The analysis considers such topics as who are crime victims, needs and rights of victims, how professional and voluntary service providers can help recovery, the role of agencies involved in victim support, how the criminal justice system can improve victim services, why victim support has become an issue, and how government has reacted to the growth of victim support organizations. The analysis also looks at the needs and responses of victims to particular types of crime and the increasing body of knowledge on the range of likely reactions to victimization. Examples of good practice from agencies and views of volunteer workers are presented on how to improve victim support. The politics of victimization is explored in an international context by comparing policy and practice models that have been adopted in other countries. The author concludes that current victim support can be improved with greater liaison between service providers. A chronology of important landmarks in crime victim support is appended that covers the 1963-1998 period. 230 references