Both sworn and professional staff within police agencies respond to individuals who experience traumatic events. In the aftermath of these events, victims may encounter emotional, psychological, and physical challenges.

As first responders, policing professionals are positioned to offer trauma-informed and victim-centered support and provide critical information and resources to victims. In the wake of traumatic events, this support and access to resources can assist victims in taking important steps to manage their immediate needs, make informed decisions, and maintain awareness of and engagement in their cases while navigating the complexities of the justice system. By addressing victims’ needs at the earliest opportunity, police agencies can strengthen community trust and overall public safety.

Victim services, including those based in the community, prosecutors’ offices, and police agencies, each have distinct roles and expertise needed to effectively support victims. Among these victim services providers, law enforcement–based victim services are uniquely positioned to offer immediate criminal justice support and accompaniment during investigative events (e.g., interviews with investigators), as well as to provide crisis intervention, safety planning, and referrals to community agencies.¹ Incorporating victim services professionals within police agencies ensures prompt access to trauma-informed services and referrals. When victims feel supported throughout the legal process, this may enhance their likelihood of remaining engaged in the reporting, investigation, and prosecution processes, contributing to more effective outcomes.² Positive interactions between victims and police personnel are crucial for building trust and confidence in the police by the community. When victims perceive the police as supportive, it cultivates stronger community-police partnerships, improves crime prevention efforts, and ultimately enhances the community members’ overall sense of safety and security.

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) stands at the forefront of providing comprehensive support for agencies establishing or enhancing law enforcement–based victim services and serves as the training and technical assistance provider for the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)–funded Law Enforcement-Based Victim Services Program (LEV Program). This program currently serves 80 police agencies across the United States. Representing municipal, state, campus, and tribal police agencies, these teams collectively contribute to the effort to strengthen victim services throughout the United States.

Publication Series

The LEV Program is dedicated to assisting agencies to develop, enhance, and sustain law enforcement–based victim services by providing high-quality training and practical tools. To further this support, the IACP released a publication series that provides in-depth discussions of key program development topics. Focusing on strategic planning and standardizing practice, the following resources can help empower agencies to implement robust and responsive victim services to meet the specific needs of the communities they serve.

• • Key Considerations offers an overview of core elements of law enforcement–based victim services, providing a summary of key principles and a checklist to assist in planning and development.
  • Advocacy Parameters explores the framework of the law enforcement–based victim services role, delving into organizational structure, personnel hiring, supervision, role parameters, ethics, and service delivery.
  • Documentation Standards describes where and how victim services documentation is maintained, the information it covers, and the legal complexities associated with these records.
  • Effective Partnerships reviews guidelines for forging strategic partnerships, both internal and external to the agency, emphasizing the importance of formalizing these partnerships to enhance the community’s collective response to victims.
  • Agency Incorporation discusses how to effectively integrate victim services within the agency, including strategic planning, unit structure, budget considerations, the role of victim services in crisis response, workplace culture changes, and policy development.

Police leaders are positioned to effectively lead coordinated, collaborative, and trauma-informed responses to victims and help ensure that their needs are addressed by integrating victim services within their agencies. While many police agencies are embracing victim-centered, trauma-informed policies and practices, others may find implementation difficult due to limited capacity, resources, and expertise required for their development. In response to these challenges, the publications in the LEV series can serve as vital tools and resources for agencies.d

Notes:

¹Kelle Barrick, Elizabeth Tibaduiza, and Amy Durall, “Examining Intersections between Law Enforcement and Victims,” IACP@Work, Police Chief 89, no. 5 (May 2022): 66–67.

²International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Key Considerations, Law Enforcement-Based Victim Services, rev. ed. (Alexandria, VA: IACP, 2023).; Karen Rich and Patrick Seffrin, “Police Interviews of Sexual Assault Reporters: Do Attitudes Matter?” Violence and Victims 27, no. 2 (April 2012): 263–279; Amy Hardy, Kerry Young, and Emily Holmes, “Does Trauma Memory Play a Role in the Experience of Reporting Sexual Assault During Police Interviews? An Exploratory Study,” Memory 17, no. 8 (2009): 783–788; IACP, Pathways Toward Collective Healing—Law Enforcement and the Communities They Serve: Collective Healing in the Wake of Harm (Alexandria, VA: IACP, 2021).

Please cite as:

Derrick Gonzalez and Morgana Yellen, “Planning, Policy, and Practice,” IACP@Work, Police Chief 91, no. 5 (May 2024): 62–63.