Advocating for Victim Services

Only about 9% of serious violent crime victims received direct assistance in terms of help or advice from a victim service agency from 1993 to 2009 (U.S. Department of Justice, 2011). Although social scientists and mental health professionals have done a great deal of work to identify victims’ needs and develop treatment strategies, in the majority of victimization cases no services are provided, either because they are not available or the victim does not seek help.
This week you assessed the needs of victims and researched services that might help their situation. The next step is for you to write a letter to your governor or local lawmakers, articulating those needs and services to policy makers in such a way that they can and will develop a plan of action to make modern victim services a reality. You can use real life examples of victim’s sufferings, a cost benefit model, or both, but your letter should make a convincing case on behalf of victims.

For this Assignment, consider the following crime:

In the local Gruffson district of Peopletown, evidence of a hate crime has surfaced. A 21-year-old recent immigrant from Haiti was found in an alley with severe wounds to his head and body. When the victim was found by garbage collectors early yesterday morning, swelling had rendered his face almost unrecognizable.

Police believe that the man spent the night lying in the alley following a ruthless beating at the hands of a group. Based on early reports, the man heard the attackers yelling, “Go home go home!” as they kicked, punched and pelted him with rocks. The man’s limited English prevented him from understanding the other words of his attackers. Police are treating the incident as a hate crime.

Anti-immigrant graffiti has appeared throughout the neighborhood in recent months and residents indicate that a group of young local men has drawn attention from the authorities for disturbances and harassment of immigrants in public parks in at bus stops

Then read the sample letters on the link

http://www.hrw.org/news/2011/03/28/coalition-letter-support-student-non-discrimination-act

and consider the most effective arguments you can use to persuade lawmakers to support victim services.

The Assignment (3 pages):
• Explain the services currently available in your state (New Jersey) for the victim of hate crime above.
• Explain services not available in your state that might be beneficial for the victim, or recommend revisions or enhancements to existing services.
• Using the sample provided, create a letter to the governor of your state (New Jersey) or local lawmakers explaining what services should be available and explain why.

Support your Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are to provide a reference list for all resources