The study questioned 10 people who formed a nominal group technique panel in La Mesa, California. Five trends were selected as most related to the study: increased legislative and court-mandated victim programs; increased expectation for local government assistance; increased police liability; drain of crime on society's resources; and expectation of more private sector involvement in victim assistance. Events considered to be the most critical in evaluating the future of victim assistance programs were a major earthquake or other natural disaster, an economic recession, a prominent individual becoming a victim, the enactment of adverse legislation, and the abolishment of Proposition 13 or other restrictive measures. A strategic management plan was devised to guide victim assistance programs of police agencies. A transition management approach was also developed to help police agencies coordinate and implement crime victim assistance. A description is presented of how a police agency can establish a victim assistance program that will provide practical and emotional support through a network of law enforcement professionals sensitive to and knowledgeable of victim issues.