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Victim Impact Classes/Panels for Offenders: Training Seminar; Student's Manual

NCJ Number
177604
Author(s)
K. Lowe; R. Sobieski; J. Lord
Date Published
1998
Length
378 pages
Annotation
This student manual provides material for students to use in training seminars in which offenders who have committed various offenses become aware of the harm that their offenses have caused to the victims.
Abstract
The offenses addressed are property crime, drug offenses, violent crime, domestic violence, crimes against the elderly, child maltreatment, assault, sexual assault, robbery, drunk driving death and injury, homicide, and victims of gang violence. Each chapter in the manual is devoted to one of these offenses and how the offense impacts the victim. The course begins with property crime and moves through various crimes, with homicide being the subject of the final chapter. The order of the chapters was selected to begin with the least sensitive areas in order to build rapport and openness with offenders and to establish an adequate understanding before entering into more sensitive areas. Although each chapter is crime specific, there are underlying themes that pertain to most victims. Each chapter contains a section entitled, "Words to Know." this section alerts students to vocabulary that may not be familiar to them. A section on objectives alerts the student to class content. A section on accountability is designed to assist offenders in setting personal goals and expectations. Another section provides students the opportunity to use their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In some chapters, a section guides students in exploring how they can assist others who have been victimized and/or prevent victimization.