Law enforcement–based victim services personnel play an important role in helping victims navigate the complexities of the criminal justice system, while providing additional support and compassion.

The treatment that victims experience in the aftermath of a crime plays a key role in their decisions about remaining engaged with the criminal justice system. Many law enforcement agencies have established victim services programs to provide victims with information and support as soon as possible after a crime occurs.

The Law Enforcement-Based Victims Services Program (LEV Program) was established in 2018 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime. This program provides foundational knowledge and targeted support to law enforcement agencies who wish to establish a new, in-agency victim services program or to enhance a previously existing program. To date, more than 70 agencies across the United States have received training and technical assistance (TTA) from the IACP through the LEV Program. The LEV Program remains the only national-level TTA program in the United States focused exclusively on law enforcement–based victim services.

Template Package V: Training

The LEV Program encourages agencies to invest in continuous, high-quality training for all victim services personnel, regardless of prior education or advocacy experience. This ensures that all victim services personnel at an agency operate within a uniform framework and have the tools they need to best serve victims.

Developing a victim services training program from the ground up requires time and resources. To assist agencies in this process, the IACP released Template Package V: Training, the latest publication in the customizable Template Package series. Agencies can refer to this publicly available resource for guidance when developing and enhancing a victim services unit.

Template Package V: Training comprises three main components: (1) 12 training modules with supplemental handouts, (2) 5 activity workbooks, and (3) a set of overview documents.

Training Modules and Supplemental Handouts

The training modules and supplemental handouts cover core victim services content, including but not limited to—

• Criminal Justice
• Critical Needs of Victims
• Ethics in Victim Services
• Crisis Intervention with Victims
• Crime Victim Compensation
• Boundaries and Professional Wellness in Victim Services

These modules are intended to be taught by trainers from a variety of disciplines. For example, an assistant prosecutor could cofacilitate the Criminal Justice module with a law enforcement–based victim services trainer. Similarly, a program manager from a local community-based domestic violence agency could cofacilitate the Crisis Intervention with Victims module. By using trainers with varying backgrounds, victim services personnel can learn through a multidisciplinary lens.

Activity Workbooks

Interactive activity workbooks supplement the training modules by guiding victim services personnel to connect prior knowledge and learned material to real-world situations. Rather than simply memorizing information, victim services trainees can focus on building and honing core skills.

Overview Documents

Finally, the overview documents offer guidance on facilitating training. The Trainer Manual provides an overview of the training and assists with preparation, while the Training Plan outlines the recommended timeframes and materials for each module. In addition to the provided content, these resources encourage further self-paced learning through the Office for Victims of Crime’s Victim Assistance Training Online (VAT Online) and in-person shadowing with colleagues.

Like all publications in the Template Package series, Template Package V: Training is designed to be adapted to the needs of each individual agency. Because of this, the materials outline places where agencies should add state-, tribal-, local-, or agency-specific information. Agencies should consult with their legal counsel and human resources staff to ensure that the materials meet all requirements within their jurisdiction.

Conclusion

Victim services personnel can help support victims throughout their involvement in the criminal justice system. Whether an agency’s victim services program is well established or is still being developed, these training materials will help ensure that all victim services personnel are providing a consistent level of service to victims across a jurisdiction. For further guidance on developing a strong victim services program, agencies can access other resources, including recorded webinars, topic-specific resources, and additional template packages, on the IACP’s LEV webpage.d

Please cite as:

Morgana Yellen and Bonnie Mills, “Strengthening Victim Services through Comprehensive Training,” IACP@Work, Police Chief 90, no. 5 (2023): 64-65.