SERVICE PROVIDERS
(POSSIBLE EMPLOYERS FOR
VICTIM-ORIENTED STUDENTS)
SURVEYED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE’S OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME
Expands upon the issue of “Why study victimology?” on p. 27 of Ch. 1 of the Tenth Edition
The Bureau of Justice Statistics carried out a census, in 2017 and located nearly 12,200 service providers that operated in the United States.
For students interested in career paths in victim assistance, these providers can be considered possible employers, sites for internships, and places needing volunteers.
The BJS census determined that nearly half of the providers were non-profit or faith-based organizations (45%).
Service providers run by state and local governments operated in prosecutors’ offices (18%) or law enforcement agencies (15%).
Hospital, medical, or emergency facilities, and tribal organizations made up 5% of all victim service providers.
About 2% of VSPs were located on university or college campuses or in other educational institutions.
Read the survey’s findings here.
ONLINE RESOURCE LIST COMPILED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE’S OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME
Here is a list of some useful websites that offer valuable materials and training opportunities to researchers and instructors, as well as advocates and service providers. View the links to the web pages of various centers and organizations here.
Materials for instructors are provided by the Office For Victims of Crime (OVC) here.
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners and Sexual Assault Response Teams provide direct services. SANE and SART links are available here.
The U.S. military has institutionalized victim advocacy for sexual assault victims. Read about the services provided at an air force base here.
A listing of federal and state, agencies and non-profit organizations that are part of the criminal justice process and offer assistance to victims appears here.
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PREPARING FOR CAREERS IN
VICTIM ASSISTANCE AND ADVOCACY
Expands upon the issue of “Why study victimology?” on p. 27 of Ch. 1 of the Tenth EditionRead about career prospects and course requirements to become a victim advocate here.
Some colleges offer victim advocacy as part of an associate degree, but other programs are part of baccalaureate majors, and a few are concentrations within master’s degrees. To get an overview of advocacy programs on the undergraduate and graduate levels, visit this website here.
Some advocates and professionals providing direct services have studied psychology or social work, rather than criminal justice, as explained here, especially if they work with children, as noted here.
GRADUATE CERTIFICATES IN VICTIM STUDIES
This online certificate offers four courses for college grads working in positions that provide direct services to victims. View the University’s continuing education program homepage here. Another university offers a certificate on the master’s level based on four cases taken on campus. View their homepage here.
A masters program at a college devoted to criminal justice offers two certificate programs, a Certificate of Victimology Studies in Forensic Psychology, and a Victim Counseling Track in the Forensic Mental Health Counseling MA Program, as described here.
A masters program offers a certificate in victim advocacy, as described here.
UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS AND MINORS IN VICTIM STUDIES
Students can major in victim studies in Texas, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, as described here.
Undergrads can choose to concentrate in victimology as part of the criminal justice major at this college in Massachusetts.
A university in Maryland offers a minor in victim studies, as listed here.
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THE FBI IS HIRING VICTIM SPECIALISTS
A small unit within the FBI provides support and assistance to individuals
harmed by terrorist attacks and other violent crimes, as listed here.
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A TIMELINE OF MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS AND LEGISLATION IN THE HISTORY OF VICTIMOLOGY AND VICTIM SERVICES
Provides greater details and more examples about the historical highlights presented in Table 2.1 on p. 45 of Chapter Two in the Tenth Edition.This timeline from a government publication distributed during Victims Rights Week in mid April starts in 1965 and runs up to 2018. View it here.
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TRAINING PROVIDED BY THE NVAA AS WELL AS SVAAs
The federal government’s Office For Victims Of Crime sponsors State Victims Assistance Academies across the country. SVAAs provide training for entry level positions in victim assistance programs. Find a nearby location here.
Information about the OVC’s National Victim Assistance Academy can be found here.
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