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Victim and Witness Guideline Development

NCJ Number
168277
Date Published
1986
Length
47 pages
Annotation
This manual provides material on victim assistance guidelines for participants in a symposium held August 27, 1986, and sponsored by the Federal Office for Victims of Crime.
Abstract
After presenting the agenda for the symposium, the manual provides an overview of the development of the Office for Victims of Crime, with attention to the work of its four sections: National Victims Initiatives, State Victims Compensation and Assistance Program, National Victims Resource Center, and Federal Victim Assistance. An executive summary of the Victim and Witness Protection Act of 1982 encompasses the purpose of the act and its legislative history, and an overview of the act focuses on the provisions for the victim impact statement, the protection of victims and witnesses from intimidation, criminal sanctions, civil remedies, restitution, profit by a criminal for the sale of story rights, bail, and Federal guidelines for the fair treatment of crime victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system. The text of the act is also provided. An executive summary of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 focuses on victim assistance grants and victim compensation grants. An overview of the 1984 act is included as well. Draft guidelines for victim and witness assistance by Federal agencies address victim and witness services (referral services, information services, and "other services"); victim impact statement, obstruction of justice, training, and non-litigability.