IT IS SAID THAT PROGRAMS LOCATED WITH THE POLICE AGENCY SEEM TO OFFER THE VICTIM MORE. IN TERMS OF IMMEDIATE RESPONSE, VICTIMS ARE REFERRED QUICKER AND MORE OFTEN. IN TERMS OF LONG-RANGE PERMANENT EFFECT, THE POLICE AGENCY IS SAID TO OFFER THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR CHANGE, IN THAT THEY WILL ALWAYS BE FIRST ON THE SCENE AND THUS THEIR PROCEDURES WILL ULTIMATELY HAVE TO INCLUDE SPECIALIZED HANDLING OF VICTIMS. THIS SPECIALIZED HANDLING IS DEVELOPING INTO A NEW PROFESSION - VICTIM ADVOCACY. THEIR MAIN MISSION IS TO ADDRESS THE PLIGHT OF VICTIMS LOCALLY AND GENERATE NEW TECHNIQUES, STRATEGIES, AND SYSTEMS FOR HUMANIZING THE WAY VICTIMS ARE DEALT WITH BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)