Application: Advocating For Victim Services

Only about 9% of serious violent crime victims received direct assistance in terms of help or advice from a victim service agency from 1993 to 2009 (U.S. Department of Justice, 2011). Although social scientists and mental health professionals have done a great deal of work to identify victims needs and develop treatment strategies, in the majority of victimization cases no services are provided, either because they are not available or the victim does not seek help.

This week you assessed the needs of victims and researched services that might help their situation. The next step is for you to write a letter to your governor or local lawmakers, articulating those needs and services to policy makers in such a way that they can and will develop a plan of action to make modern victim services a reality. You can use real life examples of victims sufferings, a cost benefit model, or both, but your letter should make a convincing case on behalf of victims.

For this Assignment, consider your response to the Discussion this week.Then locate the two sample letters in the Learning Resources and consider the most effective arguments you can use to persuade lawmakers to support victim services.

The Assignment (23 pages):

• Explain the services currently available in your state for the victim you selected in the Discussion.
• Explain services not available in your state that might be beneficial for the victim, or recommend revisions or enhancements to existing services.
• Using the sample provided, create a letter to the governor of your state or local lawmakers explaining what services should be available and explain why.