The studies have found that victims' main needs are for immediate emotional support after the incident, information and other followup service, and information and assistance during court proceedings. Evaluations of police-based victim assistance programs have led to the development of a handbook for planning and operating such a program. Other evaluations have focused on services in rural communities and coordination of programs involving several agencies. Research on wife assault has examined the effects of crisis intervention training in the Vancouver Police Department in British Columbia, the placing of charges against assailants, and the use of therapy groups for men who batter. Current research efforts are focusing on coordinated programs involving many agencies rather than on police services. 39 references.