The Issue

The release of any particular individual will likely have an immediate and direct impact on many people in the community, including victims, neighbors, friends, and family members. Information collected during intake to the facility about prisoner's personal relationships and responsibilities, and the risks that they may present to victims and others can inform individual programming plans for the period of incarceration.

Challenges

Criminal justice professionals cite several challenges frequently encountered in their efforts to respond to crime victims:

• Criminal justice system officials' lack of familiarity with state law affording victims particular rights and services upon a person's reentry
• Contact information for crime victims is often missing or unavailable
• Failure to assess restitution, or, when restitution is ordered, failure to implement a reasonable payment schedule
• Understanding the particularly complex needs of crime victims who have or have had a personal relationship with the offender
• Incorrect perception among some criminal justice officials that victims are too grief-stricken or vengeful to participate in the reentry process
• Overburdened corrections and community corrections agencies that, given their limited resources, may not prioritize victims' needs
• Understaffed victim advocacy organizations

Still, these cited challenges will apply largely to those victims who file charges that lead to the arrest, conviction, and sentencing of an offender. Some victims, however, may choose to forgo prosecution, while others will file charges only to never learn of an apprehension. Consequently, for victims whose offenders are never apprehended, reentry planning may not immediately address their needs. Further, crime victims’ needs often fall outside of the scope of the criminal justice system, encompassing a need for mental health and victim services, employment training, support groups, and other ancillary services.

Contact:
Crystal Garland
Research Associate
Council of State Governments Justice Center
cgarland@csg.org
tel: (212) 482-2320
fax: (212) 482-2344