The role of police in enabling crime victims to access criminal injuries compensation: A survey of four police departments.

• Main Author: Foran, Tim.
• Format: Others
• Published: University of Ottawa (Canada) 2009
• Subjects: Law.
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10393/7526; http://dx.doi.org/10.20381/ruor-15387

This study examines the role that individual police officers play in making victims aware of criminal injuries compensation. Specifically, this study examines the behaviour, knowledge, and attitude of police officers in four police departments--two with a victim assistance unit and two without. The study found that officers from a department with a victim assistance unit did have a better knowledge of compensation eligibility requirements, including the necessity to suffer injury eligibility provision. Victim assistance unit officers were also found to have more positive attitudes towards compensation programs. They were more likely to be of the view that compensation programs assisted victims effectively and they were more likely to feel that the programs should be expanded to serve greater numbers of victims, including victims of break and enter. They were also more likely to indicate that they had made victims aware of compensation benefits. However, the presence of a victim assistance unit does not make the situation ideal. Many respondents from a force with a victim assistance unit indicated that they had never made a victim aware of compensation benefits. Of particular relevance is the fact that only sixteen per cent of victim assistance unit officers had ever provided a victim with a card or leaflet with information on criminal injuries compensation. The study concludes with a number of recommendations designed to improve the information crime victims receive with respect to criminal injuries compensation. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)