanding of the options for immediate, temporary shelter for refugees, internally displaced persons, and other migrants fleeing sexual and gender-based violence in countries affected by conflict or natural disaster. We define shelter flexibly. For example, it may be in the form of a traditional safe house, or a network of community members' homes, or other safe spaces coordinated by a base organization. Our aim was to generate research-based evidence to inform donors, policymakers, and international and local actors about types of relevant models, priority challenges, and promising practices. The study focused on three key objectives: 1. Identify and describe shelter models available to refugees, the internally displaced, and migrants fleeing sexual and gender-based violence. 2. Identify unique challenges experienced by staff and residents in these settings and explore strategies to respond to these challenges. 3. Explore protection needs and options for particularly marginalized victim groups, such as male survivors, sexual minorities, sex workers, and people with disabilities. The aim and objectives were the same across each of the studies, carried out in Colombia, Haiti, Kenya, and Thailand. Our research focused primarily on programs that served communities of refugees, migrants, and internally displaced persons, including those operating in a camp setting. We also studied mainstream shelters to identify protection options and innovations in urban settings. Study outputs include four country-specific reports and one comparative assessment that contain guiding considerations for the UNHCR and other stakeholders involved in the provision of protection to these populations. The Haitian landscape of shelters for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence changed quickly after the 2010 earthquake. Two major safe houses suddenly ceased to operate. One was the Centre Yvonne Hakim Rimpel, run by the Ministere a la Condition Feminine et aux Droits des Femmes (hereinafter Women's Ministry) and funded in part by Eve Ensler's V-Day. The other was a short-term emergency house run by the women's rights organization Kay Fanm. In their place, post-earthquake Haiti saw a proliferation of new shelter efforts supported by international donors, including several of the programs we visited. Our researchers conducted interviews with staff and residents in six shelter programs, including the following: - three traditional safe houses run by local women's rights groups; - one independent living arrangement program funded by a private US-based foundation; - one LGBT rights group that did not run a formal shelter, but which provided ad hoc access to a community host network; - one hybrid shelter space that consisted of dormitory space downstairs in the office of a women's rights organization. We also learned of other developing shelter options, such as temporary plywood housing, or "T-shelters," erected by various international groups in certain camps, an IOM project in Croix-des-Bouquets, and a safe house planned by the French Red Cross in conjunction with a local Haitian organization in Petit Goave. However, these emerging programs were not included in our study sample.

Details: Berkeley, CA: Human Rights Center, University of California - Berkeley, School of Law, 2013. 110p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 13, 2014 at: http://www.unhcr.org/51b6e2b29.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: Haiti

URL: http://www.unhcr.org/51b6e2b29.pdf

Shelf Number: 133038

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Gender-Based Violence (Haiti)
Human Trafficking
Rape
Refugees
Sexual Exploitation
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Harvey, Shannon

Title: Case by Case: Refuge provision in London for survivors of domestic violence who use alcohol and other drugs or have mental health problems

Summary: Not long after the inception of the Stella Project in 2002, a survey of Women's Aid refuges found that just 13% would always accept women with mental health or drug or alcohol needs, while another 48% said that they would sometimes take these women, depending on other factors (Barron, 2004). Over the intervening decade, we have witnessed greater recognition of the intersections between the issues and seen many examples of increased partnership working across the domestic violence, substance use and mental health sectors. Despite the many positive changes, however, one of the most persistent concerns raised by practitioners is the lack of refuge space for women who are affected by substance use and/or mental ill-health. This study aimed to provide an updated picture of access to refuge services for this group of survivors. This was achieved through: - Telephone or face-to-face interviews with London-based refuge service providers (n=30) about their policies on accommodating women with drug and alcohol and/or mental health problems. - Freedom of information requests to all London boroughs (excluding the City of Westminster) in April 2012 and August 2013 about the number of women with drug and alcohol and/or mental health problems accommodated in refuges in the borough in the previous twelve months. The key findings were: - Most boroughs (n=18) include some level of requirement to support women with drug and alcohol and/or mental health problems within service specifications for refuge provision. This sometimes a specific requirement or a more generic 'expectation' that all survivors would be supported and that problematic substance use or mental ill-health would not constitute an absolute exclusion criteria. - Only two boroughs actively exclude women with drug and alcohol and/or mental health problems from the refuges they fund. - Most refuges fulfil the requirements in their service specification by operating a 'case by case' basis for assessing the needs and risks of potential service users. - Many refuges do, however, operate a partial blanket policy relating to certain types of substance use and/or mental health problems, most commonly women using opiates (including methadone) and those who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder or dementia. - Only seventeen (53.1%) of 32 local authorities were able to provide full or partial information on the number of domestic violence survivors accommodated by their refuge providers in the past year who had identified problems with drugs and/or alcohol and mental health needs. - In 2012 and 2013 these 17 boroughs accommodated, at most, 239 women with identified problems in relation to alcohol or drug use or mental health. - Only 14 boroughs could provide information about the number of women with drug and alcohol and/or mental health problems were refused access to refuge accommodation in their borough.

Details: London: AVA (Against Violence & Abuse) and Solace Women's Aid, 2014. 59p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 22, 2014 at: http://www.avaproject.org.uk/media/148039/case%20by%20case%20-%20london%20refuge%20provision%20-%20final.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.avaproject.org.uk/media/148039/case%20by%20case%20-%20london%20refuge%20provision%20-%20final.pdf

Shelf Number: 132029

Keywords:
Alcohol Abuse
Domestic Violence (U.K.)
Drug Abuse
Mental Health Services
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Baker, David

Title: Feeling Safe Again: recovering from property crime

Summary: Property crime in Australia declined by more than half between 2001 and 2011 - affecting 2.9 per cent of households in 2012, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Although the proportion of victims has been falling steadily, recovery from these incidents remains an important policy issue for those unfortunate Australians who fall prey to this sort of crime. The shock that property crime can cause is underestimated by most people - burglary victims, in particular, may experience a psychological trauma in addition to the loss of the property itself. Until the mid-1980s it had long been accepted that victims of burglary recovered within two or three months following the crime. The consensus was that effects 'wore off' within a few weeks or months. More recent studies, however, have found that recovery can take much longer. The current consensus is that the effects are both 'pervasive and persistent'. Being the victim of a property crime has a bigger effect on a person's reported feelings of safety than demographic differences. Neither sex nor age had any notable influence on average reported safety scores. Interestingly, respondents who have not been victims but who perceive that theft and burglary are common in their local neighbourhood experience a similar level of insecurity to that reported by actual victims. Analysis of safety scores shows that being a victim of a property crime has an effect on people's feeling of safety over the successive two years. The prolonged recovery experienced by victims suggests that more could be done to support recovery and presents an opportunity for expanding support services. This paper has found that, after two years, victims of property crime still do not feel as safe as they did before the break-in or theft. Support services need to reflect this new understanding of recovery duration with, for example, long-term contact with victims. Even if initial services have been provided, a subsequent follow up may potentially improve recovery rates.

Details: Canberra: Australia Institute, 2014. 22p.

Source: Internet Resource: Policy Brief No. 66: Accessed September 11, 2014 at: http://www.tai.org.au/content/feeling-safe-again

Year: 2014

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.tai.org.au/content/feeling-safe-again

Shelf Number: 133274

Keywords:
Burglary
Fear of Crime
Property Crimes (Australia)
Victim Services
Victims of Crime

Author: Kelly, Liz

Title: Finding the Costs of Freedom: How women and children rebuild their lives after domestic violence

Summary: Whilst crisis interventions for women and children experiencing domestic violence are well developed, little is known about the process of rebuilding lives, including what longer term support needs might be. Women's organisations have lacked the resources to follow up service users. The Research Grants Programme run by the Big Lottery provided an exciting opportunity to do just that. Working in partnership with the Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit (CWASU) at London Metropolitan University, Solace Women's Aid successfully applied for funds that enabled us to track 100 women and their children over a three year period (2011-2014). Women were recruited into the study after exiting a range of domestic violence services provided by Solace and, through four waves of interviews, we followed their onward journeys. The overarching aims of the project were to identify: - What factors support long term settlement, how do they interrelate and at what points in the process are they particularly important? - When do obstacles to resettlement occur and how can they be overcome? - How can community resources best be developed and integrated for long term support of survivor resettlement and independence? Through a multi-layered research methodology we explored how women and children are able to grow their 'space for action' (Kelly, 2003) after physically removing themselves from the 'coercive control' (Stark, 2007) exerted by the perpetrator over their everyday lives. We also measured post-separation abuse in Wave Three, experience of services and the legal system, changes in housing situation and how their informal networks facilitated or interfered with efforts to create safety and freedom.

Details: London: Solace Women's Aid, 2014. 244p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 12, 2014 at: http://solacewomensaid.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/SWA-Finding-Costs-of-Freedom-Report.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://solacewomensaid.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/SWA-Finding-Costs-of-Freedom-Report.pdf

Shelf Number: 133296

Keywords:
Domestic Violence (U.K.)
Family Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Hughes, Karissa

Title: Literature Review: Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

Summary: - While various promising program models and strategies for providing services to victims of the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) have been occurring for over a decade, the lack of a current evidence-base related to prevention, identification and interventions available to inform such programs and practices underscores the need for additional work in this area. - Currently, federal (Federal Strategic Action Plan on Services for Victims of Human Trafficking, 2013-2017) and state (the California Child Welfare Council CSEC Action Team) efforts are underway to strategically respond to the existing gaps in knowledge and practice around CSEC, in order to better identify and meet the needs of victims. - In the meantime, while not exhaustive this literature review intends to highlight an array of current efforts and components that merit additional attention when considering residential placement types and the provision of services to this vulnerable population. - The perception that victims of CSEC should be handled in the juvenile justice system as opposed to the child welfare system is changing with evidence supporting the key role child welfare agencies play. Even if child welfare agencies are not currently required to intervene with CSEC victims under the existing California Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Section 300, the reality is CWS staff are already working with a significant number of victims and survivors of these crimes, whether or not they recognize them as such. Thus two roles emerge, preventing CSEC among populations already involved in child welfare, and identifying/assisting CSEC victims in their care. - Understanding the extreme physical, psychological, emotional and social harms associated with CSEC and the stages of change youth experience as they attempt to exit CSE informs the need for a range of victim services across a number of agencies and a continuum of care model to fully address their spectrum of needs. Therefore broad-based multi-sector response including interagency collaborative approaches/community coalitions should be utilized. - Coordinated communication between service providers is necessary in order to share information on available resources, services and trends which will allow involved systems/agencies/service providers to more efficiently and effectively provide the services needed at any given point in the restoration process. - Based on the literature more support is needed for comprehensive and specialized programs that provide youth with a safe place to stay, positive support networks that address their needs and empower them to make safe choices; and interventions for trauma and behavioral issues that make it difficult for them to function in traditional settings. - Components of promising services and strategies identified by providers who serve CSEC victims include safety planning, collaboration across providers, trust and relationship building to foster consistency, culturally appropriate services, trauma-informed programming, and survivor involvement in the development and implementation of programming. Services for CSEC victims and those at-risk should also be informed by a comprehensive and standardized screening assessment that evaluates particular needs and levels of risk. - In terms of shelter/housing additional residential placements are needed to specifically serve CSEC with appropriate security features to prevent access by exploiters, clear protocols, allowance to return following runaways, and qualified personnel. - Several promising models for better understanding and serving CSEC victims via the child welfare system are shared across the nation. Such policies and procedures may provide beneficial for California, particularly to integrate this population into their missions and mandates. Broadly, the main areas include: designating CSEC as a specific form of child abuse to improve case management, requiring reporting to child protective services, raising awareness and building capacity in child welfare, and developing child welfare system guidelines, protocols and tools for working with CSEC victims. - Additionally in May 2013, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF) released as part of their Human Trafficking Briefing Series Emerging Practices within Child Welfare Responses, highlighting 10 promising practices already underway in child welfare agencies across the United States. This is included in Section X of the literature review. - In addition to the work of child welfare, law enforcement, and other governmental organizations, several nongovernmental and community-based organizations play a key role in providing direct services to victims. These include the 10 programs identified by the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse (CEBC) for Child Welfare in the area of "Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents: Services for Victims." While some of these may offer promise for replication locally, at this point none of these ten programs have been given a scientific rating by the CEBC, meaning currently there are not sufficiently published, peer-reviewed research evidence examining outcomes for these programs. - Recently there has been an emphasis on the importance of expanding outreach to the at-risk population so they can better protect themselves from CSEC and recognize risky situations. Disseminating educational materials and providing training programs to these youth as well as to CSEC victims and service providers will increase awareness of CSEC and the services available to victims. Examples of existing CSEC training and prevention programs are provided in Section XII. - In conclusion a range of web resources, resource guides, action plans, publications and reports on the topic are offered for additional information and further developments on the topic of CSEC.

Details: San Diego, CA: Academy for Professional Excellence at San Diego State University School of Social Work, 2014. 112p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 15, 2014 at: https://theacademy.sdsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/sachs-csec-lit-review-02-2014.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://theacademy.sdsu.edu/programs/SACHS/literature/SACHS_CSEC_Lit_%2https://theacademy.sdsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/sachs-csec-lit-review-02-2014.pdf

Shelf Number: 133302

Keywords:
Child Abuse and Neglect
Child Prostitution
Child Protection
Child Sexual Abuse
Child Sexual Exploitation
Child Welfare
Victim Services

Author: European Parliament. Directorate-General for Internal Policies. Policy Department C Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs

Title: Access to shelters of undocumented migrant women fleeing domestic violence: the legal and practical situation in the Member States

Summary: This study is a literature review about the ability of undocumented migrant women who experience domestic violence to access shelter and support. The study brings together data on characteristics of this group of women and the difficulties they face in seeking help. It includes eight case studies and important lessons about the political/economic, social and individual-level barriers to their seeking the help they need to preserve their Human Right to safety.

Details: Brussels: European Parliament, 2013. 73p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 1, 2014 at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/etudes/join/2013/493027/IPOL-FEMM_ET(2013)493027_EN.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: Europe

URL: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/etudes/join/2013/493027/IPOL-FEMM_ET(2013)493027_EN.pdf

Shelf Number: 133521

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Migrant Women
Undocumented Citizens (Europe)
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Matczak, Anna

Title: Review of Domestic Violence policies in England and Wales.

Summary: Violence against women was recognised as a fundamental infringement of human rights in the 1993 United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women and was a major topic at the 1995 Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women (UN Women, 1995). The serious consequences of domestic violence have also been recognised by the World Health Organisation (Krug et al. 2002). Over the past 30 years there have been major changes in the national policy and comprehension of domestic violence in the United Kingdom driven and in response to advocacy and campaigning by the women's movement and non-governmental organisations providing services to abused women (Harvin, 2006). In the shadow of policy developments, since the late 1980s, the criminal justice system, in particular the police service has been involved in configuring justice responses to the problem of domestic violence (ibid.). Responses followed in the health and social care services policy arena. Many government and non-government institutions started commissioning research on domestic violence and formulating policy recommendations. At the end of the 1990s two events had a particular influence on the development domestic violence policy in the United Kingdom; first, the increasing interest in aligning UK policies with the strategic objectives agreed in the Beijing Platform for Action (UN Women, 1995) to promote the human rights of women, and secondly New Labour taking power in England (1997) with a manifesto commitment to take forward policy development to combat domestic violence. During the period between 1997 and 2010, the main focus of policy and legislation on domestic violence was on implementing measures based on prevention, protection and justice and the provision of support for victims of domestic abuse, to be implemented by partnerships of service providers at local and national levels. Interestingly, in formulating policy, the government defined domestic violence in a gender-neutral way. Since 2010, following the election of a Coalition government (Conservatives and Liberal Democrats), there is a shift in policy direction with increased focus on a more broad gender-based agenda to "end violence against women and girls" (Home Office, 2010). Each of the four countries of the United Kingdom develops their own domestic violence strategy. Scottish policy is outlined in the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (2009), 'Safer Lives: Changed Lives a Shared Approach to Tackling Violence against Women in Scotland' and focuses on Prevention; Protection of victims; Provision of services and Participation of all agencies to ensure policy making and practice development around violence against women is informed by those who use domestic violence services. Recent initiatives in relation to domestic violence in Scotland are framed within meeting gender equality priorities. In Northern Ireland, the current strategy is set out in "Tackling Violence at Home - A Strategy for Addressing Domestic Violence and Abuse in Northern Ireland" (DHSSPNI, 2005) and is supported by Action Plans up to 2012. In 2008 the Northern Ireland government published "Tackling Sexual Violence and Abuse - A Regional Strategy" (2008). These two strategies run in tandem and it planned that in March 2012 a joint Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse Action Plan will be published taking forward actions on a collaborative basis. In 2005 the Welsh Assembly Government published its first national strategy Tackling Domestic Abuse: The All Wales National Strategy supported also by yearly action plans. This was superseded in 2010 with the publication of "The Right to be Safe" which is six year integrated strategy for tackling all forms of violence against women and has an increased focus ensuring that "the whole violence against women agenda is tackled effectively" (Welsh Assembly Government, 2010, p.3). This report details and focuses on England and aims to present the findings from the literature review of policy development and implementation in the last two decades in England. The development of national measures (legislation and policy) to combat domestic abuse is addressed chronologically. Responsibility for providing services to domestic violence victims is divided between a range of government bodies and other agencies featured in the report. Some of the obstacles in achieving an integrated domestic violence policy in England are highlighted.

Details: London: Kingston University and St George's, University of London, 2011. 28p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 2, 2014 at: http://eprints.kingston.ac.uk/18868/1/Matczak-A-18868.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://eprints.kingston.ac.uk/18868/1/Matczak-A-18868.pdf

Shelf Number: 133551

Keywords:
Domestic Violence (U.K.)
Family Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Sexual Violence
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Brown, Ashley

Title: Call to keep children safe from sexual abuse: A study of the use and effects of the Stop it Now! UK and Ireland Helpline

Summary: Child sexual abuse is recognised by policy makers and the general public as a significant threat to the safety and long-term wellbeing of children. Alongside revelations about "historical" abuse, there is evidence about the ongoing prevalence of sexual abuse committed by adults and between children themselves. Research, interventions and prosecutions all illuminate the scale and significant harm of child sexual abuse - showing the many ways it can occur and the widespread effort and vigilance which are required to keep children safe. Responses to child sexual abuse focus on child protection and offender management. These are essential elements of any comprehensive response, but there is also growing interest in a broader "public health" approach to prevention. Responding to child sexual abuse as a public health matter highlights the role that can be played by a much wider set of agencies and individuals, making child protection something to which all adults can contribute. This report presents findings from research conducted on a project (run by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation) which takes a public health approach to preventing child sexual abuse: Stop it Now! UK and Ireland. It sets out the research on the Stop it Now! UK Helpline, which provides free information, advice, guidance and support to people concerned about child sexual abuse, and is delivered over the telephone and by email. The research assessed its operation and impacts on three sets of users who can play a key role in protecting children: - adults concerned about their sexual thoughts, feelings or behaviour towards children; - adults concerned about other people posing a sexual risk towards children; - professionals. The research involved qualitative research and a feedback questionnaire with Helpline users, investigating use of the service and its ability to protect children from sexual abuse. It received ethical approval from the NatCen Research Ethics Committee, in line with ethics requirements of the Economic and Social Research Council and Government Social Research Unit Research. The study was part of a wider research project examining how the Stop it Now! programmes in the UK and in the Netherlands can contribute to protecting children from sexual abuse. The research was financially supported by the Daphne III programme of the European Union1 and was conducted by NatCen Social Research in the UK and by de Waag in the Netherlands. There were four components to the research project: - Assessing the operation of the Stop it Now! UK and Stop it Now! Netherlands Helplines - Identifying the potential of these Stop it Now! Helplines to change behaviour of actual and potential abusers, and to contribute to protecting children from sexual abuse. - Presenting an economic analysis of Stop it Now! UK and Stop it Now! Netherlands. - Providing a "toolkit" for developing and implementing a child sexual abuse prevention Helpline in other European countries.

Details: London: NatCen Social Research, 2014. 91p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October, 13, 2014 at: http://www.natcen.ac.uk/media/338805/stop-it-now-uk-findings-.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.natcen.ac.uk/media/338805/stop-it-now-uk-findings-.pdf

Shelf Number: 133990

Keywords:
Child Protection
Child Sexual Abuse (U.K.)
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention
Child Sexual Exploitation
Pedophilia
Victim Services

Author: Bowles, Roger

Title: Economic analysis of the Stop it Now! UK and Stop it Now! Netherlands Helplines: Summary

Summary: The report summarises findings from a review of economic aspects of the Stop it Now! UK and Ireland Helpline run by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation (LFF) Stop it Now! Netherlands Helpline run by de Waag with Meldpunt Kinderporno. The Helplines' objectives in relation to the reduction of child sexual abuse (CSA) and the organisations providing them, can be broad and they vary across the organisations reviewed here. The target groups may be different as may routes of referral to support services and the style of call handling. The report reviews the range of possible benefits that might be anticipated and then comments on the scale of activities conducted by the two Helpline programmes and the associated costs and benefits. We note that each programme's focus will likely reflect the context within which they are funded and delivered. Tackling CSA can be approached from many angles including mental health based service provision, work with individuals who are (or will be) charged with an offence and victim/survivor support.

Details: London: NatCen Social Research, 2014.

Source: Internet Resource: accessed October 13, 2014 at: http://www.stopitnow-evaluation.co.uk/media/828428/stop%20it%20now!%20economic%20analysis.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.stopitnow-evaluation.co.uk/media/828428/stop%20it%20now!%20economic%20analysis.pdf

Shelf Number: 133889

Keywords:
Child Protection
Child Sexual Abuse (U.K.; Netherlands)
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention
Economic Analysis
Pedophilia
Victim Services

Author: George, Amanda

Title: Landscapes of Violence: Women Surviving Family Violence in Regional and Rural Victoria

Summary: In 2013 the Centre for Rural Regional Law and Justice (CRRLJ) released a report detailing Women's Experiences of Surviving Family Violence and Accessing the Magistrates' Court in Geelong, Victoria. The research was informed by in-depth, qualitative interviews with survivors of family violence and workers who support survivors and their children, as well as court observations conducted at the Geelong, Heidelberg and Werribee magistrates' courts. The report (which is publicly available via the CRRLJ website) details the finding that while some women described positive experiences with police officers, magistrates and lawyers, the women respondents also found the court process to be intimidating and felt that there are limited opportunities to have their voices and concerns heard in court. Women spoke of the Family Violence Intervention Order (FVIO) process as confusing and cited frequent breaches of FVIOs - of varied natures and severities - which were identified by women, lawyers and workers as the principal reason for the continuing failure of FVIOs. Court support was identified as reducing the anxiety experienced by applicants, but the provision of support was described as ad hoc, and lacking a streamlined process to connect all survivors who access the court. Overwhelmingly, women emphasised their concern with the impact of violence on their children and expressed their distress that children are not always named on the FVIO. Court wait times, limited safe, separate waiting areas at court and the need for more funding to enable access to expeditious and affordable legal advocacy were also identified as key issues of concern. Given these findings, Jordan and Phillips advocate for 'a more consistent approach to survivors seeking safety and justice' and 'increased levels of specialist training for all justice system personnel working on family violence cases'. This report draws and extends upon the 2013 report, in regards to the geographic areas, issues covered, and range of participants. It examines the experiences of and outcomes for women survivors of family violence in regional and rural Victoria, considering their contact with and perceptions of government agencies (including Victoria Police, the Victorian magistrates' courts and the Department of Human Services [DHS]) as well as private and community advocates (legal actors and services, women's services and family violence services) and healthcare professionals. Through this research, survivors have identified issues and barriers they have encountered in escaping family violence, and have provided suggestions in regards to how both the criminal justice system and the broader Victorian community might assist survivors and help prevent family violence. As well as being informed by survivors, this research includes insights provided by government and non-government practitioners and organisations who have offered their views on this report's key findings and recommendations. In addition to the generous contributions of these participants, this report utilises relevant data and emerging research in an effort to identify best practice responses to family violence; improve access to justice, support and safety; and protect and promote women's rights and entitlements.

Details: Melbourne: Deakin University, Centre for Rural and Regional Law and Justice, 2014. 217p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 13, 2014 at: http://www.deakin.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/287040/Landscapes-of-Violence-online-pdf-version.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.deakin.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/287040/Landscapes-of-Violence-online-pdf-version.pdf

Shelf Number: 134078

Keywords:
Domestic Violence (Australia)
Rural Areas
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Great Britain. Home Office

Title: Review of the National Referral Mechanism for Victims of Human Trafficking

Summary: The National Referral Mechanism Review was commissioned by the Home Secretary in April 2014 as part of the Government's wider commitment to eradicate slavery and protect victims. The Review's starting point has been the victim and their experiences; the lens we have used has been focused on them. We have been enormously helped by a wide range of practitioners, Parliamentarians, campaigners and crucially victims who have been willing to talk and tell us of their appalling experiences. Between its inception in 2009 and September 2014 approximately 6,800 people were referred to the National Referral Mechanism (known as the NRM). It is a complex mechanism, involving a wide group of dedicated professionals, statutory and voluntary organisations. The Review was asked to examine and make recommendations to the Home Secretary on six key areas: - identification of victims - how they access support - the level of support that victims receive - decision making - governance of the NRM - collection and sharing of data In recognition of the specific issues affecting children we have investigated and provided recommendations focused on them and their particular needs. The Review found many areas of good practice; however, we also saw a disjointed system where awareness of human trafficking was often low and of the NRM processes still lower. We heard of the difficulties faced by support providers in moving people on from the support provided under the victim care contract. There were many critics of decision making, the quality and communication of decisions and the ability to manage and share information effectively in the best interest of victims.

Details: London: Home Office, 2014. 80p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 18, 2014 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/372960/Review_of_the_National_Referral_Mechanism_for_victims_of_human_trafficking.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/372960/Review_of_the_National_Referral_Mechanism_for_victims_of_human_trafficking.pdf

Shelf Number: 134127

Keywords:
Human Trafficking (U.K.)
Victim Services
Victims of Human Trafficking

Author: Victoria (Australia). Department of Justice

Title: Victim Impact Statement Reforms in Victoria: Interim Implementation Report

Summary: On 1 January 2011, several important reforms were introduced in Victoria which were designed to improve the process of making a Victim Impact Statement (VIS) for victims of crime and to give them more choice and flexibility in how they were presented. The reforms were based on recommendations set out in a report by the Victims Support Agency (VSA) entitled A Victim's Voice: Victim Impact Statements in Victoria, October 2009 which presented the findings of an evaluation into the effectiveness of VISs in Victoria at that time. The recommendations can be grouped into the following five reform priority areas: - Amendments to the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) to give victims (or their nominated representative if approved by the court) the right to read their own VIS aloud in court and to attach additional material such as photos, drawings and poems to a written VIS. The legislative amendment also provided for victims to request special arrangements such as remote witness facilities or screens when reading their VIS. - Development of new, clearer and more user-friendly VIS form and information packages. - Review of VIS training for victim support workers and Victoria Police. - Increased take-up of VISs in the Magistrates' Court. - Development of information for judicial officers about the approach to VISs in sentencing and the importance to victims of crime of judicial recognition. Changes in legislation and criminal justice procedures can often only be assessed over time and this report presents the findings of an interim evaluation of the first two years of the reforms. The report draws on data from a broad range of sources, some of which, including an analysis of court files and transcripts of plea hearings, has not previously been collected. The data includes the results of surveys of judicial officers in the Supreme and County Courts of Victoria and the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, as well as Crown Prosecutors, Victoria Police prosecutors and defence counsel. A comprehensive media analysis of VIS reporting over a four year period was undertaken to capture media coverage of VIS before and after the reforms were introduced. The report also draws on information provided in statewide consultations with victim support workers and counsellor advocates and, most importantly, on information provided by victims of crime themselves about their experiences of making a VIS. The report describes the work done to implement each of the five reform areas and then presents the findings in relation to each of those areas. The research indicates that victims who exercise their right to read their VIS aloud often describe it as their opportunity to 'stand up and have a voice' or to 'take back the power' (from the offender). There were also some victims interviewed who were disappointed at having missed out on an opportunity to read their VIS. However, it appears that the majority of victims still either tender their VIS or have the prosecutor read it aloud.

Details: Melbourne: Victorian Government, 2014. 104p.

Source: Internet Resource: accessed February 4, 2015 at: http://assets.justice.vic.gov.au/voc/resources/bab78d32-8a19-44bf-bcce-248afdb4c6e2/victim-impact-statement-reforms-in-victoria-interim-implementation-report.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: Australia

URL: http://assets.justice.vic.gov.au/voc/resources/bab78d32-8a19-44bf-bcce-248afdb4c6e2/victim-impact-statement-reforms-in-victoria-interim-implementation-report.pdf

Shelf Number: 134527

Keywords:
Victim Impact Statements (Australia)
Victim Services
Victims of Crime

Author: Gibbs, Deborah

Title: Evaluation of Services for Domestic Minor Victims of Human Trafficking

Summary: RTI International conducted a participatory process evaluation of three programs funded by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to identify and provide services to victims of sex and labor trafficking who are U.S citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPR) under the age of 18. The evaluation was funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), also part of DOJ. The goals of the evaluation were to document program implementation in the three programs, identify promising practices for service delivery programs, and inform delivery of current and future efforts by to serve this population. Specifically, the evaluation described young people served by the programs, their service needs, services delivered by the programs, the experiences of young people and staff with the programs, and programs' efforts to strengthen community response to trafficked youth. OVC funded three programs that differed substantially in their organization and service delivery approaches: - The Standing Against Global Exploitation Everywhere (SAGE) Project, located in San Francisco, serves adults and youth affected by sexual exploitation. Prior to the OVC grant, they provided life skills programs, advocacy, counseling and case management for girls, including those in the juvenile justices system. - The Salvation Army Trafficking Outreach Program and Intervention Techniques (STOP-IT) program, located in Chicago, was founded by the Salvation Army and grew from that organizations engagement in local trafficking task forces. Under the OVC grant, STOP-IT expanded their services from foreign trafficking victims to domestic youth engaged in sex trades. - The Streetwork Project at Safe Horizon, located in New York City, serves homeless and street-involved youth with drop in centers, a residential program, counseling, health care, legal advocacy and other services, offered by Streetwork staff and co-located providers. For this participatory evaluation, the RTI team worked closely with staff from the three programs to develop instruments and methods. Programs collected information on clients served and on the services provided to these clients between January 2011 and June 2013. The evaluation team made five site visits to each program over the course of the grant period, during which they conducted a total of 113 key informant interviews with program staff and partner agencies and compiled case narratives describing the experiences of 45 program clients. The evaluation addressed four questions: 1. What are the characteristics of young people who are trafficked, including both sex and labor trafficking? 2. What services do young people who were trafficked need? What services do the OVC-funded programs provide, either through their own resources or through partner agencies? 3. How is the implementation process viewed by program staff, partner agencies, and those who receive services? 4. How are programs working to strengthen community response to trafficked youth?

Details: Research Triangle Park, NC: RTI International, 2014. 115p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 9, 2015 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/248578.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/248578.pdf

Shelf Number: 134576

Keywords:
Child Sexual Exploitation
Child Trafficking
Forced Labor
Human Trafficking (U.S.)
Sex Trafficking
Street Workers
Victim Services
Youth Homelessness

Author: Howarth, Emma

Title: Safety in Numbers: A Multi-site Evaluation of Independent Domestic Violence Advisor Services

Summary: This report presents the findings from a significant programme of research that was undertaken to examine the provision and impact of IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advisor) services for female victims of domestic abuse deemed to be at high risk of harm or homicide. Commissioned by the Hestia Fund and funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust and The Henry Smith Charity, this study, conducted between 1 January 2007 and 31 March 2009 and involving seven services operating in England and Wales, represents the first, large scale, multi-site evaluation of IDVA services ever undertaken in the United Kingdom. Importantly, this national-level research helps us to understand both the process of delivering IDVA services and the outcomes that may be achieved for victims. Specifically, this evaluation set out to examine: 1. The profile of victims accessing IDVA services, particularly with respect to the extent and nature of the abuse they were experiencing along with their socio-demographic characteristics; 2. The specific types of interventions and resources mobilised on behalf of victims by IDVAs, as well as the intensity with which this support was offered and the potential for IDVAs to tailor their approach to the particular needs of individual victims; 3. The effectiveness of these interventions in increasing victims' safety and well-being, and the factors that increased or decreased the likelihood of achieving these positive outcomes. In addition, the research examined the extent to which these outcomes were sustained over time. This evaluation represents the result of almost 5 years of work and could not have been possible without the input of far sighted funders, the commitment of the Independent Domestic Violence Advisors themselves to gather and submit data, and the critical eye of a distinguished Expert Panel. The result of this work is a set of recommendations that, if implemented, will change the lives and futures of thousands of victims and their children and save hundreds of millions of pounds to public services. At a time when the vulnerability of our society in general and our young people in particular, appears so clear, the need to follow these recommendations is all the more pressing.

Details: London: Henry Smith Charity, 2009. 162p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 9, 2015 at: http://www.henrysmithcharity.org.uk/documents/SafetyinNumbersFullReportNov09.pdf

Year: 2009

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.henrysmithcharity.org.uk/documents/SafetyinNumbersFullReportNov09.pdf

Shelf Number: 134769

Keywords:
Domestic Violence (U.K.)
Family Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Victim Services
Victims of Domestic Violence

Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Lords and House of Commons

Title: Violence against women and girls. Sixth Report of Session 2014-15

Summary: We undertook this inquiry to examine the United Kingdom's progress towards ratification of the Istanbul Convention. In doing so, we have heard how domestic violence transcends races, religions, communities and cultures. The scale, pervasive nature, and seemingly cross-cultural ignorance, of violence against women and girls is deeply troubling to us. Overall we think the UK is in a good position to be able to ratify the Istanbul Convention. The Home Secretary has shown personal commitment to this. Only one legislative change regarding jurisdiction is necessary in order to ratify, although several changes in practice are required to fulfil the Convention's positive obligations. Our key concern is that the Inter-Ministerial Group has insufficient powers. In addition, we have more focused concerns as set out below. We heard a great deal of evidence regarding the importance of education as part of preventing violence against women and girls. We recommend that the Government urgently prioritises prevention programmes. Prevention programmes need to be targeted and specific to communities and victims, based on evidence. We also recommend that all schools could, and should, play a greater role in tackling cultural attitudes through a requirement to teach issues surrounding gender equality and violence. This would also help prevent the use of unacceptable cultural justifications for such crimes across British culture. We heard evidence about the importance of specialist local services to victims of violence against women and girls. In January 2014, we heard assurances from the Prime Minister that the Government is happy to look at points raised by women's organisations regarding locally delivered women's services. However, witnesses told us a different story. We are concerned that devolving decisions about provision to local authorities has left women with specific needs unable to access vital help. We found that it was often those most in need and in the most vulnerable positions that were least well served. We recommend that the Government adopt a national co-ordinating role for the provision of specialist support services. The Government has introduced an amendment to the Serious Crime Bill which would create a specific criminal offence for psychological or coercive control. We are not convinced that the creation of an offence alone will result in a change of culture and we recommend that the Government consider a campaign to raise awareness of the issue and a review of training for professionals within the Criminal Justice System if Parliament creates this new specific offence. We also have concerns regarding how victims of such an offence would provide the evidence required to qualify for civil legal aid and are further concerned that the Government's Universal Credit roll-out has not sufficiently addressed the concerns of women's organisations regarding the vulnerability of victims of domestic violence: financial control is a component of coercive control. We are also troubled to hear of the prevalence of unacceptable justifications for crimes, including crimes committed in the name of so-called 'honour'. We believe this occurs in many cultures in Britain, and the Government has not done enough to tackle this. Education is a key preventative tool that the Government is not using effectively. We recommend that a standalone inquiry into these crimes is necessary. HMIC's finding that police forces responding to calls concerning domestic violence collected inadequate evidence was worrying. We also heard about the devastating or fatal impact resulting from inadequate response or risk assessment. It is the responsibility of the police to ensure they do all in their power to protect and assist those at risk. We heard particular concerns regarding victims with insecure immigration status, asylum seekers or refugees. These women and girls are often overlooked. Immigration policy isdeveloped separately from policy about violence against women and girls. We urge the Government to address the gap in service provision for women with insecure immigration status and to review the use of the detained fast track process for victims of violence against women and girls. Finally we call on the Government to prioritise ratification of the Istanbul Convention by putting the final legislative changes required (regarding jurisdiction) before this Parliament.

Details: London: The Stationery Office Limited, 2015. 102p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 9, 2015 at: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/uploads/Pdfs/VAWG.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/uploads/Pdfs/VAWG.pdf

Shelf Number: 135539

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence (U.K.)
Family Violence
Honor Crimes
Victim Services
Violence Against Women
Violence Against Women (U.K.)
Violence Against Women and Girls

Author: Meima, Yolanda

Title: An evaluation of a New Zealand safe@home service: Using a crime prevention approach to enhance the safety and overall well-being for high risk victims of domestic violence

Summary: Numerous women have left their homes in their attempt to stop the violence used against them by their partner and potentially saving their lives. Mothers often move into a safe place, taking their offspring with them. Despite the leavers being the victims or the ones who are wrongly harmed, leaving their homes often goes unchallenged and indeed, encouraged by others. Safe at home models work on the premise that victims of domestic violence should have the right to choose whether they want to remain in their homes, be able to do this safely and have the support of community and government organisations. Such models are informed by Routine Activity Theory (RAT), a crime prevention approach, vary in design and have been implemented and operating over recent decades in the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia. The safe@home service evaluated in this research is unique to New Zealand and has been provided since late 2008 by Safer Homes in New Zealand Everyday (Shine), a non-government agency that works to reduce domestic abuse. The study has two parts that include qualitative data and quantitative analysis. This project involved a review of over 100 pre and post-service questionnaires that clients of Shine's safe@home service completed prior to the service and within 1 - 3 months following the service, and interviews with 10 of these clients at least 12 months after the service. Sixty four clients' self-assessed pre and post-service questionnaires were fully completed and analysed, showing that 97% of these clients had substantial reductions in their level of fear; with equivalent improvements in their quality of life and whom reported major changes in many aspects of their lives. The data was then ranked and grouped according to those least and most satisfied with the service. Five clients from each group were the research participants and interviewed. Thematic analysis was used to identify, analyse and report on patterns or themes within the data collected from these in-depth semi-structured interviews. The interview data found that contrary to concerns in the literature regarding the safety for women who remain in their homes, the women and children in this study were able to continue to live free from violence in their homes. The interviews included the participants rating of their and their children's level of fear of their ex-partner experienced prior to the service and currently. Again there were huge reductions from pre-service levels, with the reduction continuing over the period from post-service levels right up to the time of the interview. Despite some on-going abuse by their former partners, previously successful attempts to break into their homes now proved fruitless. Other topics covered in this research study include their current quality of life and well-being, relationships with others, study and work, social activities and their future aspirations. A discussion about the role of counselling for the participants and their children is provided along with the influence of discourses as identified by the participants. Recommendations on how the Shine's safe@home service can be improved is based on the suggestions made by the participants and the research findings.

Details: Auckland: UNITEC New Zealand, 2014. 142p.

Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed May 23, 2015 at: http://unitec.researchbank.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10652/2476/Yolandas%20Meima.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Year: 2014

Country: New Zealand

URL: http://unitec.researchbank.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10652/2476/Yolandas%20Meima.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Shelf Number: 135758

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Family Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Victim Services
Violence Against Women
Violence Prevention

Author: Sinozich, Sofi

Title: Rape and Sexual Assault Victimization Among College-Age Females, 1995-2013

Summary: This report uses the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) to compare the rape and sexual assault victimization of female college students and nonstudents. For the period 1995-2013 - - The rate of rape and sexual assault was 1.2 times higher for nonstudents (7.6 per 1,000) than for students (6.1 per 1,000). - For both college students and nonstudents, the offender was known to the victim in about 80% of rape and sexual assault victimizations. - Most (51%) student rape and sexual assault victimizations occurred while the victim was pursuing leisure activities away from home, compared to nonstudents who were engaged in other activities at home (50%) when the victimization occurred. - The offender had a weapon in about 1 in 10 rape and sexual assault victimizations against both students and nonstudents. - Rape and sexual assault victimizations of students (80%) were more likely than nonstudent victimizations (67%) to go unreported to police. - About a quarter of student (26%) and nonstudent (23%) victims who did not report to police believed the incident was a personal matter, and 1 in 5 (20% each) stated a fear of reprisal. - Student victims (12%) were more likely than nonstudent victims (5%) to state that the incident was not important enough to report. - Fewer than 1 in 5 female student (16%) and nonstudent (18%) victims of rape and sexual assault received assistance from a victim services agency.

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice,Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2014. 20p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 31, 2015 at: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/rsavcaf9513.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/rsavcaf9513.pdf

Shelf Number: 136624

Keywords:
Campus Crime
College and Universities
Rape
Sex Offenders
Sexual Assault
Sexual Violence
Victim Services
Victimization Survey

Author: Great Britain. Home Office

Title: Review of the National Referral Mechanism for victims of human trafficking

Summary: 2.1 Summary 2.1.1 The National Referral Mechanism Review was commissioned by the Home Secretary in April 2014 as part of the Government's wider commitment to eradicate slavery and protect victims. The Review's starting point has been the victim and their experiences; the lens we have used has been focused on them. We have been enormously helped by a wide range of practitioners, Parliamentarians, campaigners and crucially victims who have been willing to talk and tell us of their appalling experiences. 2.1.2 Between its inception in 2009 and September 2014 approximately 6,800 people were referred to the National Referral Mechanism (known as the NRM). It is a complex mechanism, involving a wide group of dedicated professionals, statutory and voluntary organisations. 2.1.3 The Review was asked to examine and make recommendations to the Home Secretary on six key areas: - identification of victims - how they access support - the level of support that victims receive - decision making - governance of the NRM - collection and sharing of data 2.1.4 In recognition of the specific issues affecting children we have investigated and provided recommendations focused on them and their particular needs. 2.1.5 The Review found many areas of good practice; however, we also saw a disjointed system where awareness of human trafficking was often low and of the NRM processes still lower. We heard of the difficulties faced by support providers in moving people on from the support provided under the victim care contract. There were many critics of decision making, the quality and communication of decisions and the ability to manage and share information effectively in the best interest of victims.

Details: London: Home Office, 2014. 80p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 15, 2015 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/467434/Review_of_the_National_Referral_Mechanism_for_victims_of_human_trafficking.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/467434/Review_of_the_National_Referral_Mechanism_for_victims_of_human_trafficking.pdf

Shelf Number: 136992

Keywords:
Human Trafficking
Victim Services
Victims of Trafficking

Author: Parker, Imogen

Title: A link in the chain: The role of friends and family in tackling domestic abuse

Summary: A link in the chain examines the role of informal networks (friends, family, colleagues and neighbours) in minimising domestic abuse. Despite the harm domestic abuse causes, victims struggle to acknowledge and disclose what's happening to them and seek support. They face complex personal and practical barriers to admitting abuse and accessing help, as their lives are often intricately intertwined, in terms of emotions, networks and resources, with that of the perpetrator. As individuals struggle to proactively seek help, many victims remain invisible to services, never accessing effective support. Few victims engage with police or specialist services, with abusive relationships escalating, going unrecognised and undiscussed, sometimes for years. Victims can become increasingly isolated, making the gap to trained specialist services (helplines, refuges, police or health professionals) yawn large. Friends and family can be a key link in the chain to leaving abuse behind, as these are the individuals most likely to be aware of abuse early on. Informal networks can offer help by encouraging victims to reach out to specialist services or the police (acting as a conduit), or by offering practical and emotional aid themselves (supporter), from bolstering self-esteem to providing somewhere to stay. However, informal networks face complex barriers to engaging: they may struggle to recognise abuse, and feel ill-equipped to intervene, fearful of causing problems or nervous about intruding. This report argues that to successfully minimise abuse, policy and practice must consider the social context of abusive relationships, to equip and support friends and family who may be aware of abuse. We consider how social and professional networks can help bridge the gap between victims and specialist support. This report draws on new primary data to explore: 1.what barriers prevent victims speaking up about abuse, and how these can be overcome 2.how we can widen the net of people aware and involved in aiding victims of abuse, whilst ensuring those supporters feel confident and able to engage safely and appropriately 3.what structures need to be in place to ensure there is emotional and practical specialist support in place following disclosure, both for the victim and supporter

Details: London: Citizens Advice, 2015. 44p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 19, 2015 at: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/policy/policy-research-topics/crime-and-justice-policy-research/a-link-in-the-chain-the-role-of-friends-and-family-in-tackling-domestic-abuse/

Year: 2015

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/policy/policy-research-topics/crime-and-justice-policy-research/a-link-in-the-chain-the-role-of-friends-and-family-in-tackling-domestic-abuse/

Shelf Number: 136994

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Family Violence
Victim Services
Victims of Violence
Violence Prevention

Author: Porteous, David

Title: The Development of Specialist Support Services for Young People who have Offended and who have also been Victims of Crime, Abuse and/or Violence: Final Report

Summary: Introduction 1. This report was commissioned to inform the development of support services for young people who have offended and who have prior experience of victimisation, including but not limited to mental, physical and sexual abuse. In 2014, the London Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime secured $400,000 from the Ministry of Justice Victim's Fund to invest in these services which will be delivered through two London Resettlement Consortia (LRC) areas, each comprising six Youth Offending Services (YOSs), one in North East London, the other in South London. 2. The research involved an online survey and follow up interviews with a sub-sample of YOS professionals, a review of existing research and knowledge on the matter and interviews with seven key informants with specialist knowledge of the issues addressed. Background 3. Existing evidence from academic and applied policy research shows that children and young people are more likely to be victims than offenders and more likely to be victimised than adults, albeit that these comparisons are not straightforward. Furthermore, children and young people known to have offended are more likely to have been a victim of crime, violence and or abuse than young people with no recorded offending history. Many will have emotional and mental health needs and vulnerabilities linked to such traumatic events and when these occur alongside or in the context of other forms of disadvantage and victimisation, young people are particularly vulnerable and find it more difficult to recover from the experience. 4. Children and young people in the youth justice system also have significantly greater speech, language and learning difficulties relative to the general population, are disproportionately likely to have a diagnosed learning disability and to have had a seriously disrupted education. Neurobiological research suggests that traumatic events in early childhood can have a detrimental impact on a range of cognitive and verbal communication skills and may find it difficult to engage productively with treatments that require a certain level of abstract reasoning such as cognitive behavioural therapy. 5. The prevalence and nature of mental health problems relating to crime, violence and abuse varies by ethnicity and gender. Young black males are over-represented in the criminal justice system and in terms of referrals to mental health services made via the CJS. Young women involved in group-related offending are significantly more likely to be victims of sexual assault. 6. There has been growing awareness and recognition of these issues at a policy level in recent times as indicated by the commissioning of the services to be developed in the LRC areas. At the same time, there is concern at a national level about the real term cuts in funding for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and the implications for mainstream service provision.

Details: London: Middlesex University, 2015. 44p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 10, 2016 at: https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/gla_migrate_files_destination/Final%20Report_May18th2015_0.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/gla_migrate_files_destination/Final%20Report_May18th2015_0.pdf

Shelf Number: 137823

Keywords:
Children and Violence
Children, Crimes Against
Juvenile Offenders
Victim Services
Victimization
Victims of Crime

Author: Atella, Julie

Title: Safe Harbor: First Year Evaluation Report

Summary: In 2013, the state of Minnesota made the largest state investment in the provision of services for sexually exploited youth nationwide, funding a portion of the No Wrong Door framework. The MDH uses the following working definition of Minor Commercial Sexual Exploitation (MCSE) to inform its work in this area: MCSE occurs when someone under the age of 18 engages in commercial sexual activity. A commercial sexual activity occurs when anything of value or a promise of anything of value (e.g., money, drugs, food, shelter, rent, or higher status in a gang or group) is given to a person by any means in exchange for any type of sexual activity. A third party may or may not be involved. The No Wrong Door model also outlined eight values and philosophies that should inform its implementation: - Since commercial sexually exploited children and youth may not self-identify, it is essential that those who come into contact with children and youth be trained to identify sexual exploitation and know where to refer for services. - Youth who are commercial sexually exploited are victims of a crime. - Victims should not feel afraid, trapped, or isolated. - Services must be trauma-informed and responsive to individual needs (gender-responsive, culturally competent, age-appropriate, and supportive for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth). - Services must be available across the state. - Youth have a right to privacy and self-determination. - Services must be based in positive youth development. - Sexual exploitation can be prevented. The No Wrong Door framework itself was based on the following assumptions, which are meant to guide the framework's implementation. First, whenever possible, existing programs should be used to provide services to victims and service providers must be fully funded to work with victims (including homeless, domestic violence, and sexual assault service providers). Second, when possible, peer and survivor frameworks and supports should be made available to sexually exploited youth. Third, services should be multidisciplinary and coordinated, including law enforcement and service providers working together to identify and serve victims and prosecute traffickers and purchasers. Fourth, holding commercial sexually exploited youth victims in detention is undesirable and should only be accessed for safety purposes if all other safety measures have failed. Lastly, providers working with victims must be screened for criminal offenses to help ensure youth are safe and must have proper experience and training to effectively establish healthy, positive relationships with youth.

Details: St. Paul, MN: Wilder Research, 2015. 46p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 22, 2016 at: https://www.wilder.org/Wilder-Research/Publications/Studies/Safe%20Harbor/Safe%20Harbor%20First%20Year%20Evaluation%202015.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: https://www.wilder.org/Wilder-Research/Publications/Studies/Safe%20Harbor/Safe%20Harbor%20First%20Year%20Evaluation%202015.pdf

Shelf Number: 138382

Keywords:
Child Pornography
Child Prostitution
Child Sexual Abuse
Child Sexual Exploitation
Victim Services

Author: Quigley, Martin

Title: Building Bridges: An Evaluation and Social Return on Investment Study of the Le Cheile Restorative Justice Project

Summary: The Le Cheile Restorative Justice Project is Ireland's first and only non-statutory youth restorative justice service. The Project's primary focus is on providing a range of restorative justice interventions to young people from the Limerick area, who have been involved in crime and are being worked with by the Probation service. Le Cheile wanted an external evaluation of how effective their restorative justice programme was, and a Social Return on Investment analysis. What we did We worked with Le Cheile staff, clients, victims, family members and other professionals to develop a clear understanding of the outcomes of the project. We worked with many interagency partners, like Young Persons Probation, An Garda Siochana, Support After Crimes Services and other community agencies to develop a greater understanding what worked well, what could be improved and what happened as a result of the interventions received For the Social Return on Investment analysis, interviews and focus groups were held with a range of stakeholders including children and young people, members of their families, the victims, representatives of criminal justice agencies and other professionals.

Details: Le Cheile, Ireland: Le Cheile Mentoring and Youth Justice Support Services, 2015. 126p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 28, 2016 at: http://qualitymatters.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Building-Bridges-Restorative-Justice-SROI-Evaluation-2015.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: Ireland

URL: http://qualitymatters.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Building-Bridges-Restorative-Justice-SROI-Evaluation-2015.pdf

Shelf Number: 138451

Keywords:
Restorative Justice
Victim Services
Victims of Crime

Author: Gozdziak, Elzbieta

Title: After Rescue: Evaluation of Strategies to Stabilize and Integrate Adult Survivors of Human Trafficking to the United States

Summary: Human trafficking for forced labor, domestic servitude, and sexual exploitation is a transnational crime whose victims include men, women, and children. In the United States, trafficking in persons became a focus of activities in the late 1990s and culminated in the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), which was signed into law in 2000. Despite the increased interest in human trafficking, there is little systematic and methodologically rigorous empirical research. Notably absent are studies of adult foreign-born trafficked victims who are identified and, as survivors, provided services to facilitate their reintegration into the wider society. This project examines comprehensive case management services provided to foreign-born adults survivors of trafficking from 2006 to 2011. These programs were funded by the Anti-Trafficking in Persons (ATIP) Program of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) under the Per Capita Reimbursement Contract administered by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The USCCB was also in charge of providing training and technical assistance to the programs serving survivors of human trafficking. This report provides a summary of the analysis of data collected by USCCB and augmented by field research with selected number of programs. The objective of this mixed-methods study was to better understand the characteristics of trafficking survivors and the efficacy of interventions in stabilizing their well-being.

Details: Washington, DC: Institute for the Study of International Migration at Georgetown University, 2016. 39p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 16, 2016 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/249672.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/249672.pdf

Shelf Number: 139043

Keywords:
Domestic Workers
Forced Labor
Human Trafficking
Victim sErvices
Victims of Human Trafficking

Author: Breckenridge, Jan

Title: National mapping and meta-evaluation outlining key features of effective

Summary: This research project provided a national mapping and meta-evaluation of the key features of "safe at home" programs. "Safe at home" programs enhance safety and prevent homelessness for women and their children who have experienced domestic and family violence. The first stage, a state of knowledge paper, provided a comprehensive review of the literature and a national mapping of current "safe at home" programs by jurisdiction, including details of legislation underpinning "safe at home" programs in each jurisdiction. The second stage, the final research report, was a meta-evaluation of select evidence about Australian "safe at home" programs and practices. The meta-evaluation examined 20 evaluations of "safe at home" programs across Australia to identify the key features of effective programs and to provide recommendations for policy-makers, practitioners and researchers. The report found that "safe at home" programs had four common underlying themes, but each focused primarily on maximising women's safety, using protection orders and ouster/exclusion provisions to reduce the risk of a perpetrator returning, or preventing homelessness, using case-management to assess risk, manage safety planning and consider women's needs over time. Overall, one or more of the themes were identified across the "safe at home" evaluations, but the emphasis varied by program and at different points during the response provided. It also found: - The lead agency in each state or territory appears to determine how "safe at home" is rolled out and whether it is focused on housing ("stay at home") or criminal justice ("safe at home"). "Stay at home" responses are mostly offered over a longer period of time, compared with many first-response services involving specialist homelessness services. A longer period of service provision allows for ongoing and dynamic assessment of risk and for women's changing needs to be met at different points of time. - It is still unclear whether independent strategies which could be used in any domestic violence-related intervention (e.g. risk assessment, brokerage, safety alarms and specialised police response) should be considered "safe at home" responses in their own right; or whether these strategies are most useful and of greater impact when embedded in a more comprehensive program, and offers case management beyond the initial crisis period. - Monitoring data indicates that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women are accessing "safe at home" responses, but little is known of the usefulness of such interventions for these groups. As emphasised in all of the Australian evaluations included in this meta-evaluation, "safe at home" is not intended to be the only response for women leaving a violent relationship. While not replacing the need for refuges or specialist homelessness services, "safe at home" programs are an important complementary offering which allows more women to leave a violent relationship. "Safe at home" options are also intended to be a socially just response for some women in certain circumstances to have the important choice to not uproot their lives and those of their children by fleeing their family home.

Details: Alexandria, NSW: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety Limited (ANROWS)132p.

Source: Internet Resource: ANROWS Horizons, Issue 01/2016: Accessed May 31, 2016 at: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/Safe%20at%20home%20meta-evaluation%20final%20report.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: Australia

URL: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/Safe%20at%20home%20meta-evaluation%20final%20report.pdf

Shelf Number: 139242

Keywords:
Abused Women
Domestic Violence
Family Violence
Victim Services
Victims of Violence
Violence Against Women

Author: Human Rights Watch

Title: Booted: Lack of Recourse for Wrongfully Discharged US Military Rape Survivors

Summary: Over the years thousands of service members who reported sexual assaults or harassment in the US military found their careers cut short involuntarily. Those suffering from trauma were unfairly discharged for a "personality disorder" or a pre-existing mental health condition that makes them ineligible for benefits. Others were given "Other Than Honorable" discharges for misconduct that shut them out of the Veterans Affairs system and a broad range of educational and financial assistance. Recently, the US defense department has introduced reforms to improve protection for service members who are sexually assaulted. However, these changes have not redressed existing wrongs. Booted: Lack of Recourse for Wrongfully Discharged US Military Rape Survivors draws on interviews with 163 sexual assault survivors from all branches of the US military from the Vietnam War era to the present. The report shows that the consequences for veterans and their families of having "bad paper" (any less than honorable discharge) or being labeled with a personality disorder are far-reaching, impacting employment, child custody, health care, disability payments, and even burial rights-virtually all aspects of life. Despite the high stakes, veterans can do little to fix an unjust discharge. Service members are prohibited from suing the military for service-related harm. Administrative structures meant to correct injustices, the Boards for Correction of Military Records, are overwhelmed. Well over 90 percent of those applying to the Boards to change their discharge are rejected with almost no opportunity to be heard or for meaningful review. Judicial oversight of the Boards is virtually non-existent. Human Rights Watch calls on Congress and the defense secretary to take measures to correct wrongful discharges of sexual assault survivors and strengthen administrative mechanisms to ensure all veterans receive an opportunity to be heard and meaningful, independent review of any injustices in their records.

Details: New York: HRW, 2016. 139p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 8, 2016 at: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/us0516_militaryweb_1.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/us0516_militaryweb_1.pdf

Shelf Number: 139331

Keywords:
Military Veterans
Rape Victims
Sexual Assault
Sexual Harassment
Victim Services

Author: DeLong, Caitlin

Title: Transitional Housing for Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

Summary: Many victims of intimate partner violence find themselves at increased risk for homelessness as they make efforts to escape violence. The lack of stable, safe, and affordable housing is associated with negative outcomes for these victims. This article describes the relationship between housing instability and victim health and well-being, issues to consider when addressing housing stability for this population, and recommendations for policy and practice.

Details: Chicago: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2016. 7p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 9, 2016 at: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/assets/articles/Transitional%20Housing%20for%20Victims%20of%20Intimate%20Partner%20Violence_final.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/assets/articles/Transitional%20Housing%20for%20Victims%20of%20Intimate%20Partner%20Violence_final.pdf

Shelf Number: 139343

Keywords:
Family Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Transitional Housing
Victim Services
Victims of Violence

Author: Hartley, Carolyn Copps

Title: The Longer-Term Influence of Civil Legal Services on Battered Women

Summary: Civil legal services are an under-recognized and under-studied response to intimate partner violence (IPV). We conducted a two-year, panel study of how the receipt of civil legal services provided by Iowa Legal Aid (ILA), influences safety, psychological well-being and economic self-sufficiency outcomes for women who experienced IPV residing in metro and non-metro communities in Iowa. We also examined the impact of the quality of the attorney-client relationship on women's sense of empowerment on these outcomes. The research questions (RQs) that guided our study were: 1) What is the direct relationship between civil legal services and revictimzation, psychological well-being, and economic self-sufficiency for women who experience IPV?, 2) Does the quality of the attorney-client relationship mediate the relationship between civil legal services and women's sense of empowerment?, 3) Does women's sense of empowerment mediate the relation between civil legal services on the study outcomes?, and 4) Are there differences in the relationship between the type of civil legal services received and outcomes for women residing in metro and non-metro communities?

Details: Final report to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2016. 115p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 13, 2016 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/249879.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/249879.pdf

Shelf Number: 139412

Keywords:
Battered Women
Family Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Legal Aid
Re-victimization
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Spinney, Angela

Title: Reducing the Need for Women and Children to Make Repeated Use of Refuge and Other Crisis Accommodation

Summary: This report sets out the findings of a res earch project investigating Early Intervention Strategies to Reduce the Need for Women and Children to Make Repeated Use of Refuge and Other Crisis Accommodation. The project is intended to bring forward knowledge of the reasons for the decisions made by women who have been subject to domestic and family violence regarding whether to leave the family home for a refuge in order to escape the abuse, whether to return to the perpetrator and whether to leave again. It also explores the efficacy of primary prevention and early intervention schemes, including perpetrator behaviour change programs, in reducing women's and children's multiple experiences of refuge and other emergency accommodation. Finally, the project explores what best practice and service standards would be needed if Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) models were to be implemented more widely in Australia. The research has been funded by the Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) under the National Homelessness Research Partnership. The research questions are: - Why is it that women and children often leave home and return several times before an abusive situation of domestic and family violence ends? - What Australian evidence is there about the number of incidents of violence and abuse experienced by a woman, and the number of separate occasions a woman may access homelessness accommodation services, prior to resolution of her domestic violence situation? - How and to what extent have innovative early intervention schemes introduced in Australia since the mid-1990s been successful in enabling women and children to reduce their multiple experiences of violence and multiple use of refuge and other emergency accommodation? - What are the advantages and disadvantages of different responses in terms of service provision and from the point of view of the woman and her children? - What best practice risk assessment processes and service standards and arrangements are needed if Safe at Home/SHLV models are to be implemented more widely? - Do these findings have other implications for Australian policy and practice ?

Details: Melbourne: Swinburne Institute for Social Research, Swinburne University of Technology, 2012. 98p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 15, 2016 at: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/spinney_2012_-_reducing_the_need_for_women_and_children_to_make_repeated_use_of_refuge_and_other_crisis_accommodation.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: Australia

URL: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/spinney_2012_-_reducing_the_need_for_women_and_children_to_make_repeated_use_of_refuge_and_other_crisis_accommodation.pdf

Shelf Number: 139643

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Family Violence
Homelessness (Australia)
Housing
Victim Services

Author: King's College London

Title: PROTECT: Provider Responses Treatment and Care for Trafficked People

Summary: Human trafficking is the recruitment and movement of people - often by means such as coercion, deception, and abuse of vulnerability - for the purpose of exploitation. Trafficked people experience multiple health risks prior to, during, and following their trafficking experiences, and many suffer acute and longer term health problems. As such, National Health Service (NHS) professionals have an essential role in the identification, referral, and clinical care of trafficked people in England. Human trafficking now falls within the United Kingdom's (UK) 'Modern Slavery Act, 2015', which received Royal Assent on 26th March 2015. The Modern Slavery Act addresses both human trafficking and slavery, defining slavery as knowingly holding a person in slavery or servitude or knowingly requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour. Yet, despite this renewed focus, there remains extremely limited evidence to inform health service responses to human trafficking. A systematic review conducted in 2012 found that previous research into the health needs of trafficked people focused predominantly on women in low and middle income countries who had been trafficked for sexual exploitation. Very little evidence existed on the needs of trafficked children, trafficked men, and of women trafficked for domestic servitude and labour exploitation, particularly in high income country settings. Evidence was also lacking on which healthcare services were most likely to be accessed by trafficked people and under what circumstances, and on the knowledge and training needs of NHS professionals. Our research programme therefore aimed to provide evidence to inform the NHS response to human trafficking, specifically the identification and safe referral of trafficked people and the provision of appropriate care to meet their health needs. The research programme was designed based on three core objectives: (1) To synthesise evidence on the number of trafficked adults and children identified and using NHS services in England, the healthcare needs of trafficked people, and their experiences and use of healthcare; (2) to document NHS experience, knowledge and gaps about trafficked people's health care needs; and (3) to provide recommendations research-based papers and dissemination strategies to support NHS staff to identify, refer and care for trafficked people and to become a strategic partner within the UK National Referral Mechanism (NRM)1 and with other agencies.

Details: London: King's College London, 2015. 190p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 27, 2016 at: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/depts/hspr/research/CEPH/wmh/assets/PROTECT-Report.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/depts/hspr/research/CEPH/wmh/assets/PROTECT-Report.pdf

Shelf Number: 140060

Keywords:
Healthcare
Human Trafficking
Medical Services
Mental Health Services
Victim Services
Victims of Human Trafficking

Author: Great Britain. House of Commons. Justice Committee

Title: Restorative Justice: Fourth Report of Session 2016-17

Summary: In this report we consider the effectiveness of restorative justice (RJ) provision across the criminal justice system. The push from the Ministry of Justice has been for high quality restorative justice to be available to victims at every stage of the criminal justice system irrespective of where they are geographically, the age of the offender or the offence committed against them and we support these objectives in this report. We have focused our analysis on the services currently available to victims. We examine the evidence base for the effectiveness of restorative justice. We conclude that while undue reliance should not be placed on the statistic that $8 is saved for every $1 spent on RJ, there are benefits in both reductions in reoffending and in providing tangible benefits to victims. Our attention was drawn to doubts around the use of restorative justice in cases of sexual offences, domestic abuse and hate crime. In particular we received submissions concerned with the appropriateness of restorative justice in cases of domestic abuse. While acknowledging the real and substantial risks, our view is that, while restorative justice will not be appropriate in every case, it should not be excluded simply by reason of the type of offence committed. We found that restorative justice provision is currently subject to a 'postcode lottery' and regional buy-in. While ring-fencing funding to Police and Crime Commissioners may appear superficially attractive, we do not believe budgets for restorative justice could be set in a reliable or sensible manner. Our other principal recommendations and conclusions can be summed up as follows: - Restorative justice is well embedded in the youth justice system, although there is further work to be done, particularly in improving victim engagement. We recommend the Ministry of Justice looks to the example of youth conferencing used in Northern Ireland. - Problems in data sharing have presented a somewhat intractable obstacle to the development of restorative justice. We recommend the creation and dissemination of a national data sharing template to help speed up the agreement of data sharing protocols. - There is evidence of mixed compliance with the requirement under the Victims' Code to make victims aware of restorative justice, and we recommend the introduction of a system to improve compliance. - The entitlements under the Victims' Code should be rationalised so they no longer vary based on the age of the offender. - The Ministry should consult with PCCs and Stakeholders to ensure there is sufficient capacity to feasibly introduce an entitlement to restorative justice under the Victims' Code. - It is too soon to introduce a legislative right to access restorative justice services but such a goal is laudable and should be actively worked towards. We believe a right to access such services should be included in the Victims' Law but that provision should only be commenced once the Minister has demonstrated to Parliament that the system has sufficient capacity.

Details: London: House of Commons, 2016. 41p.

Source: Internet Resource: HC 164: Accessed September 14, 2016 at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmjust/164/164.pdf?utm_source=164&utm_medium=module&utm_campaign=modulereports

Year: 2016

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmjust/164/164.pdf?utm_source=164&utm_medium=module&utm_campaign=modulereports

Shelf Number: 147868

Keywords:
Restorative Justice
Victim Services
Victim-Offender Mediation
Victims of Crime

Author: Bolivar, Daniela

Title: Victims and Restorative Justice: An empirical study of the needs, experience and position of the victim within restorative justice practices: Country Reports

Summary: This report covers the final findings of the two-year research project "victims and restorative justice" coordinated by the European Forum for Restorative Justice and implemented in The Netherlands, Finland and Austria. This research aimed to study the position of the victim in restorative justice (RJ). To do so, two main issues were addressed: on the one hand, the experiences of victims of crime who had participated (or not, for whatever reason) in victim-offender mediation and, on the other hand, the opinions and views of practitioners from the fields of victim support and RJ. This report focuses on the empirical findings on victims' experiences. Researchers from the three countries that took part in this study (Austria, Finland and The Netherlands) describe and analyse their findings through three informative chapters. Finally, some conclusions are drawn and some implications for practice and research are discussed (chapter 4). A more detailed and analytical account of specific aspects of our research in addition to other findings not included in this report can be found in the publication Vanfraechem, I., Bolivar, D. and Aertsen, I., eds., 2015. Victims and Restorative Justice. London: Routledge. This publication offers a theoretical and empirical overview of the position of the victim within European RJ practices so it can be considered as a necessary complement to this country reports.

Details: Utrecht: European Forum for Restorative Justice, 2015. 143p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 7, 2016 at: http://www.euforumrj.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/report_victimsandRJ-2.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: Europe

URL: http://www.euforumrj.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/report_victimsandRJ-2.pdf

Shelf Number: 145114

Keywords:
Restorative Justice
Victim Services
Victim-Offender Mediation
Victims of Crime

Author: Browne, Angela

Title: Examining Criminal Justice Responses To and Help-Seeking Patterns of Sexual Violence Survivors with Disabilities

Summary: Despite national survey estimates indicating a sharp increase in rates of violent victimization and an increased risk of serious outcomes for people with reported disabilities compared to people without reported disabilities,i few studies have examined criminal justice responses to and help-seeking patterns of sexual assault survivors with disabilities. Goals of this exploratory study were to: 1. Describe criminal justice reporting of sexual assault against persons with disabilities (e.g., number and source of reports, characteristics of survivors and perpetrators, case characteristics, and case outcomes) using administrative and case file data from a large metropolitan area's District Attorney's Office (DAO)ii consisting of all sexual assault cases involving adults from 2008 to 2013 when the reported victim had a disability/was Deaf; 2. Assess how cases of sexual assault survivors with disabilities proceeded through the criminal court system, using administrative data, case file reviews, and Assistant District Attorney and Victim-Witness Advocate informational interviews; and 3. Describe help-seeking experiences of sexual assault survivors with disabilities from formal and informal sources, including influences on how and where they seek help, their experiences in reporting, barriers to reporting, and outcomes of this reporting, drawn from interviews with community-based survivors and service providers.

Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2016. 87p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 8, 2016 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/250196.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/250196.pdf

Shelf Number: 145107

Keywords:
Sexual Assault
Sexual Violence
Victim Services
Victims of Crime
Victims with Disabilities

Author: Chakraborti, Neil

Title: Healing the Harms: Identifying How Best to Support Hate Crime Victims

Summary: Every year hundreds of thousands of people in England and Wales suffer prejudice and hostility because of their identity or perceived 'difference'. This can include acts of physical violence, as well as the more 'everyday' forms of harassment and intimidation. Such victimisation is more commonly referred to as 'hate crime', which is defined by the College of Policing (2014: 3) as: 'Any crime or incident where the perpetrator's hostility or prejudice against an identifiable group of people is a factor in determining who is victimised.' The concept has come to be associated with five identity strands: namely, disability, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and transgender status. According to official figures, in 2014-15 the Police Service recorded 52,528 hate crimes (Corcoran, Lader and Smith, 2015). It is widely acknowledged that this number is a considerable underestimate of the actual number of hate crimes taking place within England and Wales. The Crime Survey for England and Wales, which provides an alternative measure of hate crime victimisation, estimated that 222,000 incidents took place within the same time-frame (ibid, 2015). The issue of underreporting has been further highlighted through research which illustrates that the majority of hate crime victims do not report their experiences to the police or through available third-party reporting systems (Chakraborti, Garland, Hardy, 2014; Christmann and Wong, 2010). These studies suggest that there are a number of reasons as to why hate crime victims do not report their experiences to the police or to an alternative organisation. Many victims: - 'normalise' their experiences of hate crime - feel concerned about not being taken seriously - worry about retaliatory violence or making the situation worse - have a shortage of confidence in the criminal justice system - lack the time and emotional strength required to talk to a third party about their experiences Research also highlights that the majority of hate crime victims are not aware of or know how to access support services. This is especially concerning given that a growing body of research evidence shows that acts of hate crime cause significant emotional and physical damage to the well-being of victims, their families and wider communities (Iganski and Lagou, 2015; Chakraborti, Garland and Hardy, 2014). It is because of the significant levels of under-reporting and the relatively low uptake of support services that we lack a comprehensive understanding of how best to support those affected by hate crime. This report presents the findings of a study designed to identify the support needs of hate crime victims. The research was funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, and conducted in partnership with Hertfordshire Constabulary and Hertfordshire County Council. The specific aims of this research were: - to explore hate crime experiences in Hertfordshire; - to identify the extent to which actual and potential hate crime victims are aware of local and national support services; - to assess the actual or perceived barriers that prevent victims accessing support services; and - to provide an evidence-based template of good practice to inform the wider delivery of new and existing support services. If implemented, the recommendations included within this report have the capacity to make a sustained difference with respect to helping organisations and individuals support hate crime victims more effectively.

Details: Leicester, UK: University of Leicester, Centre for Hate Studies, 2016. 31p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 17, 2016 at: http://hertscommissioner.org/fluidcms/files/files/pdf/Victims-Commissioning/Healing-the-Harms---Final-Report.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://hertscommissioner.org/fluidcms/files/files/pdf/Victims-Commissioning/Healing-the-Harms---Final-Report.pdf

Shelf Number: 140788

Keywords:
Bias Crimes
Hate Crime
Victim Services
Victims of Crime

Author: Darkwah, Akosua K.

Title: Beyond Domestic Violence Laws: Women's Experiences and Perceptions of Protection Services in Ghana

Summary: This research reviews the response to Domestic Violence in Africa, focusing in on Ghana, and asks 'What are women's experiences and perceptions of protection services provided to survivors of domestic violence in Ghana?' based on interviews at a shelter in Accra. In the first part of the paper, particular attention is given to the different ways in which the institutional model has been developed in Africa in general and in Ghana in particular. We analyse the particular process through which domestic violence appeared on the public agenda in each individual country. We also pay attention to the various evidence-based research studies available on the impact of various preventive, punitive and protective components of domestic violence legislation. In the respective case studies, attention will shift to focus on the ways in which the model of protection is designed in each country and the range of protection services that are offered to survivors of domestic violence. We will then explore the concrete experiences of women who are survivors of domestic violence. Being one of the central institutions to provide protection to survivors, the shelter is the main unit of analysis in the research.

Details: Lima, Peru: ELLA (Evidence and Lessons from Latin America), 2016. 43p.

Source: Internet Resource: Regional Evidence Papers; Accessed October 27, 2016 at: http://ella.practicalaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/REP_CEGENSA-_Beyond-Domestic-Violence-Laws.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: Ghana

URL: http://ella.practicalaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/REP_CEGENSA-_Beyond-Domestic-Violence-Laws.pdf

Shelf Number: 145013

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Koppa, Vijetha

Title: Can domestic violence victim screening and active safety counseling save lives?

Summary: Approximately 1 in 3 women in the US experiences physical violence by an intimate partner in her lifetime (CDC, 2010), resulting in over 1,000 deaths every year. In an effort to reduce such fatalities, individual law enforcement agencies across 34 states have implemented the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP), a protocol used to screen the victims of domestic violence and identify those most at risk of being seriously injured or killed by their intimate partners. The high-risk victims are connected to a domestic violence counselor, given a safety plan, and actively encouraged to seek help. This paper studies the effectiveness of this program by exploiting the variation in the timing of implementation of LAP across law enforcement agencies in Maryland, where the program was first developed. Results indicate that the program reduced female homicide victimization by males by 35-45 percent.

Details: Unpublished paper, 2016. 33p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 10, 2016 at: https://87902ce1-a-62cb3a1a-s-sites.googlegroups.com/site/vijethakoppa/Koppa%20Lethality%20Assessment.pdf?attachauth=ANoY7cp82ohWQS5HxjhdRmk3ZrVWzC2MPdeeTz50cBL3MNlU9REPfgX01A3KWVKhEfiON9zWMKeNFeeTT1fpZvnlP2AbVGlAC8vg3P4rqkVXmc8RLU3XSi_I8zr1VNz7KcSQuzGJmPrLkMyhVFwowaJd2usrgCW6QneHsNkySCyDPlK-w2VDpxE3HpuxwFAG5OqYkTltL663Q6cvDaCMXwnwzoUKGQkli63xuv6F870K7LCHjxapwBI%3D&attredirects=0

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: https://87902ce1-a-62cb3a1a-s-sites.googlegroups.com/site/vijethakoppa/Koppa%20Lethality%20Assessment.pdf?attachauth=ANoY7cp82ohWQS5HxjhdRmk3ZrVWzC2MPdeeTz50cBL3MNlU9REPfgX01A3KWVKhEfiON9zWMKeNFeeTT1fpZvnlP2AbVGlAC8vg3P4rqkVX

Shelf Number: 141076

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Lachenal, Cecile

Title: Beyond Domestic Violence Laws in Latin America: Challenges for Protection Services for Survivors

Summary: This research reviews the response to Domestic Violence in Latin America, focusing in on Mexico, and uses a series of in-depth interviews with survivors of domestic violence living in a shelter in Mexico City, to review their experience of the protection services that they received. The feminist and human rights movements in the Latin America Region have made public the discussion of violence against women as a social and multifaceted problem embedded in the private, public and collective spheres. Violence against women perpetuates gender gaps, highlighting the vulnerable situation of exclusion women face. In response, Latin American countries have put in place a variety of legislative and institutional mechanisms inspired by the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women (Belem Do Para Convention), the first binding regional treaty that proposes a liberal and individualistic approach to dealing with violence against women, and establishes a variety of measures that states should adopt to prevent, protect and sanction this phenomenon. This study uses a series of in-depth interviews with survivors of domestic violence living in a Mexico City shelter, as well as with its staff, to analyse how survivors experience protection services. Although it only covers one shelter and thus constitutes only a partial analysis, it represents an innovative effort to understand a protection model from the perspective of the survivors. We look at the trajectory of survivors from the moment they decided to seek help from the institutions, to the period at the shelter itself, and finally the period after which they have left the shelter.

Details: Mexico: Fundar, Centre of Analysis and Research, 2016. 40p.

Source: Internet Resource: Regional Evidence Papers: Accessed November 22, 2016 at: http://ella.practicalaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/20160414-Fundar_Domestic-Violence-REP.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: Latin America

URL: http://ella.practicalaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/20160414-Fundar_Domestic-Violence-REP.pdf

Shelf Number: 147905

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Laws
Intimate Partner Violence
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Papageorge, Nicholas W.

Title: Health, Human Capital and Domestic Violence

Summary: We study the impact of health shocks on domestic violence and illicit drug use. We argue that health is a form of human capital that shifts incentives for risky behaviors, such as drug use, and also changes options outside of violent relationships. To estimate causal effects, we examine chronically ill women before and after a medical breakthrough and exploit differences in these women's health prior to the breakthrough. We show evidence that health improvements induced by the breakthrough reduced domestic violence and illicit drug use. Our findings provide support for the idea that health improvements can have far-reaching implications for costly social problems. The policy relevance of our findings is compounded by the fact that both domestic violence and illicit drug use are social problems often seen as frustratingly impervious to interventions. One possible reason is that the common factors that drive them, such underlying health or labor market human capital, are themselves very persistent over time. Our study provides a unique test of this hypothesis by examining what happens when factors underlying violence or drug use exogenously shift due to a medical technological advancement. Our findings suggest that both violence and drug use could be reduced by improving women's access to better healthcare.

Details: Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2016. 65p.

Source: Internet Resource: NBER Working Paper Series, no. 22887: Accessed December 7, 2016 at: http://www.nber.org/papers/w22887

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: http://www.nber.org/papers/w22887

Shelf Number: 147927

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Healthcare
Intimate Partner Violence
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Allnock, Debbie

Title: Mapping the therapeutic services for sexual abuse in the UK in 2015

Summary: About the mapping exercise 1. The International Centre: Researching Child Sexual Exploitation, Trafficking and Violence at the University of Bedfordshire was commissioned by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) to undertake a mapping exercise – across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - of therapeutic services for children and young people who have experienced any form of child sexual abuse (CSA), including child sexual exploitation (CSE). This mapping exercise was intended to be an update, and facilitate a comparative analysis with the 2007 audit. However, different samples and the more limited nature of the exercise means that it is inadvisable to make direct comparisons. However, the current mapping exercise has revealed new insights about a broader range of services than were included in the previous 2007 audit. 2. The current mapping exercise consisted of: 1) identification of generalist and specialist services in the four nations providing therapeutic support for any form of child sexual abuse, including child sexual exploitation (n=750); 2) an online questionnaire distributed to all identified services; 3) a small number of followup telephone interviews with service providers and 4) a small number of telephone interviews with service commissioners. A total of 130 respondents provided data in the questionnaire on 149 services, giving a service response rate of 20%. Key findings There were a range of findings across funding and commissioning experiences of services, provision for children and young people, current service use and met and unmet need among the sample. Key findings include:  Obtaining full and accurate data on current service use is complex and difficult, and the task has not improved since the 2007 audit where similar difficulties were encountered. A key recommendation in that report was an improvement in the recording of data, particularly by services such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHs) but the evidence suggests this has not been addressed. This makes it incredibly difficult to establish solid evidence about the need/demand for services and whether or not current provision is adequately meeting the demand.  Some of the generalist services in the current mapping exercise were unable to provide referral figures on CSA/CSE because they do not tend to disaggregate their figures on this particular issue.  The referral data provided in the current mapping exercise shows an overall gap (a 12% current gap and an anticipated gap of 17% in future) in provision across the services in this sample to children and young people who have experienced child sexual abuse / exploitation. While some children may be referred to other services, there are likely to be some children who do not receive a service, or do not receive a timely service.  The mapping exercise revealed a large number of services across the UK comprised of both specialist and generalist services which exist across statutory, voluntary and private sectors and in some case comprise multiagency initiatives.  Whilst specialist services have been identified by some commentators to be more responsive and tailored to victims of sexual violence, it is clear that in the current climate of increasing awareness and demand, generalist services are identifying and supporting children and young people who have experienced CSA / CSE.  Despite variation in the needs and support required between younger children and older children who have experienced CSA/ CSE, some services are supporting both groups. What is less clear is whether these services are effectively equipped to provide specialised support to meet the needs of children and young people experiencing different forms of CSA.  SARCs have been an important development in provision of streamlined support for victims of sexual violence, although a key finding identified both in the literature and within this mapping exercise is a lack of emotional support within these services for children and young people who have experienced child sexual abuse / exploitation.  Since the 2007 audit, there appears to have been little change in the funding environment for CSA. Greater awareness of CSE means that it is possible that there has been more attention given to funding specialist services in this area at the expense of services dedicated to other forms of CSA.  Across specialist services, funding continues to be provided through insecure and short-term funding cycles which are at odds with the nature of the provision required to adequately support children and young people with these experiences. Services continue to devote an enormous amount of time and energy to chasing new funding streams, which, they say diverts energy and time away from delivering quality services to children and young people.  Service providers and commissioners have noted how complex and confusing the commissioning environment is, creating more stress and insecurity for providers.  Service providers feel confident that they will continue to be funded but this confidence derives primarily from an optimism about their reputations and the current high priority of CSA/CSE rather than having actually secured future funding.  Some referral sources for services are more developed than others; only 50% of services are seeing/accepting referrals from the police, for example and fewer from youth justice and youth services.  CAMHs remain difficult to access and the situation appears to be declining in some areas in the face of funding cuts in recent years. Providers view CAMHs as largely difficult to access, a finding which has been identified in other studies and reviews of services.  Almost all services, however, set eligibility criteria to restrict access. Age is one of the more common criteria and the mapping exercise has shown that, at least among the current sample, services for younger children are scarce while services for older children and adolescents are in somewhat greater supply.  Although there is significant variability in the quality and amount of referral data received, the patterns of service provision suggest that it is White British girls without disabilities who comprise the largest group receiving services.  Creative therapies remain a common approach in working with children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse. The ‘therapeutic relationship’ is also very common across services which focus on child sexual exploitation as well as other forms of child sexual abuse.  Services are largely only accessible during the hours of 9 to 5 during the weekdays. For children and young people who may want and need support outside of these hours, provision is scarce.  Children and young people with eating disorders, substance abuse problems, additional mental health needs and young offenders are most likely to be referred onwards to another service for help.

Details: University of Bedfordshire, The International Centre: Researching Child Sexual Exploitation, Trafficking and Violence, 2015. 100p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 7, 2016 at: https://www.beds.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/504283/mapping-therapeutic-services-sexual-abuse-uk-2015.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.beds.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/504283/mapping-therapeutic-services-sexual-abuse-uk-2015.pdf

Shelf Number: 147941

Keywords:
Child Sexual Abuse
Child Sexual Exploitation
Mental Health Services
Sex Crimes
Sexual Abuse
Sexual Violence
Victim Services

Author: Biffi, Emanuela

Title: IVOR report. Implementing Victim-Oriented Reform of the criminal justice system in the European Union

Summary: With many tens of millions of Europeans suffering from crime every year, the difficulties faced by victims of crime are a truly pan-European phenomenon. The Victims' Directive represents a milestone for the position of victims of crime in criminal proceedings across Europe, sought to improve the rights, support and protection of all victims of crime and thereby aid their recovery. The impact of the EU Directive on victims of crime and on the actual experience of crime victims across Europe largely depends on the way and the extent to which the Directive’s articles will be successful in reorienting victim policy in EU Member States. Domestic national experience shows that improving the plight of victims of crime can only to a limited degree be entrusted upon changes in the 'letter of the law'. Instead success is in large part contingent upon the practice at street-level: the extent to which rights are supported by sufficient services. Project IVOR - Implementing victim-oriented reform of the criminal justice system in the European Union (2014-2016) arises from the idea of providing a full overview of current research into and with victims’ rights and services, identifying lacunas and offering a vision towards a victim-oriented reform connected with the experience, victimological knowledge and the backdrop of the societal ecology. Translated into a further understanding of the manner in which victim-oriented reform in the diverse countries in Europe could succeed, Project IVOR findings expected to contribute to the development of practical recommendations and measures to promote the implementation of the EU Directive 2012/29/EU establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime.

Details: Lisbon: APAV - Associação Portuguesa de Apoio à Vítima, 2016. 240p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 7, 2016 at: http://www.apav.pt/ivor/images/ivor/PDFs/IVOR-Repot-WebVersion.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: Europe

URL: http://www.apav.pt/ivor/images/ivor/PDFs/IVOR-Repot-WebVersion.pdf

Shelf Number: 140337

Keywords:
Victim Services
Victims of Crime

Author: Polaschek, Devon

Title: Responding to perpetrators of family violence

Summary: Key Messages Integrated response systems offer the most promise for responding to family violence in New Zealand. Integrated systems: • Are built from the perspective of system users, not individual service providers • Include crisis services but also continue to provide support until change is firmly established • Include response subsystems that cater for perpetrators, but also victims and families • More New Zealand research is needed before any redesign proceeds, because good design requires knowledge about service users, and about current responses that is lacking • Our communities hold expertise that is important to harness in any redesign. More researcher-practitioner collaboration should be built into any ongoing research and evaluation, because evidence-based practice is a process, not an outcome. Victims and victim advocates also hold expertise that is valuable to this research. An integrated perpetrator response system includes co-ordination between crisis response and immediate containment, criminal and civil court proceedings, sentence or order compliance, risk monitoring and behaviour change components, and provides services based on risk and need. Necessary components include: • "Best practice" risk assessment and reassessment processes that are used consistently with findings well documented • Providing more dangerous perpetrators more oversight and assistance than less dangerous cases • Prompt detection of increases in risk status, with a corresponding change in response • Providing case managers for those with high and complex needs (e.g., mental health, alcohol and other drugs, housing) who co-ordinate and monitor planned responses. These response systems offer more opportunities to hold perpetrators to account, and in turn, better account to victims for their efforts in keeping them safe. New Zealand currently has no such system, and integrated systems are difficult to build and challenging to make work. Developing a system like this in New Zealand will require a significant investment in funding and the development of the necessary human resources. Current responses are piecemeal and insufficient, and mired in a complex web of bureaucracy. • Four government departments provide funding for short term perpetrator non-violence programmes in the community • More work is needed to develop better risk assessment and risk management practices across different parts of the system • Behaviour change-oriented programmes are relatively short with limited scope for tailoring to the heterogeneity of perpetrators • Level and type of service is based on referral pathway rather than risk or need • Self-referrals are growing, but most are unfunded • Methods for engagement with victims and families for safety monitoring are still developing • There is a lack of recognition in service provision models that contact between perpetrators, victims and families often continues or resumes after a specific episode • A sustained programme of public education similar to road safety campaigns is needed "at the top of the cliff", to increase the impact of these "bottom of the cliff" efforts.

Details: Auckland: New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse, University of Auckland, 2016. 34p.

Source: Internet Resource: Issues Paper 11: Accessed January 27, 2017 at: https://nzfvc.org.nz/sites/nzfvc.org.nz/files/NZFVC-issues-paper-11-responding-perpetrators.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: New Zealand

URL: https://nzfvc.org.nz/sites/nzfvc.org.nz/files/NZFVC-issues-paper-11-responding-perpetrators.pdf

Shelf Number: 144921

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Prevention
Family Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Victim Services

Author: Stavrou, Efty

Title: Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in Australia: related factors and help-seeking behaviours

Summary: Aim: To determine which factors were associated with (1) female experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV), (2) female reporting of physical or sexual assault by an intimate partner to the police and (3) females seeking help and support after experiencing IPV. Method: Women who experienced violence from an intimate partner in the two years prior to participating in the ABS Personal Safety Survey 2012 (PSS) were compared with women who reported never having experienced any violence. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine which factors including socio-demographic, financial stress, social connectedness, abuse before the age of 15 and emotional abuse by a partner were related to experiences of IPV. In order to ascertain which factors were related to help-seeking behaviours, multilevel regression models were used on a subsample of females whose most recent incident of violence in the last two years was perpetrated by an intimate partner. Results: The risk of IPV varies greatly across the community. Factors associated with a higher risk of IPV included being younger, Australian-born, having a long-term health condition, lacking social support, experiencing financial stress, having previously been a victim of child abuse and having experienced emotional abuse by an intimate partner. Where the most recent incident of physical or sexual assault in the last two years was perpetrated by an intimate partner, less than one in three assaults were reported to the police. Intimate partner assaults were less likely to be reported to the police if the perpetrator was still a current partner of the victim at the time of the interview, the assault was sexual (not physical) and if the victim perceived the assault was "not a crime" or "not serious enough". Having a physical injury after the incident was associated with an increased likelihood of reporting the assault to the police. Where the most recent incident of violence (assaults and threats) was perpetrated by an intimate partner, a counsellor or social worker was consulted after 30% of all incidents. Conclusion: Efforts to prevent IPV and improve services and supports for IPV victims should focus on women who experienced emotional abuse by a current or previous partner, sole parents, women who lack social supports, women experiencing financial stress, women who have experienced abuse as a child and women with a disability or long-term health condition.

Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2016. 16p.

Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice Number 200: Accessed February 8, 2017 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/Report-2016-Intimate-partner-violence-against-women-in-Australia-CJB200.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/Report-2016-Intimate-partner-violence-against-women-in-Australia-CJB200.pdf

Shelf Number: 147297

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Emotional Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Dowse, Leanne

Title: People with Complex Needs who are the Victims of Crime: Building evidence for responsive support

Summary: This project aimed to provide a detailed description of the nature and experience of crime victimisation for an identified group of people with complex needs in NSW, including those who have intellectual disability and mental health disorders and other co-occurring experiences of social disadvantage and who have been in the criminal justice system as offenders. Through interview and consultation with key organisations delivering services or representing the interests of this group, the project has also explored the current context of service delivery in NSW, identified key current challenges in providing responsive, appropriate and adequate support to this group and identified current gaps and innovative or best practice where it currently exists. The report provides context and background to the issue and draws on an already assembled unique source of linked data obtained from routine data collections from a range of service organisations in NSW on a cohort of 2731 people who have complex needs and who have been incarcerated in NSW. The People with Mental Health Disorders and Cognitive Disabilities (MHDCD) in the Criminal Justice System dataset www.mhdcd.unsw.edu.au allows both quantitative and qualitative descriptions of victimisation pathways and experiences. Outcomes of the analysis of the MHDCD dataset are provided here in the form of descriptive statistical analysis of the cohort as a whole, supported by selected case studies, which allow detailed illustration and nuanced observation of the ‘lived experience’ of victimisation for this group. Consultation and interviews were conducted with 21 individuals from organisations identified through an environmental scan as key stakeholders in providing services to this group or representing their interests in policy and practice. Key findings emerging from the descriptive statistical analysis suggest that victimisation is very common in the lives of people with complex needs who offend. The majority of the cohort (85%) has experienced at least one instance of being a victim and over half (65%) have been the victim of violent crime. Victimisation is more common among women, and those reporting a prior history of homelessness, those with a history of alcohol and drug use problems, intellectual disability, a mental health condition, an acquired brain injury and a history of serious mental illness such as schizophrenia. Analysis of violent victimisation identifies higher incidence for women, Aboriginal Australians, those with a history of homelessness and those who had experienced custody as a juvenile. Aboriginal Australians on average experience their first victimisation at a younger age than non-Aboriginal people. Analysis suggests that whilst the presence of any disability diagnosis is associated with high rates of victimisation, increasing levels of health complexity and need are associated with an increased risk of violent victimisation (54.6% of those with one diagnosis had been violently victimised compared to 71.8% of those with two diagnoses and 80.6% of those with three diagnoses, p<0.01). This indicates that it is not simply the presence of a disability that increases vulnerability to victimisation, but rather the interaction of multiple and compounding disability and social disadvantage operates to increase vulnerability to violence. Interestingly it was found that this pattern is reversed in relation to non-violent victimisation experiences, so that while having greater complexity in diagnoses makes individuals more likely to be a victim of violence, it appears to proportionally decrease the likelihood of non-violent victimisation. Analysis of service interactions for the cohort indicate that those who have received disability services at some point in their lives, those who have received Legal Aid, and are clients of Housing NSW experience higher levels of violent victimisation as compared to non-violent crime. Clients of Ageing, Disability and Home Care, and of its Community Justice Program, have particularly high rates of personal victimisation indicating that these services face challenges in dealing with their clients’ disability needs when they clearly occur in the context of a more complex life world characterised by high vulnerability to victimisation. Legal Aid clients similarly experience a disproportionately high incidence of victimisation, particularly of a violent nature, as do those who have tenancies with Housing NSW. Case study analysis illustrates the simultaneous and multiple processes of marginalisation experienced by people with complex needs. These can be seen to both create the context for their vulnerability to victimisation and to result in system and service responses which are limited, inadequate and often criminalising in and of themselves, such as the consequences of victimisation in out of home care settings. The significant impact of early victimisation experiences, especially sexual abuse and assault, can be seen in the life trajectories of the individual case studies presented. The impact of unstable early life and childhood experience of victimisation can be seen in the later teenage and early adult years of individual lives manifesting as vulnerabilities to their both experiencing and perpetrating further forms of violence, in particular in their adult domestic contexts. Also clearly illustrated is the vulnerability to harassment and victimisation associated with having a cognitive impairment where individuals are both subject to victimisation directly related to their disability and less able to respond in ways that do not escalate their victimisation. Similarly, the presence of cognitive impairment appears to lessen the chances lessen the chances of recognition, reporting and adequate redress such as reports not being taken seriously, appropriate support for disclosure not being available and the risks associated with disclosing victimisation within a care relationship on which an individual may be dependent. Key representative and service provider organisations identified through an initial environmental scan were approached for interview. The 21 individuals interviewed identified a range of significant issues which are currently seen to impact on policy and services for this group. Barriers to the provision of responsive and appropriate services for this group were identified by informants to include issues around a general lack of capacity of mainstream support services to cater to the needs of this group, poor communication and awareness of services that are available, low levels of identification and engagement of people with complex needs in services generally, restricted availability and accessibility of services and the reluctance of people with complex needs to engage who generally have had poor experiences with services in the past. Enablers for better responses were identified as service flexibility and accessibility, proactive and outreach service models which are skilled in the recognition, identification and assessment of victimisation and its impacts on those with complex needs. Key principles underpinning best practice in the area were identified as including inclusive and universal communication strategies for engaging individuals in services, a trauma informed care approach which is holistic, person-centred and premised on relationship and trust building as a foundation for addressing more complex issues of vulnerability to victimisation. Enhanced capacity in both specialist and mainstream provision would be enabled by the development of training and awareness of the connections between complex needs, offending and victimisation. An approach which is informed by a human rights framework which is community based and which premises prevention and early intervention was identified as foundational to enhancing capacity to provide responsive and appropriate support for those with complex needs who have or at are risk of being the victim of crime.

Details: Sydney: University of New South Wales, 2015. 82p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 27, 2017 at: http://www.victimsclearinghouse.nsw.gov.au/Documents/People_with_Complex_Needs_and_Crime_Victimsation_Final_Report_Jan_2015.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.victimsclearinghouse.nsw.gov.au/Documents/People_with_Complex_Needs_and_Crime_Victimsation_Final_Report_Jan_2015.pdf

Shelf Number: 141222

Keywords:
Disability
Victim Services
Victimization
Victims of Crime
Vulnerable Peoples
Vulnerable Victims

Author: ECPAT USA

Title: National Colloquium 2012 Final Report: An Inventory and Evaluation of the Current Shelter and Services Response to Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking

Summary: Shelter and services for identified victims and survivors of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) are critical for their recovery and success. What has not been immediately available is insight into the actual experience of the individuals and organizations that are attempting to respond to the need, and their insight about possible ways to navigate the obstacles. While a few excellent scholarly articles and manuals on how to implement service provision have recently been published, the noticeable missing ingredient is documentation of lessons learned, success factors and gaps by those on the ground doing the work. To that end, the National Colloquium: Shelter and Services Evaluation for Action was conceived and executed by Shared Hope International, ECPAT-USA and The Protection Project at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, a triumvirate that has in the past cooperated on related research, notably the 2006 Mid-Term Review on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) in America in preparation for the World Congress Against CSEC. Three surveys were designed to capture information that will serve as the foundation for the continuing research, site assessments, and discussions among stakeholders to develop and formalize the shelter and services response for DMST victims. Through these surveys and the subsequent colloquium, knowledge from a growing body of experts with first-hand experience was gathered and shared about the actual provision of restorative services to domestic trafficking victims, with all of its successes and setbacks. In July 2012 an Advisory Board and a Practitioners Working Group were convened to review project goals for the National Colloquium and vet the survey that would solicit a response from providers across the nation during the upcoming three months. At the same time, survivor leaders developed and administered their own survey instrument to capture the unique experiences and perspectives of individuals who have survived sex trafficking. On November 30, 2012, the National Colloquium: Shelter and Services Evaluation for Action was held, representing a first-ever opportunity for service providers and survivors to hold a structured conversation about the extraordinarily complex and challenging work of DMST victim and survivor care. Acting Assistant Secretary George Sheldon of the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, delivered the keynote address that framed the panel discussions that took place. Based on their experiences in the field, participants addressed emerging trends and barriers in three areas: placement for identified youth, licensing and maintaining residential facilities and programmatic and therapeutic approaches. A range of promising practices along with barriers to success were examined through panel discussion and observer interaction. In addition, in coordination with the Congressional Caucus for Victims' Rights and the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues, a congressional briefing called "Identifying Sustainable Solutions for Shelter and Restorative Care for Victims of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking" was held to discuss funding for shelter and services for DMST victims, a priority concern noted by advocacy and funding experts that responded to a third survey designed for this group of stakeholders. The panel for this briefing consisted of human trafficking experts from government, philanthropy, survivor leadership and non-governmental organizations who brought visibility to the critical importance of the funding issue. Approximately 185 participants filled the U.S. Capitol hearing room and over 500 more attended via a live webcast in order to be part of this unique event. While information exchange was the stated purpose, a collateral benefit for many was the opportunity for providers and survivors to meet and network with others doing similar work in this limited field.

Details: Brooklyn, NY: ECPAT USA, 2016.244p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 9, 2017 at: http://www.ecpatusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/National-Colloquium-2012-Final-Report-An-Inventory-and-Evaluation-of-the-Current-Shelter-and-Services-Response-to-Domestic-Minor-Sex-Trafficking.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: http://www.ecpatusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/National-Colloquium-2012-Final-Report-An-Inventory-and-Evaluation-of-the-Current-Shelter-and-Services-Response-to-Domestic-Minor-Sex-Trafficking.pdf

Shelf Number: 145367

Keywords:
Child Prostitution
Child Sex Trafficking
Child Sexual Exploitation
Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking
Sex Trafficking
Victim Services

Author: International Organization for Migration

Title: Enhancing the Safety and Sustainability of the Return and Reintegration of Victims of Trafficking: Lessons Learnt from the CARE and TACT Projects

Summary: This report follows on from the implementation of two distinct but complementary projects implemented by IOM: Coordinated Approach for the Reintegration of victims of trafficking returning voluntarily to any third country (CARE project) and Transnational Action - Safe and sustainable return and reintegration for victims of Trafficking returning voluntarily to priority countries: Albania, Morocco and Ukraine (TACT project). The two projects involved a total of 9 European Union Member States (EU MS) - Austria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom - committed to improving the return and reintegration programmes available for Victims of Trafficking (VoTs), in order to make the process safer and more sustainable, and to reduce the risks of re-trafficking. Bearing this objective in mind, IOM endeavored through the implementation of both projects to develop, implement, and fine-tune Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Return and Reintegration of Victims of Trafficking, ensuring a continuum of care. This joint report aims to gather and share the lessons learnt through the implementation of both projects, suggesting a way forward for the establishment of transnational referral mechanisms between EU MS and third countries. The issue of transnational referral mechanisms is a key priority in the current EU anti-trafficking efforts, as mentioned in the EU Anti-trafficking Strategy for the period 2012-2016. . As part of the introduction, this report will start with an overview of the key concepts and legal framework relating to trafficking and voluntary return, analyzing their linkage, and a brief explanation of the content of the EU Anti-trafficking Strategy, in the framework of which both the CARE and TACT projects are implemented. The first section will present in detail the CARE and TACT projects objectives and activities. The second section will go through the lessons drawn from the implementation of the CARE project and propose recommendations to enhance the assistance and protection provided to returning VoTs. The third and final section will go a step further, presenting some reflections in turn on the concept of the Transnational Referral Mechanism (TRM) and its possible concrete implementation throughout the EU and third countries. The international legislative framework on human trafficking is governed by the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and its two Additional Protocols. The Convention, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly through resolution 55/252 on 15 November 2000, entered into force on 29 September 2003. It is complemented by the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children , also known as the Palermo Protocol (entered into force on 25 December 2003) and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air , which entered into force on 28 January 2004. According to Article 3 (a) of the Palermo Protocol, "Human trafficking" can be described as "the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs".

Details: Paris, France: IOM, 2014. 126p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 15, 2017 at: http://iomfrance.org/sites/default/files/Enhancing%20the%20Safety%20and%20Sustainability%20of%20the%20Return%20and%20Reintegration%20of%20VoTs.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: Europe

URL: http://iomfrance.org/sites/default/files/Enhancing%20the%20Safety%20and%20Sustainability%20of%20the%20Return%20and%20Reintegration%20of%20VoTs.pdf

Shelf Number: 145474

Keywords:
Forced Labor
Human Trafficking
Modern Slavery
Sex Trafficking
Trafficking in Organs
Victim Services
Victims of Trafficking

Author: Warrington, Camille

Title: Making Noise: Children's voices for positive change after sexual abuse. Children's experiences of help-seeking and support after sexual abuse in the family environment

Summary: Overview 1. This study was commissioned by the Children's Commissioner for England and carried out in 2015/16 by staff from the International Centre: Researching Child Sexual Exploitation, Violence and Trafficking, in partnership with the NSPCC. It sought to elicit children and young people's views and experiences of help-seeking and support after child sexual abuse (CSA) in the family environment. 2. The title, and spirit, of the research - 'Making Noise: children's voices for positive change after sexual abuse' - was determined with our Young People's Advisory Group, who have played a critical role throughout the work. It represents our efforts to not only generate new research knowledge, but to simultaneously demonstrate the capacity of children and young people to contribute to enhanced responses to these issues and the importance of challenging the cultures of silence in which abuse and impunity flourish. 3. The research comprised 53 in-depth qualitative interviews with children aged 6 to 19 who were receiving support for experiences of CSA in the family environment. All interviewees were accessed through one of 15 third-sector therapeutic services from across England. This data was supplemented with focus groups (30 participants) and survey data (75 respondents) with more generic cohorts of young people exploring possible barriers to disclosure and service access. 4. The research sought to respond to a recognised gap in evidence from the perspectives of children and young people affected by CSA in the family environment. To our knowledge this study represents data from the largest sample of children and young people in a qualitative study on this issue. 5. The research aims were to improve understanding of participants' experiences of: - recognition, identification and disclosure of CSA in the family environment - help-seeking and support - contact with services as a result of reporting/identification of CSA - care systems, and - criminal justice procedures and to ascertain children and young people's views on how such processes could be improved.

Details: Luton, Bedfordshire, UK: University of Bedfordshire, 2017. 184p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 5, 2017 at: https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/UniBed_MakingNoise%2020_4_17.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/UniBed_MakingNoise%2020_4_17.pdf

Shelf Number: 145917

Keywords:
Child Protection
Child Sexual Abuse
Child Sexual Exploitation
Children and Violence
Sexual Violence
Victim Services
Violence Against Women, Children

Author: Beckett, Helen

Title: Making Justice Work: Experiences of criminal justice for children and young people affected by sexual exploitation as victims and witnesses

Summary: 1. Making Justice Work is a one year participatory pilot research project, carried out by The International Centre: Researching Child Sexual Exploitation, Violence and Trafficking at The University of Bedfordshire. The research explored young people's experiences of the criminal justice system in child sexual exploitation (CSE) cases, and the ways in which these could be improved. 2. The work consisted of: a policy and literature review; in-depth participatory research with nine young 'experts by experience'; interviews with two peer supporters; and interviews and focus groups with 38 professionals. 3. The primary emphasis was on the in-depth participatory research with the young experts by experience, given the limited nature of young people's perspectives within the existing body of evidence. The other three strands of work served to contextualise and triangulate this learning. A high degree of convergence emerged across all elements of the primary research. The findings also strongly resonate with themes identified in other research, inquiries and reviews. 4. Although often critical in their commentary, participants recognised the existence of pockets of good practice and were keen to see these implemented on a wider scale. The findings of the research are presented in a similar spirit; in the hope that they will provide helpful insights for the wide range of current initiatives for change within this field.

Details: Luton, UK: University of Bedfordshire, 2015. 52p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 14, 2017 at: http://uobrep.openrepository.com/uobrep/handle/10547/347011

Year: 2015

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://uobrep.openrepository.com/uobrep/handle/10547/347011

Shelf Number: 146092

Keywords:
Child Sexual abuse
Child Sexual Exploitation
Child Victims
Child Witness
Victim Services

Author: Smith, Katie

Title: Nowhere to Turn: Findings from the first year of the No Woman Turned Away project

Summary: The No Woman Turned Away (NWTA) project was commissioned by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to provide additional support to women facing difficulties accessing a refuge space. The work was delivered by Women's Aid and comprised a team of specialist caseworkers supporting women into refuge alongside dedicated evaluation support to conduct detailed monitoring and analysis of a full year's worth of data collected on survivors' needs and system response. This report outlines the findings from this project, using data collected from the National Domestic Violence Helpline (NDVH)1 and specialist NWTA caseworkers between 19th January 2016 and 18th January 2017. During this time, there were 8,623 calls to the NDVH from survivors seeking a refuge space and 404 women were supported by the NWTA caseworkers. This report also uses data from Routes to Support (formerly UK Refuges Online), the Women's Aid Annual Survey 2016, a survivor survey, and a series of interviews with survivors. Accessing a refuge space can mark a key stepping stone in the journey away from abuse, but for many women the search for a space is long and difficult. The report highlights some of the dangerous circumstances that women and their children face when they are unable to access refuge, the inability of services to meet the increasingly complex needs of some of the most marginalised groups of women and an overall national shortfall of refuge spaces, unevenly distributed and facing an uncertain future.

Details: Bristol, UK: Women's Aid Federation of England, 2017. 90p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 29, 2017 at: https://1q7dqy2unor827bqjls0c4rn-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/NWTA-Full-report.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://1q7dqy2unor827bqjls0c4rn-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/NWTA-Full-report.pdf

Shelf Number: 146602

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Lachenal, Cecile

Title: Women's Political Representation as Key to Implementing Domestic Violence Laws: An Analysis of Ghana and Mexico

Summary: Since the 1990s, over one hundred countries have passed domestic violence legislation in response to calls from the international community to that effect. Mexico and Ghana are two such countries. Having passed these laws, however, Mexico and Ghana have taken quite divergent paths during implementation. Mexico's protective services for survivors of domestic violence are far more comprehensive than those in Ghana. 72 shelters have been established where survivors can access coordinated legal, medical, psychological, training and financial support. In addition, both state and non-state actors work together to deliver these services with funding from the government and international sources. Ghana, on the other hand, has only set up two shelters and while some support services are provided, they are not always available. Furthermore, Ghana relies very heavily on international donor agencies for funding to execute its domestic violence programmes. This presents a challenge because donor agencies focus more heavily on advocacy work than on service provision. With a focus on the delivery of protection services, this paper explores the factors that shaped the contrasting outcomes of the implementation of domestic violence legislation in Ghana and Mexico. We argue that differing levels of gender institutionalisation in the two countries explain these divergent outcomes. We explain gender institutionalisation as the ability of female politicians to fully operationalise women's human rights. Countries that have high levels of gender institutionalisation go beyond passing bills to ensure implementation. Such governments demonstrate the political commitment required to put in place the institutional and financial frameworks that make the implementation of social legislation possible. Mexico, we argue, has higher levels of gender institutionalisation than Ghana. The Mexican government has set up a number of institutions with a specific focus on addressing domestic violence issues from a human rights perspective. Ghana, on the other hand, has established fewer institutions. Mexico also has the added advantage of providing state funds to these institutions which enables them implement the national law on domestic violence. Levels of gender institutionalisation, we argue, depend primarily on the proportion of female parliamentary representatives in each country; with Mexico demonstrating a much higher level of symbolic and substantive female representation in parliament than Ghana. In 2007, when the domestic violence law was passed, 23.2% of parliamentarians in Mexico were women. Beyond this symbolic representation, female parliamentarians have also ensured substantive representation of women's interests in legislative processes. This is evident in two ways. First, these women entered into a pact in which they agreed to vote in favour of laws that benefited women, regardless of their personal political persuasions. Secondly, they worked in collaboration with the Gender Equality Commission to push for gender budgeting to be introduced into government systems. This led to the allocation of state funds to the various institutions that had been put in charge of implementing the domestic violence law. Ghana, on the other hand, has far fewer female representatives in parliament. In percentage terms, the number has hovered around 10% since the return to democratic rule in 1992. These women have been unable to translate their presence in parliament into substantive gains for Ghanaian women so far as domestic violence issues are concerned. Based on our findings about the Mexican experience, we make three recommendations for Ghana and other countries interested in implementing domestic violence laws. First, we argue for the development of policies and programmes to ensure increased representation of women in parliament. Second, we advocate for civil society organisations to work with female parliamentarians to improve the substantive representation of women's issues in parliament. Finally, we recommend gender budgeting be integrated into government systems at national and regional levels

Details: Mexico: Fundar, Centre of Analysis and Research, 2017. 31p.

Source: Internet Resource: Comparative Evidence Paper: Accessed September 14, 2017 at: http://fundar.org.mx/mexico/pdf/CEPwomens.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: International

URL: http://fundar.org.mx/mexico/pdf/CEPwomens.pdf

Shelf Number: 147252

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Laws
Intimate Partner Violence
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Wendt, Sarah

Title: Seeking help for domestic and family violence: Exploring regional, rural, and remote women's coping experiences: Final report

Summary: This report presents the results of a qualitative study examining the experiences of women seeking help for domestic and family violence who live in regional, rural, and remote areas in Australia. The study contributes to the limited evidence on how geographical and social isolation shapes women's coping with and decisions to seek assistance for domestic and family violence, and their efforts to live safely.

Details: Sydney: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety Limited (ANROWS), 2017. 78p.

Source: Internet Resource: Research report: Accessed October 3, 2017 at: http://apo.org.au/system/files/106901/apo-nid106901-430811.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: Australia

URL: http://apo.org.au/system/files/106901/apo-nid106901-430811.pdf

Shelf Number: 147532

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Family Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Rural Areas
Victim Services
Victims of Crime
Violence Against Women

Author: O'Brien, Mary

Title: Connecting to Safety and Stability: Domestic Violence Needs Assessment of Chicago

Summary: Domestic violence is pervasive, dangerous, and impacts individuals and communities throughout our state. It is estimated that more than 2 million Illinoisans have experienced domestic violence in their lifetime. A new report, released today, examines its prevalence in Chicago and what needs to be done to better serve survivors. In Connecting to Safety and Stability: Domestic Violence Needs Assessment of Chicago, Heartland Alliance's Social IMPACT Research Center, documents the existing domestic violence response system in Chicago, highlights the gaps that need to be filled, and makes recommendations to strengthen the existing response system and better meet survivors' needs. The report found that: Domestic violence occurs throughout the city, but there is disparate access to services for survivors. While national data suggests that women of color experience domestic violence at a higher rate than their white counterparts, available domestic violence services are predominantly located in majority white communities and/or higher-income communities. Locally, the communities with some of the highest rates of domestic crimes have the least physical access to domestic violence services. This means that too many individuals who need to access these critical services cannot get to them or have a much more difficult time doing so. The state budget impasse significantly impacted providers that offer services to survivors of domestic violence. Among service providers that primarily serve survivors of domestic violence, 65% reported that they have limited referral partners as a result of the state budget impasse, 47% have tapped into cash reserves, 41% have had to reduce staff, and 35% have tapped into lines of credit. Survivors use the services that are currently offered by domestic violence service organizations. In 2016, 10,194 survivors received services from Chicago-based providers. Service providers in Chicago are consistently operating at or over capacity. Additional support is needed for policies and programs that address the long-term needs of survivors, including policies that address poverty and economic needs. In 2016, 43.8% of survivors had a monthly income of $500 or less. In addition to this demonstrated economic need among service recipients, economic abuse is commonly used in domestic violence, contributing to the financial needs of survivors. The most consistent unmet need identified by stakeholders was safe and affordable housing and shelter. Shelters consistently operate at capacity and there are few options for a survivor who does not want to go to shelter. There were 46,301 domestic incidents in 2016, a rate of 1,704 domestic incidents per 100,000 Chicagoans. And on average, the police responded to 127 incidents and made 23 arrests in response to a domestic incident per day in 2016. "Domestic Violence occurs in every community area in Chicago. But, not all of our communities are resourced the same, resulting in drastically limited options for survivors in specific communities in our city," says Mary O'Brien, Senior Research Associate at Heartland Alliance. "Chicago must address the systemic inequities that exist in the availability and access to domestic violence services." Coming on the heels of the protracted state budget crisis, this report documents the important role service providers play in responding to this pervasive issue and identifies the outstanding needs of survivors. Connecting to Safety and Stability demonstrates that current services are heavily used by survivors of domestic violence. In total, survivors received 149,864 hours of direct services in 2016. From counseling, legal advocacy, life skills, health and wellness, and supports for children, providers offer, quite literally, lifesaving services that are desperately needed. It is imperative that these services receive adequate funding to continue, and expand, the work that they do and the individuals that they reach. In addition to evaluations and findings, Connecting to Safety and Stability recommends various changes to funding, policy, and practice to bolster the domestic violence response in Chicago

Details: Chicago: Heartland Alliance, Social Impact Research Center, 2017.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 5, 2017 at: http://socialimpactresearchcenter.issuelab.org/resource/connecting-to-safety-and-stability-domestic-violence-needs-assessment-of-chicago-4.html

Year: 2017

Country: United States

URL: http://socialimpactresearchcenter.issuelab.org/resource/connecting-to-safety-and-stability-domestic-violence-needs-assessment-of-chicago-4.html

Shelf Number: 147588

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Family Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Alliance for Safety and Justice

Title: Crime Survivors Speak: The First-Ever national Survey of Victims' Views on Safety and Justice

Summary: There is no more important function of our safety and justice systems than protecting crime victims and those who are at-risk of becoming a victim of crime. Despite this foundational goal, few safety and justice policy debates are informed by a comprehensive examination of the experiences and views of the nation's diverse crime survivors. The United States is in the midst of a significant shift in criminal justice policy. For the first time in decades, criminal justice practitioners, lawmakers, and the general public are rethinking sentencing laws, prison spending, and the best ways to address crime and violence. There has never been a more important time to investigate and elevate the perspectives of those most commonly victimized by violence and crime. If new approaches to safety and justice do not incorporate the voices of crime survivors, this new era of reform risks failing to deliver on the breakthrough the country needs. This changing landscape presents an important opportunity to correct misperceptions that have driven public policy in the past, and gather new information that can help shape smarter approaches to safety and justice. To begin filling the gap in available and representative data on who crime victims are and their policy priorities, in April of 2016, Alliance for Safety and Justice commissioned the first-of-its-kind National Survey of Victims' Views. This report describes the findings from this survey and points to opportunities for further research and reform to advance polices that align with the needs and perspectives of victims. Perhaps to the surprise of some, victims overwhelmingly prefer criminal justice approaches that prioritize rehabilitation over punishment and strongly prefer investments in crime prevention and treatment to more spending on prisons and jails. These views are not always accurately reflected in the media or in state capitols and should be considered in policy debates.

Details: s.l.: The Alliance, 2016. 32p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 6, 2017 at: https://www.allianceforsafetyandjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/documents/Crime%20Survivors%20Speak%20Report.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: https://www.allianceforsafetyandjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/documents/Crime%20Survivors%20Speak%20Report.pdf

Shelf Number: 147596

Keywords:
Victim Services
Victims of Crime

Author: Victim Support Europe

Title: Operating Networks for Victim Support Services

Summary: The present report is looking into two examples - those of Finland and France, of how to organise comprehensive victim support services at the national level. Both countries were chosen based on findings of previous research carried out under the MDTF JSS, Analysis of victims' rights and services in Serbia and their alignment with EU Directive 2012/29/EU. That research showed in particular that Serbia had some level of existing infrastructure for the delivery of victim services. Though many of these were focused on specific groups of victims, a number had indicated an interest to widen the scope of their activities. At the same time, the Serbian State had indicated that where possible they wanted to use existing resources, rather than create an wholly new system, which would be an inefficient and non-inclusive approach. Both France and Finland are examples of long and well established national services, meeting criteria in the EU Victims Directive which used existing infrastructures and organisations to deliver a national system.

Details: Brussels: Victim Support Europe, 2017. 76p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 4, 2017 at: http://victimsupport.eu/activeapp/wp-content/files_mf/1506075235WB_networkoperationsreport_final.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: Europe

URL: http://victimsupport.eu/activeapp/wp-content/files_mf/1506075235WB_networkoperationsreport_final.pdf

Shelf Number: 148031

Keywords:
Victim Services
Victims of Crime

Author: Ellis, Nicola

Title: An evaluation of the National Referral Mechanism pilot

Summary: The National Referral Mechanism is the means by which potential victims of modern slavery in the UK are identified and are able to access support. This process involves an initial reasonable grounds decision on whether someone is a potential victim of modern slavery followed by further information-gathering, leading to a conclusive grounds decision. The pilot aimed to streamline the process and improve decision-making. Overall, the evaluation findings are mixed. There was little change in decision outcomes and timeliness of conclusive grounds decisions, but the initial reasonable grounds decisions were made faster and there were positive perceptions of the multi-disciplinary panel decision-making process.

Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2017. 46p.

Source: Internet Resource: Research Report 94: Accessed November 9, 2017 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/653703/evaluation-national-referral-mechanism-pilot-horr94.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/653703/evaluation-national-referral-mechanism-pilot-horr94.pdf

Shelf Number: 148091

Keywords:
Human Trafficking
Modern Slavery
Victim Services

Author: Wilson, Dean

Title: The Station Study Report. Victoria Police and Victims of Crime: police perspectives and experiences from across Victoria

Summary: This report presents the findings gathered from interviews with over 200 operational Victoria Police members. For the first time this research details police attitudes and practices in relation to seeking to provide support to victims of crime while also meeting the other demands and obligations required by their role as serving Victoria Police officers. The findings and recommendations presented in this report are focused upon recognising much of the work and practice that occurs across Victoria on a daily basis that goes largely unrecognised by Victoria Police and the Victorian community more generally, as much of the good work done by police is rarely seen or acknowledged. The release of these findings is particularly timely, only a few years after the implementation of the Victims' Charter, at a point at which Victoria Police and the Victorian community can reflect upon the extent to which service delivery standards have translated into best practice. There is significant innovation and work being undertaken in community-specific ways across Victoria in relation to victim support. There are also a range of areas in which practices and processes that have recently been implemented require rethinking in light of the lived experience of police officers working on the ground to implement these practices and protocols. The recommendations proposed in this report reflect the findings of our research and are intended to contribute towards enhancing and enriching police-victim interaction and victim experiences of the criminal justice system more generally.

Details: Clayton, Vic. Faculty of Arts, Monash University, 2011. 124p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 27, 2017 at: http://artsonline.monash.edu.au/gender-and-family-violence/files/2016/04/The-Station-Study-Final-Report-2.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: Australia

URL: http://artsonline.monash.edu.au/gender-and-family-violence/files/2016/04/The-Station-Study-Final-Report-2.pdf

Shelf Number: 148502

Keywords:
Police-Citizen Interactions
Police-Community Relations
Policing
Victim Services
Victims of Crime

Author: Vasquez, Amanda L.

Title: Victim need report: Service providers' perspectives on the needs of crime victims and service gaps

Summary: This report presents research findings on victim needs and gaps in services as described by victim service providers serving victims of crime in Illinois. Victim service providers (N = 235) from all regions of the state responded to an online survey and a subset of providers (N = 28) also participated in focus groups. The findings in this report draw from these quantitative survey data and qualitative focus group data, as well as administrative data. Victim service providers identified various victim needs. These needs can be categorized in three ways: fundamental needs, presenting needs, or accompanying needs. Fundamental needs correspond to victims' basic needs, and include shelter, food, and utility services, as well as assistance with life skills, such as education, employment, or housing assistance. Victim services that address victims' presenting needs include mental health care and counseling, medical care, longer term housing and relocation assistance, legal assistance, and substance use disorder treatment. Lastly, accompanying needs, or the need for translation services, transportation assistance, child care, and case management, impact a victim's ability to access services to meet fundamental and presenting needs. Accompanying needs facilitate access to services that seek to satisfy either fundamental or presenting needs, and, thus, are necessary support services. Victim service providers also highlighted service gaps, or ways in which current service availability was unable to satisfy victim need. Services gaps were either programmatic, where need exceeded a provider's ability to serve victims, or geographic, a lack of services in a particular area. Programmatic gaps included a lack of housing options, both emergency shelter and longer term services, mental health and counseling services, legal assistance, substance abuse treatment, translation services, transportation assistance, and child care. Gaps in emergency shelter services were particularly pronounced for victims of sexual assault and human trafficking, and for older crime victims, whereas children, their parents, and juvenile justice involved youth often have limited mental health and counseling service options. Geographic gaps centered on providers' limited ability to offer expanded or specialized medical, mental health or legal services; this gap was more pronounced in rural areas. Other gaps, such as unmet needs for substance abuse treatment, translation services, transportation assistance, and child care were present throughout the state, regardless of region or county type (i.e., urban vs. rural). The findings in this report have important implications for funders, victim service providers, and other social service providers who have contact with victims. Victim service providers, funders, and others should continue to prioritize services that address fundamental and presenting victim needs as these address basic needs, as well as safety and security needs. Also, to facilitate access to services steps should be taken to meet victim accompanying needs. Funders and providers are encouraged to develop a comprehensive plan to address services gaps that is responsive to both current and evolving victim need, and to coordinate services across providers in a way that best matches victim need with provider specialization. Lastly, victim service delivery and funding can benefit from efforts to engage victims and the broader community, where victims are empowered to share their voice and community members can advocate for larger structural change alongside victims and their families, providers, and others.

Details: Chicago, IL: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2017. 43p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 29, 2017 at: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/assets/articles/ICJIA_Victim_service_provider_Needs.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: United States

URL: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/assets/articles/ICJIA_Victim_service_provider_Needs.pdf

Shelf Number: 148530

Keywords:
Victim Services
Victims of Crime

Author: Northern Ireland Criminal Justice Inspection

Title: Hate Crime: An Inspection of the Criminal Justice System's Response to Hate Crime in Northern Ireland

Summary: In Northern Ireland during 2016, there were over eight hate incidents reported to the police every single day. These equated to almost six (5.94) recorded hate crimes. When population is considered, this figure is higher than the equivalent rate in England and Wales (5.47) . Hate incidents are greatly underreported so the true rate of incidents perpetrated against people because they are perceived to be different in some way is much higher. Turning attitudes into behaviour, such as violence, based on skin colour, sexual identity, age, religion, nationality and other features used to label people is plainly wrong but not uncommon. This report looked into how hate crime in Northern Ireland was dealt with across the justice system. The statistics used to illustrate the report were those outlining hate crime reported during the 2015-16 financial year. Findings The prevalence and impacts of hate crime cannot be dealt with by the criminal justice system in isolation. Organisations within the system had worked together to align approaches and apply standard definitions in an effort to ensure a seamless service to victims. The Unite against Hate project and the Hate Crime Delivery Group (HCDG) had been instrumental in sharing practices across and beyond the criminal justice system itself. Organisations should ensure their continued support of these groups by committing staff at the appropriate level to attend group meetings. The Department of Justice (DoJ) approach to hate crime was contained within its Community Safety Strategy but there were no effective links to an overarching Northern Ireland Executive policy, such as 'Together: Building United Communities' (T:BUC) which would provide leadership at the highest level of government. The legislative approach to hate crime was not directly comparable across the United Kingdom (UK). A review of hate crime legislation in Northern Ireland would establish whether changes are required. England and Wales had statutory hate crimes of assault and damage, enhanced sentencing powers and relevant public order offences. In Scotland, there was a statutory obligation for hate crime cases to be opened and recorded as such in court. Most reports of hate crime forwarded by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) for prosecution decisions were in the 'aggravated by hostility' category with only a small number of the statutory public order hate crimes reported. Most criminal justice organisations had developed hate crime strategies, supported by internal governance arrangements. However, the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) and Youth Justice Agency (YJA) did not have hate crime specific strategies. Underreporting was acknowledged by the criminal justice organisations. Systems and process improvements by the police and prosecution service, outreach work and the support of hate crime advocates meant that knowledge among vulnerable communities of how and what to report had increased. However, not all potential victims engaged with support networks and victims spoken to by Inspectors identified many incidents which went unreported. This distorted the true picture of hate incidents and potentially impacted the effectiveness of police responses. Interpreter services were readily available and there was no suggestion that the standard of interpreters was an issue. However, investigation of hate crime required precise legal and technical language. No specific work had been undertaken with interpreter services to enhance skills specific to translating for hate crime, which added to the already high number of substantial barriers facing victims. The quality of hate crime files forwarded by the PSNI to the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland (PPS) had been recognised as an area for improvement but enhanced measures to tackle this had not been operating long enough to assess their effectiveness at the time of inspection. Court recording of instances of enhanced sentencing had improved. However, there remained a risk that in busy Magistrates' and Youth Courts, the recording of enhanced sentences would be missed. The number of perpetrators receiving prison sentences was low. Support for victims of hate crime, following court cases rested mainly with the voluntary and community sector. Expansion of the hate crime advocacy service to include supporting victims at this stage would provide a more holistic service which may help improve future reporting rates. The NIPS used a generalist approach, supported by its anti-bullying policy, to deal with incidents of hate crime. This made it difficult to determine the extent of hate crime being perpetrated within the prison environment. The Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) had established a programme, Accepting Differences, following a pilot scheme. Numbers undertaking the programme were low, but Inspectors regarded the development as a positive one, challenging offenders' stereotypical attitudes and behaviour. Victims' views on how offenders were dealt with were generally based on their wish for the offending behaviour to be stopped. Victims were focused on the prevention of further instances of hate crime and favoured restorative approaches, such as education on the benefits of cultural and other differences. Inspectors believe that this will only be achieved when a hate crime strategy, becomes an integral part of an overall Northern Ireland Executive social cohesion strategy, robustly led and monitored using outcome based accountability measures.

Details: Belfast: Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, 2017. 56p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 18, 2018 at: http://www.cjini.org/getattachment/a48b8a89-f32f-4b02-bd3c-8f77989630eb/picture.aspx

Year: 2017

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.cjini.org/getattachment/a48b8a89-f32f-4b02-bd3c-8f77989630eb/picture.aspx

Shelf Number: 148861

Keywords:
Bias
Crime Statistics
Hate Crimes
Victim Services
Victims of Crime

Author: Coy, Maddy

Title: 'Changing our Heads': Evaluation of the partnership between Shpresa Programme and Solace Women's Aid to develop a specialist service for Albanian Speaking Women experiencing violence in London

Summary: In 2012, Shpresa programme, an Albanian community organisation, developed a partnership with Solace Women's Aid (Solace), a specialist VAWG support service, to engage Albanian Speaking Women (ASW) in London around experiences of violence and abuse. There are three elements of support and intervention in the project: - workshops on domestic violence, delivered by an Albanian speaking worker, which are incorporated into Shpresa's women's support group sessions (the ARISE project); - individual casework, also delivered by an Albanian speaking worker based at Solace (the Empower project); and - workshops with children and young people about domestic violence. While some organisations provide specialist support for women from Eastern European communities who are experiencing violence (see Thiara, 2015), this project is the first to combine the expertise of an Albanian community organisation and a VAWG service provider. This meant a knowledge exchange between the two organisations, extending the skills and capacity of Shpresa staff and volunteers about domestic violence, and of Solace about the needs of Albanian speaking women (ASW), was core to the partnership. The project wasfunded by Trust for London and the Henry Smith Charity. In September 2013, the Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit (CWASU) at London Metropolitan University were commissioned by Trust for London to evaluate the project. The evaluation brief required a focus on what lessons can be learned from this model of provision - a small community organisation acting as service commissioner - to inform the development of sustainable services for women from newly arrived communities in London. This final report is based on two years of delivery of the project, from 1st October 2013 to 30th September 2015. As a small scale process evaluation, the children's workshops were not included. The report: - sets out the background to the partnership between Shpresa and Solace; - provides an overview of the project context by summarising what is known about Albanian communities in the UK and on Albanian-speaking women and violence; - outlines the evaluation methodology; - presents evidence of how the project met its objectives; and - offers reflections on this model of partnership for future commissioning. The title of the report - 'Changing our Heads' - refers to the way that workers spoke about the process of challenging attitudes and values, and also speaks to changes in practices that were necessary by each organisation in this new partnership.

Details: London: Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit London Metropolitan University,2016. 42p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 15, 2018 at: http://solacewomensaid.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/CWASU-evaluation-report-FINAL-VERSION-FOR-LAUNCH.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://solacewomensaid.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/CWASU-evaluation-report-FINAL-VERSION-FOR-LAUNCH.pdf

Shelf Number: 149154

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Family Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Victim Services
Violence Against Women, Girls

Author: End Rape on Campus Australia

Title: Connecting the dots: Understanding sexual assault in university communities

Summary: The following report is the result of End Rape on Campus Australia's extensive experience working with and advocating for student survivors of sexual assault. We believe that everyone has a right to an education free from sexual violence and that educational institutions have the responsibility of addressing sexual assault within their communities, both at the level of primary prevention, as well as through providing quality, trauma-informed services and pathways for reporting incidents of sexual assault. In this submission, we provide an overview of the problem of sexual assault at tertiary educational institutions in Australia, including the nature and extent of the issue, the obstacles a survivor may face when reporting and accessing support, and the historical context of universities' failure to respond to this issue. We have made a number of recommendations for change both at individual universities, and at the level of State and Federal Governments, to address the ongoing problem of sexual assault in university communities. The nature and extent of sexual assault within university communities At present, there is little reliable data on sexual assault prevalence rates at Australian universities, however national statistics show that young women in general are at a significantly greater risk of experiencing sexual assault than any other group of people. Recent media cases and data obtained through FOI investigations indicate that sexual assault and harassment is occurring at concerning rates at Australian universities and colleges. Attitudes which minimise sexual assault, shift blame onto victims or normalise non-consensual activity create a climate in which sexual assault is both more likely to occur, and less likely to be recognised and reported. We note that the perpetrators of sexual assault are overwhelmingly male, reflecting the gendered nature of sexual assault as a crime of power and control. In many instances, rape occurs off campus, in domestic settings such as share-houses, apartments, house parties, and so on. Although many universities restrict their attention to incidents which have occurred on campus, EROC Australia believes that this distinction is artificial. All instances of sexual assault experienced by a student have the potential to affect their ability to study and to participate in the university community regardless of where the assault took place. In this section, we also outline the role of witnesses and responders to acts of sexual assault, including friends of the victim, tutors, Residential Advisors and student representatives. There is an overarching lack of training and support for these supporters, creating a real risk of vicarious trauma. We provide several de-identified case studies from our work, illustrating common responses to sexual assault in university communities. The aftermath of rape: survivor needs in the wake of sexual assault Survivors often have a range of complex needs after experiencing sexual assault. In many cases, these needs are not met by the systems in place at universities for responding to requests for support. Part of the problem is the lack of a holistic approach to supporting survivors. Sexual assault can cause not only psychological and medical issues, but also financial stress, difficulty with academic tasks, the need for legal support, and housing issues, amongst others. In many cases, universities fail to make the connection between these needs and a student's experience of sexual assault. Even whereuniversities do endeavour to provide for some of these needs - for example, by referring students to oncampus counselling services - these services are often inaccessible and not specialised for responding to trauma. In particular, survivors have faced difficulties accessing the support they need with academic tasks, such as extensions or special considerations for assignments, time off from lectures or class, and changes to timetabling arrangements. Strict requirements for particular documentation, or automated systems that frequently reject applications, can cause significant anxiety for survivors. On-campus counselling services pose another problem. These services are often understaffed or underfunded, and many lack counselling staff with trauma specialist training, leading to some survivors receiving improper, and at times dangerous, treatment. Understanding the history and context of responses to sexual assault at Australian universities Sexual assault is not a new issue at Australian universities - student activists have been urging universities to address sexual violence for many decades. However, little progress has been made in improving policies, services and structures for reporting sexual violence. The overarching problem with universities' collective failure to address sexual violence is the conceptualisation of the problem as primarily a private concern or a woman's responsibility. Incidents of sexual assault are treated as rare, disconnected and random, rather than the inevitable product of a social context with deep-rooted and persistent gender inequality. This attitude leads to university campaigns that perpetuate various rape myths - for example, the misleading 'stranger danger' narrative leads to suggestions that better lighting on campus would reduce sexual assault. In many cases, universities seem to believe an adequate response to the prevalence of sexual assault is to publish 'safety tips' that urge women to modify their behaviour to avoid being sexually assaulted and perpetuate the idea that women hold responsibility for their own safety. Notably, such strategies fail to make perpetrators accountable for sexual assault. Universities also tend to conceptualise sexual assault as always, and only, a police matter. Many university websites urge survivors to report their experiences to police. Commonly, survivors are told that the university cannot take action unless the incident has been reported to police, or until a criminal conviction is secured. However, universities do in fact have disciplinary and misconduct procedures, which give university officials the power to investigate student misconduct, make findings, and deliver penalties. These procedures can provide important pathways of restitution for survivors, and can ideally deliver practical outcomes to support a survivor's welfare, such as removing the perpetrator from a class or from campus. Contrary to much university rhetoric, most university decision-making procedures are also supported by longstanding principles of administrative law, which acknowledge and regulate decision-making by nonjudicial bodies and provide protections for both survivors and alleged perpetrators. Barriers and challenges to reporting sexual assault within university communities There are many reasons that survivors may not choose to disclose their assault, whether informally, to friends and family, or formally, to professional support services, to the police or to their university. Barriers to informal reporting include emotional barriers, such as the fear of not being believed, as well as social, cultural, linguistic and structural barriers. There are also many obstacles to formally reporting instances of sexual assault - for example, inaccessible or poorly publicised reporting systems or a lack of trust in institutional procedures.

Details: s.l.: End Rape on Campus Australia, 2017. 69p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 5, 2018 at: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5762fc04f5e231826f09afae/t/58b3d08ddb29d6e7a2b8271d/1488179368580/Connecting+the+dots.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: Australia

URL: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5762fc04f5e231826f09afae/t/58b3d08ddb29d6e7a2b8271d/1488179368580/Connecting+the+dots.pdf

Shelf Number: 149314

Keywords:
Campus Crime
Campus Rape
Colleges and Universities
Rape
Sexual Assault
Sexual Violence
Victim Services
Victims of Crime

Author: Women's Aid

Title: Survival and Beyond: The Domestic Abuse Report 2017

Summary: Domestic abuse, by its very nature, is hidden behind closed doors. This makes the production of detailed information and the unpicking of the facts behind the headlines all the more important. The more we can understand about survivors' journeys and the vital specialist support they need, the better we can identify the gaps and what changes are needed to ensure that all women are able to escape abuse and rebuild their lives. Our Domestic Abuse Report 2017 uniquely draws upon five national data sources for the first time. Together they provide information about a range of domestic abuse services and their service users, including information from community-based services (for example, prevention work, drop-in services, advocacy services, counselling support) and from refuge services. Sustainable funding has long been a problem, but with 60% of respondents citing funding insecurity as their top challenge, we have further evidence that a sustainable long-term funding solution is vital. It must incorporate the national network of refuges we have built over the last 40 years, in order to save the lives and futures of those experiencing abuse. The report shows the full range of services women and children require, from prevention work to crisis. Right now, many services feel they have insufficient resources to offer much more than crisis support, and even then, many women are turned away because of a lack of capacity. We also know that the women who experience abuse are all unique, and we can only truly support them by attending to their individual needs. For example, about 78% of women in refuge on our Day to Count had health support needs, over half had sustained physical injury from the domestic abuse and over a third had mental health support needs - in many cases this will be combined with other complex needs. We found that there are more children than women in refuge, with 62% of women bringing children with them, all with individual needs of their own. Our limited services then face the challenges of supporting women into independence. Rehousing places a great deal of stress on survivors. This has a huge impact on children who are in need of a stable home environment, having already suffered trauma. All the while, we must remember that survivors are victims of crime - about two in five of those living in a refuge have had the abuse reported to the police. Support through the criminal justice system is vital if there is to be any recompense for their suffering and the perpetrator held responsible. This report gives us the most detailed picture of service provision to date, offering us essential insights to give hope to our sector, and the hundreds of thousands of women and children who suffer abuse at the hands of violent and controlling perpetrators.

Details: Bristol, UK: Women's Aid Federation of England, 2018. 74p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 27, 2018 at: https://1q7dqy2unor827bqjls0c4rn-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Survival-and-Beyond.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://1q7dqy2unor827bqjls0c4rn-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Survival-and-Beyond.pdf

Shelf Number: 149585

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Family Violence
Gender-Related Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Orr, Elizabeth

Title: Evidence to Action & Local Action as Evidence: Findings from the Building Safe Communities for Women and their Children Action Research Support Initiative.

Summary: Domestic and family violence and sexual assault perpetrated against women and their children is prevalent, serious, and preventable. In Australia, approximately one in four (2.2 million) women has experienced some form of violence by an intimate partner since the age of 15, compared to one in 13 men. Approximately one in six women in Australia has been subjected to physical or sexual violence by a current or former partner (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016). The social, health, and economic costs of violence against women and their children are huge. For women in Australia aged 18-44, intimate partner violence contributes more to their health burden than any other risk factor, including alcohol use, tobacco use, or high cholesterol (Webster, 2016). Preventing and stopping violence against women and their children is a national priority that requires whole-of-community action. The Australian government's Department of Social Services (DSS) provided one-off grants of up to $150,000 to community-based projects led by a range of organisations across Australia, as part of the Building Safe Communities for Women and their Children (BSCW) initiative. The BSCW grants program aimed to reduce violence against women and their children by supporting community-led projects that are responsive to the specific needs of the women, children, and families in those communities. The ANROWS Action Research Support Initiative supported the BSCW projects to reflect and document their learning and share them with ANROW to collate and synthesise the successes, challenges, gaps, and opportunities in working to build safe communities across Australia. This report provides an overview of the key findings from both the individual BSCW projects and the synthesised findings of the ANROWS Action Research Support Initiative. The intention of the report is to share findings in an accessible way that will encourage community-based practitioners and organisations to implement further local initiatives to address violence against women and their children.

Details: Sydney: ANROWS, 2018. 88p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 6, 2018 at: https://d2c0ikyv46o3b1.cloudfront.net/anrows.org.au/ANROWS%20Action%20Research%20Support%20Initiative%20Report.2.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: Australia

URL: https://d2c0ikyv46o3b1.cloudfront.net/anrows.org.au/ANROWS%20Action%20Research%20Support%20Initiative%20Report.2.pdf

Shelf Number: 149725

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Family Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Victim Services
Violence Against Women, Children
Violence Prevention

Author: Love, Hannah

Title: Comparing Narratives of Justice: How Survivors, Criminal Justice Stakeholders, and Service Providers Perceive Justice in Human Trafficking Cases

Summary: This brief draws from 100 interviews with criminal justice actors and victim service providers and 80 interviews with survivors of human trafficking to understand how respondents define justice in human trafficking cases. To date, little has been known about how police officers, prosecutors, and other system actors perceive their work on human trafficking cases and how their perceptions either fit with or diverge from those of survivors. Findings reveal that while criminal justice actors and survivors agree on how the criminal justice system can be improved, they differ in their understandings of justice, with system actors placing a much higher emphasis on prosecution and punitive approaches than survivors.

Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2018. 17p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 16, 2018 at: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/97346/comparing_narratives_of_justice_2.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: United States

URL: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/97346/comparing_narratives_of_justice_2.pdf

Shelf Number: 149810

Keywords:
Human Trafficking
Victim Services
Victims of Crime
Victims of Trafficking

Author: Chung, Donna

Title: Young Women from African Backgrounds and Sexual Violence

Summary: Service providers have recently reported increasing numbers of young African women accessing unplanned pregnancy and relationship services, with related concerns about domestic violence. This research explores how young women, aged 18 to 25 years, from African refugee and migrant backgrounds understand and experience sexual coercion and violence, and how service providers respond to their needs. The study drew on an online survey of service providers, individual and group interviews with young women from African backgrounds, and focus groups with service providers. The researchers faced challenges due to the sensitive nature of the topic of sexual violence and the silence that surrounds it, but achieved interviews and focus groups involved 21 young women. They found no agreement among the young women about what constitutes sexual violence, which was mostly defined in terms of stranger rape. Concerns about community judgement and exclusion, arising from stigma associated with sexual violence and the myths, beliefs and attitudes surrounding it created barriers for young women from African backgrounds speaking about men's sexualised behaviour. These barriers were compounded by other barriers such as language, transport, caring responsibilities, work/study commitments and other settlement issues. Service providers' input to the study highlighted the need for future service efforts being directed towards education and awareness raising, using culturally appropriate methods and sites. There is a need for increased cultural sensitivity and responsiveness of organisational and worker practices to improve their capability of working with young people from African backgrounds, together with specialist sexual violence responses for younger women in their early teens.

Details: Canberra: Criminology Research Advisory Council. 2018. 47p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 30, 2018 at: http://crg.aic.gov.au/reports/1718/07-1213-FinalReport.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: Australia

URL: http://crg.aic.gov.au/reports/1718/07-1213-FinalReport.pdf

Shelf Number: 149969

Keywords:
African Women
Domestic Violence
Gender-Based Violence
Migrants
Refugees
Sexual Coercion
Sexual Violence
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Love, Hannah

Title: Justice in Their Own Words Perceptions and Experiences of (In)Justice among Human Trafficking Survivors

Summary: Survivors of interpersonal violence face many challenges when interacting with the criminal justice system, including the fear of being disbelieved, concerns about safety and retaliation, and a distrust in the system's ability to adequately respond to their cases. Although past studies have documented the challenges survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence face when interacting with the justice system, few have focused on survivors of human trafficking-a population that often experiences misconceptions regarding their victimization, stigma due to perceived involvement with illegal behavior, xenophobia, and criminalization. Without survivors' perspectives, little is known about how criminal justice actors can address these challenges and improve their interactions with human trafficking survivors. The Bending Towards Justice: Perceptions of Justice among Human Trafficking Survivors study is the first to ask survivors of human trafficking how they perceive their interactions with the justice system and how they define justice in their own terms. Drawing from qualitative interviews with 80 survivors of sex and labor trafficking and 100 human trafficking stakeholders in eight diverse metropolitan locations across the country, this brief documents survivors' difficulties achieving justice through traditional criminal justice means and provides their recommendations for how justice system responses to trafficking can be improved. It reveals that most survivors do not endorse traditional forms of retributive justice, such as incarceration, and instead prefer preventative remedies outside the formal criminal justice system.

Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2018. 18p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2018 at: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/97351/justice_in_their_own_words_0.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: United States

URL: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/97351/justice_in_their_own_words_0.pdf

Shelf Number: 149977

Keywords:
Human Trafficking
Victim Services
Victims of Crime
Victims of Trafficking

Author: Yu, Lilly

Title: Alternative Forms of Justice for Human Trafficking Survivors: Considering Procedural, Restorative, and Transitional Justice

Summary: Alternative forms of justice show promise for human trafficking survivors, who often do not find resolution (such as conviction and incarceration for their traffickers) through the traditional criminal justice system. The Bending Towards Justice: Perceptions of Justice among Human Trafficking Survivors study is the first to ask survivors of human trafficking whether nonpunitive forms of justice would complement or compensate existing remedies. Drawing from qualitative interviews with 80 survivors of sex and labor trafficking, this brief documents survivors' experiences with and perceptions of alternative practices, including procedural, restorative, and transitional justice. While all survivors have extensive experience with procedural justice practices, only some survivors have experienced restorative and transitional justice practices. Those who had not experienced restorative and transitional justice found them desirable and promising. Service provider and criminal justice stakeholders may help survivors achieve justice for their victimization experiences by incorporating these alternative forms of justice in their practices. A key finding from the Bending Towards Justice study is human trafficking survivors' difficulty in achieving justice through the traditional criminal justice process. Various factors, including challenges survivors face participating in criminal cases against their traffickers and the inability of retributive justice outcomes, primarily the conviction and incarceration of a trafficker, impede justice for all survivors (Love et al. 2018b). As a result, practitioners, policymakers, and survivor advocates are rethinking how survivors of human trafficking can achieve justice for their experiences. Several alternative forms of justice have been shown to be viable additions or alternatives to traditional criminal justice. Three models show promise when applied to human trafficking cases: (1) procedural justice, (2) restorative justice, and (3) transitional justice. - Procedural justice models argue that the process by which justice is achieved is more important than the outcome of a case. More specifically, theories of procedural justice maintain that survivors' perceptions of justice are influenced by opportunities to be involved in the decisions made in service provision and criminal justice processes and the opportunities to participate in both by having a voice and expressing their side of the story (Thibaut and Walker 1975; Tyler 1988, 1990). An overarching element of procedural justice, therefore, is the respectful treatment of survivors as they pursue services for themselves and/or criminal justice outcomes for their traffickers. - Restorative justice models argue that criminal justice outcomes, including convictions and imprisonment, are not always the best response to crimes against a person (Bolivar 2013; Mika et al. 2004). In the case of human trafficking, nonpunitive, survivor-defined responses, including an acknowledgment of wrongdoing or an apology from traffickers, survivor confrontation of their traffickers, and the payment of reparations might significantly affect perceptions of justice. - Transitional justice models argue that larger community efforts to respond to crimes by acknowledging the harms that have occurred and preventing them from occurring again are most likely to promote peace, provide a sense of justice, and result in longer-term impacts (David and Yuk-Ping 2005; Teitel 2003; van Zyl 1999; Waldorf 2006). Transitional justice for human trafficking survivors primarily focuses on reforms to institutions and policies and educational and memorial initiatives, such as human trafficking awareness campaigns and speaking with policymakers regarding human trafficking-related legislation. While research on the effects of alternative forms of justice has largely been limited to people who are accused of crimes, these models could improve survivor perceptions of justice and reform traditional responses to human trafficking. In response, this brief explores how procedural, restorative, and transitional justice can lead to justice for survivors of human trafficking and complement or compensate for traditional justice system remedies.

Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2018. 16p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2018 at: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/97341/alternative_forms_of_justice_for_human_trafficking_survivors_0.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: United States

URL: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/97341/alternative_forms_of_justice_for_human_trafficking_survivors_0.pdf

Shelf Number: 149978

Keywords:
Human Trafficking
Procedural Justice
Restorative Justice
Transitional Justice
Victim Services
Victims of Crime
Victims of Trafficking

Author: McCoy, Evelyn

Title: Delivering Justice for Human Trafficking Survivors: Implications for Practice

Summary: System actors, including criminal justice stakeholders and social and legal services providers, face challenges in understanding, identifying, and responding to human trafficking cases and survivors' needs. At the same time, survivors of human trafficking often experience misconceptions regarding their victimization, stigma due to perceived involvement with illegal behavior, xenophobia, and criminalization. To date, few studies have documented these challenges for both survivors and system actors, as well as how survivors and system actors conceptualize "justice." This brief is intended for practitioners, including social and legal service providers, law enforcement officials and leadership, prosecutors, judges, and advocates to learn about the study's major findings and how they can inform their daily work with survivors. In addition to findings, this brief includes recommendations made by survivors and stakeholders to improve survivors' experience with service provision and the criminal justice system at several decision points, including arrest, investigation, and prosecution.

Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2018. 21p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 10, 2018 at: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/97356/delivering_justice_for_human_trafficking_survivors.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: United States

URL: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/97356/delivering_justice_for_human_trafficking_survivors.pdf

Shelf Number: 150142

Keywords:
Human Trafficking
Victim Services
Victims of Trafficking

Author: Hussemann, Jeanette

Title: Bending Towards Justice: Perceptions of Justice among Human Trafficking Survivors

Summary: This study addresses gaps in knowledge about how survivors and stakeholders perceive justice in cases of human trafficking and the potential of alternative models of justice, including procedural, restorative, and transitional justice, to enhance survivors' experiences and the outcomes of their trafficking cases. Most survivors did not endorse traditional forms of retributive justice for their traffickers, such as incarceration, and instead felt justice could be best achieved through prevention. Survivors' perceptions of justice for themselves included the ability to move on from the trafficking experience and find autonomy and empowerment through achieving self-defined goals. Survivors and stakeholders both expressed concern with the justice system's ability to help survivors achieve their desired outcomes; however, survivors and social service providers did find promise in alternative forms of justice to achieve individualized goals. This study relies on semistructured interview data collected with 80 survivors and 100 social service and criminal justice stakeholders across eight diverse sites in the United States. Findings offer the most comprehensive understanding of survivor experiences with social service providers and criminal justice stakeholders and criminal justice processes to date.

Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2018. 46p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 31, 2018 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/251631.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: United States

URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/251631.pdf

Shelf Number: 150410

Keywords:
Human Trafficking
Victim Services
Victims of Trafficking

Author: Allen, Mary

Title: Victims of police-reported violent crime in Canada: National, provincial and territorial fact sheets, 2016

Summary: Across Canada, there are a variety of government-funded agencies whose mandate is to provide assistance to victims of crime. Canada's provinces and territories are individually responsible for the provision of victim services for their respective jurisdictions. The federal, provincial and territorial governments have all endorsed a common set of objectives, which guide the development of policies, programs and legislation related to victims of crime in Canada. These objectives are articulated in the Canadian Statement of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime (2003). This statement lays out a number of principles to promote the fair treatment of victims within the justice system. In 2015, many of these principles were incorporated into the federal Canadian Victims Bill of Rights (CVBR), which sets out the rights of victims to information, to protection, to participation, and to seek restitution. In addition, provinces and territories provide various other forms of assistance to victims such as referrals to counselling and housing assistance, and some offer compensation programs. All provinces have their own specific victims of crime legislation. In each province and territory, different service delivery models are employed by victim service providers in order to meet the differing needs of victims within their jurisdiction. There is a wide variety of victim services offered to crime victims in order to address their specific needs. Services that are offered to victims of crime include counselling and crisis services, protection services, as well as court preparation and accompaniment and other assistance with the criminal justice system, including help with the preparation and filing of Victim Impact Statements. These services are provided by a variety of organizations, including police, government, and community-based organizations. Although their data are not collected as part of the survey, the federal government provides a number of services to victims. Through the Federal Victims Strategy, under the lead of the Policy Centre for Victim Issues, Justice Canada provides funding to provincial and territorial victim services as well as victims attending parole board hearings and Canadians victimized abroad. Moreover, Public Safety's National Office for Victims of Crime, Correctional Services Canada and the Parole Board of Canada, provide services to victims of federal offenders. The Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime also assists victims in their interaction with federal departments and agencies. In an effort to identify data opportunities that could be used to measure changes in the delivery of services and access to victim services as a result of the implementation of the CVBR, the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics (CCJS) at Statistics Canada has been working with representatives of the provincial and territorial victims services directorates. As part of this work, CCJS has developed the new Canadian Victim Services Indicators (CVSI) survey, a pilot survey of all provincial and territorial victim services directorates. The survey collects aggregate statistics from provincial and territorial victim services directorates to provide information on the characteristics of victims accessing services, the types of services utilized, and case load demands in order to better develop programs and services for victims of crime. This Juristat presents fact sheets for each province and territory. These fact sheets focus on statistics from the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey (UCR) on the number of victims of violent crime according to police-reported data, the types of crime experienced, as well as victim characteristics for each province and territory. Table A, presented here, provides the total number of victims of violent crime and traffic violations causing death or bodily harm (by age and sex) reported by police in each of the provinces and territories. Each fact sheet of the report then provides more in-depth highlights of the characteristics of these victims and the offences against them. In addition, the fact sheets present selected indicators on the provision of victim services in each jurisdiction. This information was collected directly from provincial and territorial victim services directorates through the new CVSI survey.

Details: Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2018. 62p.

Source: Internet Resource: Juristat: Accessed July 11, 2018 at: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/pub/85-002-x/2018001/article/54960-eng.pdf?st=rK0KzkBN

Year: 2018

Country: Canada

URL: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/pub/85-002-x/2018001/article/54960-eng.pdf?st=rK0KzkBN

Shelf Number: 150816

Keywords:
Crime Statistics
Victim Services
Victims of Crime
Violent Crime

Author: Breckenridge, Jan

Title: National mapping and meta-evaluation outlining key features of effective "safe at home" programs that enhance safety and prevent homelessness for women and their children who have experienced domestic and family violence: State of knowledge pape

Summary: History and development of "safe at home" programs - Domestic violence refuges - Domestic violence was not recognised in policy or as a professional practice issue in Australia until the second wave of feminism in the 1970s (Breckenridge & Laing, 1999). In 1972, as part of an orchestrated social action campaign, feminist activists squatted in empty properties and established the first women's refuge in Glebe, New South Wales. Activist engagement with government directly led to the Commonwealth Labor Government providing initial funding for women's refuges (Breckenridge, 1992). Activist initiatives such as this subsequently proliferated in all Australian States and Territories. These activities were fuelled by dual intentions: highlighting the impacts of domestic violence to create enough political pressure to end it; and providing women with an option to leave a violent partner by providing refuge accommodation in the short term (McFerran, 2007, p. 29). This initial focus on securing and expanding the availability of refuge accommodation had the unintended consequence of the removal of women and children from the family home becoming "normalised" and accepted as the primary response to domestic violence. In the face of no other alternatives, this was regarded for some time as the most effective means to ensure women's safety (Edwards, 2004; Jones et al., 2010; Spinney & Blandy, 2011). The refuge model is a suitable option for some women escaping violence when the perpetrator and/or his supporters are not incarcerated and are highly likely to engage in further and escalating violence. Refuges provide other benefits - for example, the communal living model promotes self-esteem and empowerment via shared experience and mutual support (Murray, 2008, p. 69). However, another contributing factor to the impetus for change was the growing recognition by health and welfare professionals more generally that leaving the family home frequently results in temporary or long-term homelessness, as well as economic and social disadvantage and ongoing disruption to victims' lives (Desmond, 2011). Post separation difficulties such as these can result in some women returning to their violent partner in order to escape homelessness, survive financially and better provide for their children (Braaf & Barrett Meyering, 2011; Desmond, 2011). Beginnings of "safe at home" For over 20 years, high security refuges remained the primary response until the mid to late 1990s when advocacy groups and researchers proposed the option that women and children remain safely in their home while the perpetrator is removed as a means of redressing the socially unjust orthodoxy of women and children fleeing from men's violence (Chung et al., 2000; McFerran, 2007). These later became known as "safe at home" approaches. It was never the intention that "safe at home" become a universal response or to replace existing specialist DV emergency accommodation. In fact, initially there was much anxiety about this being an unrealistic option based on professional concern about whether the safety of women and children could be sustained (Edwards, 2004b). Nevertheless, these recommendations were made at a time when policy and practice developments were increasingly focused on integrated interagency responses, law reform and specialist courts with new models emerging that were underpinned by coordinated responses involving police, courts and services for victims and perpetrators - one of the early examples being the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Family Violence Intervention Program (Cussen & Lyneham, 2012). Original proposals for women and children remaining in the home were based on the assumption that they were not at a high risk of danger and that there would be police and court responses in place that excluded the perpetrator from the home and responded effectively to any subsequent breaches of protection orders. In this respect, calls for "safe at home" options were aspirational and underpinned by some form of integrated interagency model or partnerships being in place at the sector and local level. From the early 2000s, women's specialist domestic violence accommodation services commenced trials of "safe at home" programs including the Eastern Domestic Violence Outreach Service in Melbourne, the Bega Program, and the South Eastern Sydney and Mt Druitt pilots (Edwards, 2011). The evaluations of these pilot programs indicated that there was the potential for such an approach and demonstrated that it was viable for a select group of women. However, it was also evident that there needed to be consistent court procedures so that perpetrators would be excluded from the home as expected and Apprehended Violence Orders would be properly policed and perpetrators arrested if they breached them (Edwards, 2004; Edwards, 2011). Edwards' (2011) research also highlighted the imperative of ongoing risk assessment and comprehensive responses to perpetrators - the latter responses being offered by organisations other than safe at home programs.

Details: Sydney: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety Limited (ANROWS), 2015. 76p.

Source: Internet Resource: Landscapes: State of Knowledge, Issue 05: Accessed August 6, 2018 at: https://dh2wpaq0gtxwe.cloudfront.net/s3fs-public/final%205_3.1%20Landscapes%20SafeAtHome%2029%207%202015.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: Australia

URL: https://dh2wpaq0gtxwe.cloudfront.net/s3fs-public/final%205_3.1%20Landscapes%20SafeAtHome%2029%207%202015.pdf

Shelf Number: 151029

Keywords:
Abused Women
Domestic Violence
Family Violence
Victim Services
Victims of Violence
Violence Against Women

Author: Day, Andrew

Title: The forgotten victims: Prisoner experience of victimisation and engagement with the criminal justice system

Summary: Many women in prison have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV). As this form of violence is often intergenerational and entrenched, women in prison are widely considered to be at particular risk of ongoing victimisation following release from custody. And yet, their support needs often go unrecognised, and it is likely that a range of barriers exists that prevent ex-prisoners from accessing services. This project, jointly funded by ANROWS and Sparke Helmore Lawyers was conducted in partnership between James Cook University and the South Australian Department for Correctional Services. Led by Professor Andrew Day, this research develops an understanding of the factors that influence help-seeking by women in prison who may have concerns about their personal safety post-release and how this might inform service responses. From this research, a three stage model of help-seeking and change for women in prison was developed. The model suggests that any individual who experiences IPV must: recognise and define the situation as abusive and intolerable (Stage 1); decide to disclose the abuse and seek help (Stage 2); and identify a source of support and where to seek help (Stage 3). At the same time, the ability to seek help is influenced by a broad range of individual, interpersonal and socio-cultural factors including: the woman's own history; the personal networks in which she interacts, and the history of these networks; connections between networks or systems; formal and informal social structures that influence the woman indirectly; and overarching institutional systems at the cultural or subcultural level (social/cultural norms and prejudices). For policy-makers, practitioners and service providers, the research identifies: women in prison are a particularly vulnerable group who are likely to be at a high risk of ongoing victimisation; significant barriers exist that prevent women in prison from accessing IPV support services while in prison and post-release; current service models are unresponsive to the specific needs of women in prison and post-release; a specialised approach for women in prison is needed based on their particular social and individual circumstances; the development of culturally specific support services are required for women in prison who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander; and women with lived experience of incarceration should be part of the service framework in the community sector at all levels of program governance, design and delivery.

Details: Sydney: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWs), 2018. 112p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 23, 2018 at: http://apo.org.au/system/files/188151/apo-nid188151-993026.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: Australia

URL: http://apo.org.au/system/files/188151/apo-nid188151-993026.pdf

Shelf Number: 151240

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Prisoners
Rehabilitation
Repeat Victimization
Victim Services
Victims of Crime
Violence Against Women

Author: Simich, Laura

Title: Questioning Bias: Validating A Bias Crime Victim Assessment Tool In California And New Jersey, Summary Overview

Summary: Hate crime victimization is significantly under-reported both by victims and by law enforcement agencies in the United States (Berk et al., 2003; Herek et al., 1999, Levin & McDevitt, 1993; 2002; McPhail, 2002; Perry, 2001; Perry, 2002; Shively, 2005, Shively et al., 2014; Shively & Mulford, 2007). In the absence of better ways to support victims and to identify and respond to hate crime victimization, hate crimes may go unrecognized and unpunished, particularly among certain at-risk groups. The purpose of this two-year study (2016-2017) was to investigate experiences of hate incidents, crimes and factors affecting underreporting among youth and adults in LGBT, Hispanic, Black, Muslim communities in New Jersey and Los Angeles. Based on the research findings, the Vera Institute of Justice (Vera) has developed an assessment tool to improve the identification of hate crime victimization, the Bias Crime Assessment Tool (BCAT), which aims to better reflect victims' experiences, increase confidence in the reporting process, increase the ability of these groups to identify hate crime victimization and help to record more accurate data. Accompanied by Guidelines for users, the BCAT is intended for law enforcement, schools and community groups who wish to increase the likelihood that victims will feel encouraged to report, and to help authorities respond to hate incidents and crimes in a meaningful way. This summary uses the terms bias crime and hate crime interchangeably.

Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2018. 29p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 26, 2018 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/252010.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: United States

URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/252010.pdf

Shelf Number: 151694

Keywords:
Bias-Motivated Crimes
Hate Crimes
Victim Services
Victims of Crime

Author: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime

Title: Promising Victim-Related Practices in Probation and Parole - A Compendium of Promising Practices

Summary: Annually, about 2 million people are injured as a result of violent crime (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1993). In 1992, 23 percent of households in the United States were victimized by a crime of violence or theft (Rand, 1993). In 1992, crime victims lost 17.6 billion in direct costs including 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, 1994). While these statistics are alarming, mere numbers alone cannot fully capture the devastating effects of crime and violence on its victims. Crime is intrusive. It creates a pervasive fear and mistrust. It holds people captive in their homes and negatively affects their overall quality of life - physically, psychologically, and economically. Then, to compound the trauma many victims experience, they often are further victimized by a criminal justice system that continues to be ill equipped to meet or is indifferent to their needs. Significant strides have been made over the last two decades in addressing victims' rights and needs; however, the quest to instill victim rights and services as commonplace and routine practices - in all components of the criminal justice system in all jurisdictions - is a goal that has not yet been realized. The challenge is daunting. Yet, there is hope. More and more community corrections agencies are stepping up to the plate and are responding to crime victims in their communities and across the nation by implementing promising victim-related practices within their jurisdictions. Many of these ground breaking agencies and their victim-related practices will be highlighted, in varying degrees, throughout this compendium. Appendix I lists agency contact and resource lists according to chapter topics. The importance of establishing a continuum of victims' services will be discussed in this chapter, and the role of probation and parole in serving crime victims will be briefly examined. Specifically, this chapter informs the reader about the following: - Differences in the way offenders and victims are treated in the criminal justice system. - Ten core elements that should form the foundation of a comprehensive corrections-based victim services program. - The primary purpose of this document.

Details: Washington, DC: OVC, 2009. v.p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 28, 2018 at: https://www.ovc.gov/publications/infores/probparole/welcome.html

Year: 1999

Country: United States

URL: https://www.ovc.gov/publications/infores/probparole/welcome.html

Shelf Number: 151732

Keywords:
Parolees
Probationers
Victim Services
Victims of Crime

Author: U.S. Department of Justice. Office of the Inspector General. Audit Division

Title: Audit of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, Office of Justice Programs, and Office on Violence Against Women Grants Awarded to the Blackfeet Tribe, Browning, Montana

Summary: Objectives -- The Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded the Blackfeet Tribe seven grants totaling $4,364,219. The objectives of this audit were to: (1) evaluate the grantee's design and implementation of its crime victim assistance programs; (2) determine whether costs claimed under the grants were allowable, supported, and in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines, and terms and conditions of the grants; and (3) to determine whether the grantee demonstrated adequate progress towards achieving the program goals and objectives. -- Results in Brief We concluded that the Blackfeet Tribe did not adequately manage DOJ grant awards. We found significant non-compliance and deficiencies in most of the areas we reviewed, including the failure to demonstrate achieving the grants' stated goals and objectives for six of the seven awards. We also highlight potential areas of improvement for the Blackfeet Tribe's Domestic Violence (DV) Program's victim assistance program. Further, the Blackfeet Tribe: (1) did not document all performance measures; (2) did not comply with all special conditions; (3) charged unallowable personnel and overtime costs, travel, equipment, supplies, contract, and other direct costs; (4) did not adequately document personnel costs, travel, equipment, supply, contract, and other direct cost transactions; and (5) overdrew grant funds on one award. As a result of our review, we identified nearly $1.9 million in dollar-related findings. Recommendations Our report contains 10 recommendations applicable to all 3 granting agencies, 12 specifically to the COPS Office, 20 to OJP, and 14 to OVW. We requested responses to our draft audit report from the Blackfeet Tribe, COPS Office, OJP, and OVW, which can be found in Appendices 3 through 6, respectively. Our analysis of those responses is included in Appendix 7.

Details: Washington, DC: OIG, 2018. 126p.

Source: Internet Resource: Audit Division GR-60-18-008 : Accessed October 10, 2018 at: https://oig.justice.gov/reports/2018/g6018008.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: United States

URL: https://oig.justice.gov/reports/2018/g6018008.pdf

Shelf Number: 152889

Keywords:
Native Americans
Victim Services
victims Assistance
Victims of Crime

Author: Sharrock, Sarah

Title: The experiences of victims of hate crime: final report

Summary: The research looks at the experiences of victims of hate crime; their decision-making, motivations for and barriers to reporting these crimes; and their experiences with the police, criminal justice system and support services. Key findings Victims' understanding of the types of incident that could be categorised as hate crime varied. It was not clear to some whether incidents needed to have a physical element to constitute hate crime, and confusion was particularly evident when considering incidents that took place online. Motivations for reporting hate crimes included individual reasons such as finding relief or wanting the perpetrator to be held to account, as well as broader considerations, such as the prevention of repeat offending and contributing to accurate recording of hate crime. Reasons for not reporting included feeling that the incident was not sufficiently serious, that there was too little supporting evidence for further steps to be taken, or reluctance due to previous poor experiences with the police. Practical barriers included shame and blame, inaccessible reporting facilities and the amount of time that reporting would require. Responses to participants who had reported hate crimes or incidents were varied. Examples of good practice included being regularly updated and having expectations clearly set out. However, examples of negative experiences were also described by participants and included an inappropriate police response (e.g. lack of empathy or specific knowledge about protected characteristics), lack of updates and difficulty contacting the police. Police and community participants had different experiences of reporting, with police participants reporting more uniform and positive experiences than their community peers. Participants discussed emotional and practical support received from informal sources such as friends, family and colleagues, as well as from formal sources such as third party support organisations and community groups. Formal support was accessed in three ways: through independent contact, signposting and referrals. Barriers to accessing support included having limited awareness of support provision and, perceptions that relevant support organisations were either not available or were inaccessible to participants.

Details: London: Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), 2018. 50p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 26, 2018 at: http://natcen.ac.uk/media/1622569/the-experiences-of-victims-of-hate-crime.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://natcen.ac.uk/media/1622569/the-experiences-of-victims-of-hate-crime.pdf

Shelf Number: 153535

Keywords:
Bias-Motivated Crimes
Hate Crime
Victim Services
Victims of Crime

Author: Miller, Ted R.

Title: The Cost and Consequences of Sexual Violence in California

Summary: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report is intended to examine the overall impact and consequences of sexual violence on California�s economy, local communities, and the health and general well-being of its population. It provides the first systematic estimate of the cost of sexual violence in California, using well established economic methodologies and based on available data on the occurrence of sexual violence in 2011-2013. Based on these analyses, the conservative estimate is that the tangible costs of sexual violence in California, including medical and mental health care, prevention, investigation, sanctioning, treatment, and victim services, totaled over $9 billion in 2012. When intangible costs, such as lost quality of life and lost work productivity, are included, the total costs increase to $140 billion. This translates to an average of $3,700 for each resident of California per year. At least $2.9 billion, or two percent of total costs, come from tangible local and state government spending and federal funding allocated to California. Importantly, almost $117 billion of the estimated costs come from the work and quality of life losses experienced by victims and their families. Research has shown that programs that address the root causes of sexual violence, by modifying risk factors and/or enhancing protective factors, can prevent sexual violence perpetration (DeGue et al., 2014). Prevention programs would lead to substantial cost savings: every prevented rape of an adult could save up to $163,800, and every prevented rape or sexual assault of a child could save up to $227,700. Preventing future incidents of sexual violence, while maintaining and improving services, would reduce costs to victims, governments and society.

Details: Sacramento, California: California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, 2018. 52p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 16, 2019 at: http://www.calcasa.org/svcostreport/

Year: 2018

Country: United States

URL: http://www.calcasa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/CALCASA_CCofSV_FINAL_2018.pdf

Shelf Number: 154172

Keywords:
California
Costs
Medical Care
Mental Health
Sexual Assault
Sexual Violence
Treatment
Victim Services

Author: Kezelman, Cathy

Title: The Cost of Unresolved Childhood Trauma and Abuse in Adults in Australia

Summary: Executive Summary Childhood trauma including abuse affects an estimated five million Australian adults. It is a substantial public health issue with significant individual and community health, welfare and economic repercussions. Unresolved childhood trauma has short-term and life-long impacts which substantially erode both national productivity and national well-being. It needs to be seen as a mainstream public health policy issue and responded to accordingly. Pegasus Economics estimates that if the impacts of child abuse (sexual, emotional and physical) on an estimated 3.7 million adults are adequately addressed through active timely and comprehensive intervention, the combined budget position of Federal, State and Territory Governments could be improved by a minimum of $6.8 billion annually. In the population of adult survivors of childhood trauma more broadly i.e. a figure of 5 million adults, this estimate rises to $9.1 billion. These figures represent a combined effect of higher Government expenditure and foregone tax revenue. If adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse experienced the same life outcomes as nontraumatised adults, the collective budget deficits of Australian governments would be improved, at a minimum, by an amount roughly equivalent to the entire Government outlay on tertiary education. These estimates, based on a conservative set of assumptions, indicate extraordinary cost savings. On different, but still plausible assumptions, the annual budgetary cost of unresolved childhood trauma could be as high as $24 billion. While child abuse includes sexual, physical and emotional abuse, childhood trauma is a broader more comprehensive category. For each, the common element is the powerlessness of the child, due to age and dependency, to prevent or minimise it. Early life trauma and abuse affect the developing brain and have many possible impacts on daily adult life. These include the coping strategies children adopt to minimise overwhelm. Such strategies, highly creative and potentially effective in the short-term, may still be used in adult life. Perpetuated when the underlying trauma is not resolved, these coping strategies are associated with health risks in adulthood. Reducing costs of childhood trauma -- Addressing child sexual, emotional and physical abuse alone could lead to a potential minimum gain of $6.8 billion for the combined Federal, State and Territory Government budgets. The minimum gain from addressing the problem of childhood trauma more generally is $9.1 billion. Active timely and comprehensive intervention, with appropriate support, resources, services and treatment enables adult survivors to participate more fully and productively in the Australian community. Governments are currently exploring a range of revenue measures and expenditure cuts to restore the budget position. As Australia's population ages the long-term prognosis for the budget is for continuing strain; the main driver of deteriorating finances is forecast health expenditures. The Commonwealth Government's most recent inter-generational report (Swan, 2012) showed the major future stress on government expenditures to be in health outlays. As a percentage of GDP, health expenditure is forecast to rise from 3.9% in this current year to 7.1% in 2049-50 (an almost doubling in proportional expenditure). Progress in reducing the impact of childhood trauma and abuse in adults can make a positive contribution not only to the health budget challenges that lie ahead but also to those related to the welfare and criminal justice systems and the lower taxation revenue associated with the impact. Active timely comprehensive intervention will help address childhood trauma and abuse in adults Active investment in specialist services Specialist services are needed to spearhead policy and practice responses to adult childhood trauma and abuse survivors. Active investment to support a coordinated comprehensive model of care, including continued and increased access to effective help lines and online services, is needed. Timely active comprehensive intervention including appropriate support, counselling, resources and services promotes recovery. When survivors comprehensively overcome their trauma they and their children are freed to live productive, healthy and constructive lives. A key by-product of addressing the impacts of childhood trauma in adults is a financial benefit to Federal, State and Territory Government budgets. People affected by unresolved childhood trauma incur significant costs on taxpayers. This occurs through higher Government expenditure on health spending, welfare support and criminal justice costs, as well as via lower taxation revenue. More and better trained treating practitioners - counsellors/therapists Unfortunately our public health system has evolved in a way which means that adult mental health services focus on addressing immediate health issues (such as depression and alcoholism) rather than identifying and addressing underlying causes (such as prior childhood trauma and abuse). A convenient and failsafe pathway to treatment - No wrong door Frontline practitioners: General Practitioners and nurse practitioners will inevitably see people who have been impacted by childhood trauma including abuse, on a daily basis. These contacts provide an opportunity to facilitate a process whereby the person who presents can start receiving the right support, either directly or through targeted referral including specialist counselling, ideally from an accredited practitioner. Training is needed to enable primary care practitioners to identify trauma survivors and to respond appropriately. System, service and institutional improvements - Trauma-informed practice Benefits can also be achieved by raising awareness around the possibility of unresolved trauma in people who seek diverse services across health and human service systems, agencies, organisations and institutions. Adults who experience the ongoing impacts of unresolved childhood trauma will necessarily need to access various services. Broad-based implementation of trauma-informed practice and responses will help minimise the impact of trauma and the risk of re-traumatisation of people who have experienced childhood trauma including abuse.

Details: Milson's Point, New South Wales, Australia: Blue Knot Foundation, 2015. 71p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 16, 2019 at: https://www.blueknot.org.au/Portals/2/Economic%20Report/The%20cost%20of%20unresolved%20trauma_budget%20report%20fnl.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: Australia

URL: https://www.blueknot.org.au/Portals/2/Economic%20Report/The%20cost%20of%20unresolved%20trauma_budget%20report%20fnl.pdf

Shelf Number: 154214

Keywords:
Abuse
Adult Survivors
Child Abuse
Childhood Trauma
Counselling
Emotional Abuse
Physical Abuse
Public Health
Sexual Abuse
Survivors
Trauma
Victim Assistance
Victim Services

Author: Cody, Claire

Title: Connecting the Dots: Supporting the Recovery and Reintegration of Children Affected by Sexual Exploitation

Summary: Over the last 25 years child sexual exploitation (CSE) has become a high priority issue for the international community. Multiple commitments, congresses and the introduction of conventions and protocols have attempted to prevent CSE, prosecute perpetrators and protect victims. Despite these efforts, the ever-changing landscape of exploitation and abuse persists and children continue struggling to access appropriate support and services in line with their rights. Through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the international community again acknowledged the widespread nature of CSE and set the ambitious target to 'End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children' by 2030. Ending abuse and exploitation means not only preventing it in the first place, but ensuring that those affected can access confidential, high quality, consistent, long-term support so that they can overcome these experiences and are not revictimised in the future. A recent global evidence review focusing on preventing and responding to child sexual abuse and exploitation concluded that 'robust research and evaluation in this area is seriously lacking, particularly in LMICs [low and middle income countries]'. In high-income countries, there is a similar dearth of evidence-based interventions for children affected by CSE. This means that where recovery and reintegration programmes are designed, funded and implemented, they are not yet grounded on a sound evidence-base. The lack of evaluation studies also makes it difficult to understand how effective support is, for who, why and in what circumstances. While the research community attempts to address this gap, service providers need to know how best to respond and support children, families and communities currently affected by CSE. This report attempts to fill this gap, drawing on an initial review of the literature and findings from field research carried out in Nepal, Thailand and the Philippines with victims/survivors of CSE and their service providers.10 This report 'connects the dots' and pieces together existing evidence on priorities for children affected by CSE in their recovery and reintegration. The first chapter provides an overview of key definitions and overall context surrounding the recovery and reintegration processes. This chapter also gives a brief overview of the local contexts where the fieldwork, which this report draws on, took place. Chapter two outlines how the report was developed, explaining the methods used for the field research and the initial review of the literature. Chapter three highlights the key barriers that impact children's ability to access quality care and support. Chapter four identifies overarching approaches and key principles critical to working with children affected by CSE. Chapters five and six outline the process of case management and the key role of caregivers in supporting children�s recovery and reintegration. Chapters seven to twelve explore the different areas or domains of provision highlighted during the field research and which are echoed in the literature as being necessary or helpful for children during their recovery and reintegration. Chapter thirteen explores the key role of the family and community in supporting children's reintegration. In conclusion, chapter fourteen summarises the main findings of the report and provides a series of overarching recommendations.

Details: Bangkok, Thailand: ECPAT International, 2017. 128p.

Source: Internet Resource: Thematic Report: Accessed February 15, 2019 at: https://www.ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Access-to-Justice-Thematic-Report-Connecting-the-dots.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: International

URL: https://www.ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Access-to-Justice-Thematic-Report-Connecting-the-dots.pdf

Shelf Number: 154631

Keywords:
Child Prostitution
Child Sexual Abuse
Child Sexual Exploitation
Victim Services

Author: Hailes, Amanda

Title: Hand in Hand: Survivors of Multiple Disadvantage Discuss Service and Support

Summary: AVA (Against Violence & Abuse) and Agenda, the alliance for women and girls at risk, were funded by the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales from April 2017 to April 2019, to establish a national commission focusing on domestic & sexual abuse against women facing multiple disadvantage. The commission was set up to examine: As part of the work of the commission, AVA and Agenda put out a national call to recruit up to 15 women (aged 18 and above) to be volunteer peer researchers. Over 70 women applied, presenting the need for a project where women's voices are heard. 13 women with lived experiences of these issues were trained as peer researchers. These inspiring women conducted interviews with other women in their communities to ensure that the voices of those with lived experience shape the commission recommendations.

Details: London: Agenda Research; AVA Project; Lloyds Bank Foundations 2018.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 11, 2019 at: https://weareagenda.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/PR-Report-Final.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://weareagenda.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/PR-Report-Final.pdf

Shelf Number: 154890

Keywords:
Disadvantaged Persons
Domestic Violence
Sexual Violence
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Women's Resource Centre

Title: Promising practice from the frontline: Exploring gendered approaches to supporting women experiencing homelessness and multiple disadvantage

Summary: This scoping research is a collaboration between Homeless Link and the Women's Resource Centre (WRC) to explore gendered support available in England to women who experience homelessness and multiple disadvantage. Summary of key findings -- The factors that services are seeing most frequently Survey data suggests that women experiencing multiple disadvantage are presenting to a broad range of community services including those that are designed to support women with multiple disadvantage and services that are not. Over two thirds of the survey respondents (69%) reported they had seen an increase in the numbers of women with multiple disadvantage presenting to their service over the last two years. When asked to report the types of multiple disadvantage that women present to services with, the findings demonstrate that services are supporting women with a broad range of experiences: - All the survey respondents said that they 'sometimes' of 'often' support women who experience homelessness - 97% of respondents reported that they are either 'sometimes' or 'often' supporting women with experience of mental ill-health - 94% of respondents reported that they 'sometimes' or 'often' support women with problematic substance use - 93% of respondents reported that they 'sometimes' or 'often' support women who experience domestic violence. 65% of the survey respondents said that they support women with all the following either 'sometimes' or 'often': homelessness, domestic violence, sexual violence, involvement in prostitution, problematic drugs and alcohol use, mental ill health and involvement in the criminal justice system. The research also explored the way in which women experience homelessness and their journey to services: - Domestic and sexual violence as well as changes in welfare leading to an inability to cover housing costs were reported to be the main triggers for women's homelessness - To avoid violence and exploitation when sleeping rough women either stay with family and friends or resorting to using public transport or A&E waiting rooms - Women who experience domestic violence and present to the local authority were reported to often receive an inadequate response and are not deemed priority need. - When women do sleep rough, they may stay on the move all night to avoid the risks of more violence and exploitation - Traditional support provided through the homelessness pathway tends to be mixed provision which risks exposing women to further violence and exploitation. Staff rarely have the skills and experience to understand the types of support women need as a result of the continuum of violence they have experienced. Support available for homeless women who experience multiple disadvantage Of the 90 respondents to the survey, the majority (62%) were from homelessness and housing services, but a wide range of other community support projects were represented including violence and abuse support services, criminal justice support services, substance use, drop-in advice services and specialist women's services. Almost half of the services that responded to the survey (48%) reported that they were designed to work specifically with women facing multiple disadvantage, 46% reporting that they are not and 6% answered 'not sure'. 19 respondents explicitly stated that their service was a dedicated woman only organisation. Responses varied significantly in the extent to which services implement policies, practices and training to inform their support for this group of women, suggesting that services need to be strengthened to incorporate gender informed policies, practices and training. Effective support for homeless women facing multiple disadvantage Building on previous research this project identified common factors that are reported to enhance the effectiveness of support for women experiencing multiple disadvantage: - Organisational commitment to work from an understanding of women's lived experience of inequality - Service design which incorporates gendered approaches - incorporating the understanding of the impacts of VAWG and how to respond appropriately - Organisational structures: policies, staff recruitment training and support - implementing policies which embed a gendered approach, recruiting knowledgeable, empathic, compassionate and resilient staff that are trained on violence against women. Examples of promising practice where services have incorporated the elements illustrated above have been documented in a series of good practice case studies in the full report. Barriers and enablers to providing effective support The primary barriers facing services include: - A lack of strategic, gender informed funding approaches from commissioners. - Structural barriers relating to an overall lack of availability of safe, appropriate housing options. - A lack of resources resulting from widespread social care sector spending cuts, particularly for women with no recourse to public funds. - A lack of systematic evidence relating to women's homelessness which delays their access to support. As such, those providing gender informed and gender specific approaches are facing an uphill struggle in making the case for and levering in resources to do their work. Suggestions were noted that would enhance support for women: - Increasing joint commissioning approaches to encourage services to work together rather than in silos - The Housing First model adapted to work specifically with women - Specific expertise, time and resource available to advocate for migrant women to access their rights, entitlements and legal advice - Changes to how women's homelessness is categorised including the need for changes to the verification process which can miss out women who do not sleep rough and those who hide themselves whilst rough sleeping Assertive outreach models to more effectively locate, identify and engage women.

Details: London: Homeless Link and Women's Resource Centre, 2019. 55p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 15, 2019 at: https://www.homeless.org.uk/sites/default/files/site-attachments/Women%27s%20research_March%2019_0.pdf

Year: 2019

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.homeless.org.uk/sites/default/files/site-attachments/Women%27s%20research_March%2019_0.pdf

Shelf Number: 154981

Keywords:
Disadvantaged Persons
Domestic Violence
Gender-Based Issues
Homeless Persons
Homeless Women
Housing
Rough Sleeping
Victim Services
Violence Against Women

Author: Victoria (AUS). Department of Premier and Cabinet

Title: Three Years on from the Royal Commission into Family Violence

Summary: In March 2016 the Royal Commission into Family Violence made 227 recommendations to prevent family violence, keep victim survivors safe and supported, and hold perpetrators to account. The recommendations outlined the systemic and cultural change needed to achieve the vision of a Victoria free from family violence. The Victorian Government committed to implementing all 227 recommendations in recognition of the devastating and often intergenerational impacts of family violence on the community. An unprecedented investment of over $2.7 billion has been allocated to support this change. The government has already implemented 120 of the 227 recommendations since the release of the final report. The acquittal of these recommendations demonstrates the significant steps that the government has taken to create a world-leading service system aimed at changing underlying attitudes and beliefs that condone family violence, while delivering services to support victim survivors. The experiences of victim survivors form the centre of the reform agenda, to ensure cultural and systemic change. The Royal Commission into Family Violence (Royal Commission) emphasised the need for outcome-orientated action. The government has responded by clearly linking the reform agenda to the desired outcomes. The Family Violence Outcomes Framework was developed in consultation with the family violence service delivery sector, victim survivors and community members. The framework clearly outlines Victoria's priorities in preventing and responding to family violence, why these priorities matter and what constitutes success in achieving these outcomes.

Details: Melbourne: The Author, 2019. 68p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 3, 2019 at: https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2019/03/apo-nid227726-1347836.pdf

Year: 2019

Country: Australia

URL: https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2019/03/apo-nid227726-1347836.pdf

Shelf Number: 155273

Keywords:
Child Protection
Domestic Violence
Family Violence
Victim Services

Author: International Network Supporting Victims of Terrorism and Mass Violence

Title: Supporting Victims of Terrorism. Report of the INVICTM Symposium in Stockholm

Summary: On May 19, 2018, INVICTM - International Network Supporting Victims of Terrorism and Mass Violence - held its second international symposium on Supporting Victims of Terrorism in Stockholm, Sweden. This report reflects the discussions held during the symposium. Terrorism affects individuals, communities and societies. The Circles of Impact model offers a framework to illustrate the breadth of the potential impact of a terrorist attack: four circles encompass the different groups in society that an attack might affect. The inner circle of victimization contains individuals during the terrorist attack and directly affected by it. A second, wider, circle includes the direct victims' close social environment, such as family, friends or peers. The third circle refers to individuals who are part of the formal support network such as first responders or victim support providers. And the fourth, largest circle embraces the wider society of which the individual victim is a member. A victim response aimed at understanding and responding to the needs of all those affected by terrorism builds on the Circles of Impact model and can be more inclusive than relying on limited legal definitions of who is a victim. Experts agree that a broad set of needs are common to victims of all types of crime. Victims of terrorism, however, can have additional needs and exacerbated common crime victim needs. Symposium participants identified respect and recognition, commemoration, information provision, support, compensation, access to justice and peer support as some of terrorism victims' primary needs. The list is not exhaustive nor are the needs isolated from one another -- they are closely intertwined. This report describes primary terrorism victim needs and offers tips, practical solutions, good practices and examples from across the globe to help meet these needs. Given the complexities of supporting victims of terrorism, experts recommend a flexible approach to responding to each unique terrorist attack. Years of experience and expertise, however, allow us to identify some common predictable challenges and the practical solutions that can address them. Participants from around the world identified local challenges and practical solutions for supporting victims of terrorism during the symposium. A high quality response to victims of terrorism should build on a number of basic principles: First, understand that short and long-term terrorism victim needs are intertwined. No matter how well the immediate response is carried out, there will unavoidably be long-term consequences to the victim. Second, the foundation for an effective response is a victim-centered perspective that incorporates listening to individual victims to identify their needs and being attentive to the particular needs of vulnerable groups. Individuals or groups that are particularly vulnerable to the impact of terrorist attacks include children, cross-border victims, support providers or individuals who could have been on the scene of the attack. Vulnerable individuals may have particular needs that require a specialized and adaptive response. Given the nature of the scenario used during the symposium, participants focused, in particular, on cross-border victims. Increasingly, foreigners become victims in a country that is not their own, which adds a layer of complexity to both understanding and responding to victim needs. Third, sufficient advance planning and preparation form the backbone of any comprehensive response for victims of terrorism. Symposium participants reinforced the importance of the preparatory phase identifying numerous steps that can and should be taken in advance of an attack. Fourth, effective coordination in times of need builds on a network established during the preparatory phase. The work of creating networks is currently ongoing at both national and international levels. INVICTM's leadership role in fostering and facilitating a network is an important step in improving international collaboration to strengthen the support for all victims of terrorism.

Details: Brussels: Victim Support Europe, 2018. 86p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2019 at: https://victimsupport.eu/activeapp/wp-content/files_mf/1553847245INVICTMSymposiumReport2018.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: International

URL: https://victimsupport.eu/activeapp/wp-content/files_mf/1553847245INVICTMSymposiumReport2018.pdf

Shelf Number: 155340

Keywords:
First Responders
Terrorism
Victim Services
Victims of Terrorism

Author: Hargitt, Katherine

Title: Casting Light on the Care, Recovery and (Re)integration Needs of Commercially Sexually Exploited Children From the voices of children, adult survivors and their service providers in Nepal, the Philippines and Thailand

Summary: This is a multi-country initiative focusing on child survivors' experiences in accessing judicial remedies and other reparations for sexual exploitation. With its unique focus and prioritization of the voice of the child survivor, the Project empowers children to be active agents in their protection, strengthening access to judicial remedies; identifying the specific recovery and reintegration needs of child victims of sexual exploitation; and improving the opportunity of monetary relief for victims to rebuild their lives. The Research findings and recommendations are presented in thematic papers and reports focusing on Access to Criminal Justice; Access to Recovery and Reintegration; Access to Compensation.

Details: Bangkok, Thailand: ECPAT International, 2017. 344p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 5, 2019 at: https://www.ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Casting-Light-on-the-care-recovery-and-reintegrations-needs-of-commercially-sexually-exploited-children-1.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: Asia

URL: https://www.ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Casting-Light-on-the-care-recovery-and-reintegrations-needs-of-commercially-sexually-exploited-children-1.pdf

Shelf Number: 155351

Keywords:
Child Protection
Child Sexual Abuse
Child Sexual Exploitation
Victim Services

Author: Warnken, Heather

Title: Who Experiences Violent Victimization and Who Accesses Services?: Findings from the National Crime Victimization Survey for Expanding our Reach

Summary: The purpose of this research is to identify groups of persons at high risk for serious violent victimization to help inform how victim services and assistance can be targeted to victims of greatest need. Disparities in risk and use of victim services are examined using data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) - the nation's primary source of statistical information on criminal victimization. Group characteristics such as gender, race and ethnicity, and low income status are considered, as are other factors that can help identify who is most likely to experience serious nonlethal violent victimization and who currently accesses victim services. The report describes trends in victimization and victim service use over time, as well as patterns for the most recent time period. This information can inform the victim assistance, criminal justice, and broader public health community in key funding and policy decisions affecting the lives of crime victims and front line practitioners across the country, at a time when historic funding levels and increased flexibility in the use of victim assistance dollars make data-informed strategies as critical as ever.

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Center for Victim Research, 2019. 25p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 30, 2019 at: https://ncvc.dspacedirect.org/handle/20.500.11990/1230

Year: 2019

Country: United States

URL: https://ncvc.dspacedirect.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11990/1230/CVR%20Article_Who%20Experiences%20Violent%20Victimization%20and%20Who%20Accesses%20Services.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Shelf Number: 156822

Keywords:
National Crime Victimization Survey
Public Health
Victim Services
Victimization
Victims of Crime
Violent Victimization

Author: Karsna, Kairika

Title: Improving Understanding of the Scale and Nature of Child Sexual Abuse: Characteristics and Experiences of Children and Young People Attending Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Greater Manchester

Summary: This report brings together evidence collected from the case files of children and young people aged 0-17 attending Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Greater Manchester for a forensic medical examination following disclosure or suspicion of sexual abuse. The data relates to all 986 forensic medical examinations of under-18s living in the Greater Manchester area who accessed the service between April 2012 and March 2015. Data was retrospectively extracted from the paper case file of each 'service user', including background and demographic data about them, the route by which they were referred to the SARC, the nature of the child sexual abuse (CSA) reported to have taken place, and the people suspected of committing it. The choice of data extracted was based on the 'data collection template', a core dataset developed by the Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse (CSA Centre) to standardise and improve agencies' recording of data about CSA. This case study formed part of the pilot of the data collection template; its aim was to explore the value and practicability for agencies of collecting core data systematically about the nature of CSA, the people involved in and affected by it, and associated services. Although the data here was collected from existing records, the study serves to demonstrate what other agencies could collect and report if they adopted the data collection template as part of routine practice. Established in 1986, Saint Mary's SARC is the UK's largest single-centre SARC. It was the first of its kind, developed to provide high-quality medical examinations in a designated and specialised space for men, women and children who had experienced sexual assault. The findings generated through the study have wider relevance because they represent the experiences of a large number of children for whom there were concerns about sexual abuse. It is important to emphasise, however, that they are not representative of CSA in other settings or locations. The vast majority of victims of CSA do not disclose their abuse and are not identified by professionals, and many of those who are identified do not attend a SARC. Furthermore, medical examinations of children at a SARC are provided following disclosure or suspicion of contact sexual abuse; experiences of non-contact CSA are, therefore, not represented in the study.

Details: S.L.: Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse, 2019. 44p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 31, 2019 at: https://www.csacentre.org.uk/research-publications/scale-and-nature-of-child-sexual-abuse-and-exploitation/

Year: 2019

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.csacentre.org.uk/research-publications/scale-and-nature-of-child-sexual-abuse-and-exploitation/st-marys-case-file-review/

Shelf Number: 156127

Keywords:
Child Sexual Abuse
Sexual Assault
Victim Assistance
Victim Services
Victimization

Author: Hacker, Daphna

Title: The Shelters in Israel for Survivors of Human Trafficking

Summary: This report is based on an intensive fieldwork in the two Israeli shelters for victims of human trafficking, which included interviews with policy makers, professionals and survivors. The report maps the different international, national and local agencies involved in the policy design and implementation related to survivors of human trafficking and focuses on the services provided by the shelters. It moreover analyzes the achievements of and the challenges faced by the shelters and offers essential insights to other countries challenged by the necessity to address the needs of victims of human trafficking.

Details: Tel Aviv: Tel Aviv University, 2012. 196p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 16, 2019 at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2070787

Year: 2012

Country: Israel

URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2070787

Shelf Number: 156901

Keywords:
Human Trafficking
Modern Slavery
Victim Services
Victims of Trafficking

Author: Macy, Rebecca J.

Title: Developing North Carolina's Capacity to Address Human Trafficking: A Qualitative Process Evaluation

Summary: Background and Purpose: Human trafficking is an increasing concern in North Carolina (NC) with labor and sex trafficking emerging as growing problems in rural and urban areas (Burke, 2013). In 2010, the Office for Victims of Crime awarded a grant to the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCCASA) to develop statewide, anti-human trafficking infrastructure and response capacities. In assessing NC's anti-human trafficking capacity, NCCASA determined that the state lacked infrastructure to: (a) meet human trafficking victims' needs; (b) train NC service providers who encounter victims in their work; and (c) increase public awareness. By forming a statewide taskforce, NCCASA led a 3-year effort to develop a coordinated human trafficking response and state-level service system. To evaluate these efforts, NCCASA collaborated with our research team to evaluate dynamic changes in NC's anti-trafficking infrastructure. Methods: For the evaluation, we chose qualitative methods because many aspects of human trafficking are so poorly understood that quantitative approaches would require untested assumptions. Thus, our research team used mid- and post-test qualitative research methods with key-informant participants to collect information about: (a) existing NC programs, protocols, and services; (b) NC programs, protocols, and services at the end of the project; and (c) statewide changes that occurred during the project. Participant recruitment was conducted using purposive and snowball sampling. The five organizations that were part of NCCASA's statewide taskforce were asked to identify members who were anti-human trafficking leaders in their respective organizations. The identified leaders were invited to participate and were also asked to invite other relevant members of their organization to participate, too. In all, 14 anti-trafficking advocates and service providers representing all five taskforce organizations agreed to participate in either focus groups or interviews. Focus groups and interviews were conducted at two times about 12-months apart. Most participants (9 of 14; 64.3%) participated in both data collection points. Focus groups and interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and checked for accuracy. Transcripts were independently analyzed using Atlas.ti and an open-coding approach (Anastas, 2004; Padgett, 2008). Findings:Overall, participants declared the project a success with important improvements in NC's anti-human trafficking infrastructure. Qualitative analysis identified three key challenges: (a) communication, (b) aftercare services, and (c) criminal justice. Participants emphasized that improved interagency communication would result in better collaboration and consequently better victim services. Second, participants declared a pressing need for specialized services for victims, Specifically, participants asked for victim advocacy, case management, counseling, health care, and shelters. Finally, participants described the importance of coordinating efforts among all aspects of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, districts attorneys, and judges. Detailed information about findings will be presented with participant quotes regarding challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations. Conclusions and Implications: To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first studies to assess dynamic changes in statewide, anti-human trafficking infrastructure and response capacities. Accordingly, this research represents an exploratory yet valuable step toward determining best practices for addressing human trafficking in the U.S., including specific strategies for developing services in a semi-rural state.

Details: Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Social Work, 2019. 75p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 12, 2019 at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270218494_Developing_Statewide_Anti-Human_Trafficking_Capacity_A_Qualitative_Evaluation

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270218494_Developing_Statewide_Anti-Human_Trafficking_Capacity_A_Qualitative_Evaluation

Shelf Number: 156972

Keywords:
Human Trafficking
Modern Slavery
Qualitative Research
Trafficking in Persons
Victim Services

Rutgers - School of Law, Newark

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