I. VICTOMOLOGY PROGRAMS

Student will prepare a narrative in response to these questions

1. You will be assigned a state through random selection

2. You will research victimology programs in the state that you are assigned

3.You will then select THREE programs to research. Your research will answer the following questions: (you may have to call the agency to get the information)

a. Provide overview of the agency and a program description

How would you describe the organization? (e.g., court-based services, police-based services, community-based services, specialized services for domestic violence, sexual assaults, or children)?

b. Who are the clients? (for example, are they victims of homicide, domestic violence, rape or terrorism?) Do they serve men women, children and or families?

c. What kind of services do they provide to the clients (shelter, safety planning, medical, emotional, funeral arrangements or financial?) Could you please tell me about the services that your organization generally provides to victims? (e.g. crisis support, information to victims, court preparation, court accompaniment, counselling, referrals)

In your opinion, what aspects of these services are most beneficial to victims and why?

d. How many people do they serve a year?

e. What are the rights of crime victims in the state?

II. Select to Interview a Victim or Victim Advocate

You must answer the Questions Below

Victim Advocate

Provide the name and title of the victim advocate. You must include your questions in the paper.

Sample questions

Brief description of their job/ how long at their job

Education and experience needed for the job

What services or assistance do they provide as a victim advocate?

What do they find to be a victim’s immediate needs, concerns or priorities?

What are some of the challenges associated with their jobs?

Would they recommend their job? Why or why not

Challenges of the job

Victim

Sample questions

How were they victimized? (assault, theft, robbery, domestic violence, intimate partner violence)

Did they report the crime to the police? Why or why not? To what do they attribute their victimization (lifestyle, routine activity, random) Risks of victimization

Was the police and court system helpful?

How did the police/ law enforcement personnel/prosecutor make them feel? (believed, respected, supported or to the contrary)

Did they need medical attention?

Did it impact them emotionally, physically or economically? Describe

Has it changed the way the live their life?

Did they use any victim services? If yes, was it helpful