Through efforts by victims and their supporters, the re-victimization, due to the criminal justice system was brought to light. Because victims began to turn to other victims for support and guidance, lead to the creation of rape crisis centers, battered woman shelters and many other “change” organizations such as mothers against drunk driving and parents of murdered children. All of the combined efforts of victims and these change groups lead to criminal justice and other government entities to focus and study the concerns and experiences of victims and even witnesses. In 1975 the national organization for crime victim assistance was founded, and through their leadership, the criminal justice system began creating victim assistance programs,
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The issues surrounding victims became even more important on a national scale when President Regan declared there would be a crime victim rights week in 1981 and also when the president’s task force for crime victims was established in 1982. This task force, one of the most prolific milestones in the victim rights movement, reviewed research on criminal victimization and held hearings around the country to obtain testimony from crime victims, victim service providers, and other allied professionals regarding the experiences and needs of crime victims. The task force report outlined 68 recommendations for the criminal justice system and other organizations, for example, hospitals, clergy, schools, mental health community, media and has served as a blueprint for comprehensive change during the past 20 years. In fact, almost all of the recommendations have resulted in important changes in policy and practice at the federal, state, and local levels. The task force’s recommendations, coinciding with the elimination of federal LEAA funding for victim services, resulted in action by Congress and a majority of state legislatures. Among its recommendations was the need for victim witness units in prosecutors’ offices to provide notification of rights and case status, information about the court process, and the right to be present and heard at various stages in the
The issues surrounding victims became even more important on a national scale when President Regan declared there would be a crime victim rights week in 1981 and also when the president’s task force for crime victims was established in 1982. This task force, one of the most prolific milestones in the victim rights movement, reviewed research on criminal victimization and held hearings around the country to obtain testimony from crime victims, victim service providers, and other allied professionals regarding the experiences and needs of crime victims. The task force report outlined 68 recommendations for the criminal justice system and other organizations, for example, hospitals, clergy, schools, mental health community, media and has served as a blueprint for comprehensive change during the past 20 years. In fact, almost all of the recommendations have resulted in important changes in policy and practice at the federal, state, and local levels. The task force’s recommendations, coinciding with the elimination of federal LEAA funding for victim services, resulted in action by Congress and a majority of state legislatures. Among its recommendations was the need for victim witness units in prosecutors’ offices to provide notification of rights and case status, information about the court process, and the right to be present and heard at various stages in the