As first responders, police officers and their agencies are in a unique position to shape a victim’s initial experience with the justice system. Victims who report negative experiences with the police following victimization are less likely to remain engaged with the justice system and are at a greater risk of secondary victimization.

Secondary victimization refers to the additional harm victims may experience as a result of their negative interactions with justice system professionals and institutions. This can include victim blaming and disregard of the victim’s needs and preferences.

A trauma-informed, victim-centered approach can mitigate the risk of secondary victimization while supporting procedural justice and strengthening trust in law enforcement. These approaches can include ensuring victims are aware of their rights, keeping them informed about their case, and prioritizing their safety and well-being. By integrating these practices, agencies can enhance their response to victims, resulting in improved community trust and enhanced public safety. While these practices are widely recognized as effective in improving agency response to victims, many police agencies face challenges in their implementation. Common barriers include time constraints, limited resources, and lack of expertise or training in trauma-informed care.

To help agencies enhance their response to victims, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), in partnership with RTI International (RTI) and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office, developed several resources, including case studies, fact sheets a literature review, and a self-assessment tool. Designed to bridge gaps in knowledge, resources, and implementation, these resources highlight promising practices and provide actionable guidance, enabling agencies to assess current approaches anddevelop an action plan to integrate new strategies. These resources synthesize field-based practices and existing academic research on law enforcement response to victims.

Case Studies

Case studies were conducted with 15 U.S. police agencies of varying sizes and from geographically diverse regions of the country. The IACP and RTI interviewed agency personnel, including sworn and professional staff across ranks and divisions (e.g., patrol, investigations). The interviews provided an in-depth assessment of how agencies implemented victim-centered and
trauma-informed practices throughout their agency. Interviewees shared successes and challenges of implementing these practices into their specific roles and responsibilities.

For agencies that had a dedicated victim services program, their policies and practices related to advocacy parameters, documentation procedures, partnerships, and agency incorporation of victim services personnel were reviewed.

These case studies serve as valuable resources for law enforcement agencies, offering examples of existing and promising strategies for integrating victim-centered and trauma-informed practices.

Fact Sheets

Identifying and Incorporating Core Principles of Victim-Centered and Trauma-Informed Response: Practices for Law Enforcement outlines key best practices for interacting with victims and is tailored to various roles within policing. It includes role-specific guidance for first responders, investigators, evidence collection teams, and supervisors. Additionally, the document provides strategic insights for leadership, offering higher-level information for embedding these principles across the organization to create a supportive and cohesive victim response framework.

Identifying and Securing Funding for Victim Response Efforts is intended to help agencies and their grant personnel identify external funding sources to help start or sustain their victim response efforts. It includes a list of federal, state, and local agencies, along with private organizations, that commonly an-
nounce funding opportunities relevant to victim response. It also lists common challenges that agencies face when identifying and securing funding, as well as possible solutions.

Literature Review

The literature review provides agencies with an overview of the latest academic research, highlighting the benefits of victim-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive practices for both victim services and law enforcement agencies. This resource serves as a valuable tool to inform agency operations, strengthen grant applications, and enhance victim response efforts when engaging with internal and external stakeholders. Additionally, it provides practical suggestions for evidence collection and documentation, investigations, communication, and agency policy.

Self-Assessment Tool

Agencies can utilize the self-assessment tool to evaluate their current organizational approach to victim response and identify any potential gaps in their policies and practices. This includes a review of organizational structure, policies and practices, data, and funding support. The tool guides agencies through conducting interviews of current sworn and professional staff regarding their understanding of victim-centered and trauma-informed principles. Agencies can use the findings of the self-assessment to create an action plan and identify steps and goals toward enhancing their agency response to victims.

Conclusion

Using these resources will help agencies be better equipped to evaluate and integrate sustainable victim-centered and trauma-informed principles throughout their organizations. By building upon these principles, agencies will improve their response to victims, increase community trust, and enhance overall public safety.

Law enforcement agencies can access these resources, along with additional information on the project, on the IACP Promising Practices in Victim Support webpage at theIACP.org/projects/promising-practices-in-law-enforcement
-victim-support.