Working With Victims
| Author | Monica Morris |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455059904600311 |
| Published date | 01 September 1999 |
| Date | 01 September 1999 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
.
Recent studies in the USA
and the
legislative changes which have produced
UK
have shown that drug use and
the current disparate variety of models of
criminality reduce substantially during and
practice found across services currently.
after treatment.
Their study reflects the broader movement
within the Criminal Justice System of
.
However, in the UK
the availability
victim issues
of
moving centre
treatment
stage.
programmes is highly
variable and funding is generally insecure.
Over an eighteen month period, with
In addition to this, most services have
funding provided by the Nuffield
considerable waiting lists. This is
Foundation, they studied how two services
particularly problematic given that
(Northumbria and West Yorkshire) with
research in the USA
and Australia
well established victim contact schemes
indicates that retention rates are better if
have responded to this developing area of
treatment begins quickly; and that the
practice. Their aim was to gain knowledge
longer it continues, the better the
of victims’
success
needs in relation to the
rate. Those who stay in treatment for less
custodial sentencing process (particularly
than three months do no better than those
the release of offenders) and to promote
who simply undergo detoxification.
good practice.
The
Research
report also provides
methodology was based
a useful
upon
a comparison of forty victim cases from
summary of the range of strategies which
the
each service. Victims,
government and drug agencies
personnel delivering
are
currently employing
Victim’s Charter
to tackle the problem.
requirements and other
It concludes with the
involved
warning that:
professionals were approached
using qualitative semi-structured
&dquo;Success in reducing drug-driven crime
interviews in order to reflect their different
depends on keeping up the momentum
experiences of victim work. Examination
towards a more rational response in which
of the two services highlighted very
...
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