U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Victims Speak Out: Help, Hope and Healing (Videotape Discussion Guide Booklet)

NCJ Number
193089
Author(s)
Anne Seymour
Date Published
February 2003
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This discussion guide accompanies a video in which 14 victims of violent crime comment on their victimization experiences and the response of the criminal justice system to their needs.
Abstract
The six areas addressed in the video are victims' personal experiences with violent crime; obstacles to reporting crime; victim safety and support; victim notification and participation in justice processes; victim satisfaction with outcomes; and help, hope, and healing. At the end of each of these segments, the video indicates a "pause" for discussion of issues raised in the segment. Each section of this discussion guide provides a framework for a facilitator to use in moderating a discussion among viewers/participants after each segment of the video. This framework explores victims' comments in each of the six segment topics and reinforces salient points; suggests questions for participants that encourage them to consider victims' perceptions of various issues discussed in the video; and provides the facilitator with possible answers or responses to each question based on research pertinent to victim trauma and needs. The video and this discussion guide are designed to be used as training tools for victim service providers, criminal and juvenile justice professionals, mental health providers, allied professionals, and other audiences who want a better understanding of the impact of violent crime on victims. 3 additional resources