The National Center for Victims of Crime is a major catalyst in persuading elected officials, policy leaders, and others to respond more fully to the realities of crime victimization.  How do we do that?  One way is by publishing provocative and fact-based policy reports. In an ongoing effort to provide easily accessible information, at no cost, we have placed these reports online:

Who's Lending a Hand? A National Survey of Nonprofit Volunteer Screening Practices The National Center released landmark study, supported by ChoicePoint, Inc., on the volunteer screening practices of nonprofit organizations.	The Model Stalking Code Revisted Responding to the New Realities of Stalking Since the publication of NIJ's 1993 Model Stalking Code, we have learned more about the impact and prevalence of stalking. This new model code includes statutory language and accompanying commentary to help policymakers, advocates, criminal justice professionals and others create stronger, more effective stalking laws and protocols.
DNA Knowledge among Victim Service Providers Results of an Online Survey and a Multidisciplinary Focus Group This National Center study found that victim-serving professionals need more accurate and reliable sources of information, a better understanding of forensic DNA databases, more written information for victims, and more training for themselves. More on forensic DNA.   Download a PDF of the full report.	Chart a Course Policies That Affect Victim Services for Teens The Teen Victim Initiative of the National Center for Victims of Crime has released Chart a Course: Policies That Affect Victim Services for Teens, a guidebook to help organizations develop policies for providing direct services to teens and handle challenges related to teens' status as minors.   Download a PDF of the full report.
Snitches Get Stitches Youth, Gangs, and Witness Intimidation in Massachusetts Witness intimidation is a pervasive threat to the criminal justice system, particularly in crimes such as domestic violence, trafficking, and gang violence and drug trafficking. Yet few jurisdictions have developed a comprehensive response to the problem of witness intimidation. The study described in Snitches Get Stitches gathered information directly from youth on their views about gangs, reporting crime, relationships with law enforcement, and witness intimidation. The report contains ten key findings and six recommendations to help criminal justice authorities and communities better coordinate and focus their efforts to protect young witnesses to gang crimes. The National Center also compiled three brief research summaries aimed at law enforcement and criminal justice officials, policy makers, and educators and youth workers.   Download a PDF of the full report	Teen Action Toolkit Building a Youth-led Response to Teen Victimization This toolkit, created by the National Center, in partnership with the COPS Office, U.S. Department of Justice, is a resource for educators, law enforcement personnel, outreach workers, victim service providers, youth workers, teens, and others who might be interested in starting a youth-led effort to improve local policies, outreach, and services for adolescents. It includes handouts and exercises that can be used in working with teens.   Download a PDF of the full report (This report is 1.9 MB/161 pages and may take several minutes to download.)
Repairing the Harm A New Vision for Victim Compensation in America Financial compensation for victims is a critical ingredient in repairing the harm caused by crime. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the nation responded immediately with a remarkable level of private and government support for the thousands of victims left behind. Repairing the Harm reflects on our approach to compensating the September 11 victims and explores how best to provide financial assistance to all crime victims. Read more about the report.   Download a PDF of this report	Bringing Victims and Victim Service Providers into Reentry Planning in New Jersey Offenders are being released from prison in record numbers, and the majority are returning to their communities burdened by complex problems. In response to these challenges, fresh approaches to reentry have begun to emerge--most notably, multi-agency, multidisciplinary partnerships--including approaches that actively involve victims and victim service providers. This report recounts the conclusions of a series of focus groups in New Jersey attended by pracitioners (victim advocates and other service providers) and victims (homicide survivors and domestic violence victims).   Download a PDF of this report
Project Roadmap Charting a Course for Crime Victims in Maryland This final report of the National Center's assessment of victims services in Maryland for the Governor's Office on Crime Control and Prevention contains 41 specific recommendations for improving Maryland's response to victims of crime. While written specifically for Maryland, many of the findings and recommendations have broader applicability.   Download a PDF of this report	Our Vulnerable Teenagers Their Victimization, Its Consequences, and Directions for Prevention and Intervention This joint report by the National Center and the National Council on Crime and Delinquency analyzes existing, but largely unnoticed, research and data on the crime experiences of teenagers, ages 12 to 19, who make up 14 percent of the general population, but represent 25 percent of victims of violent crime. The report also outlines promising prevention and intervention strategies. Learn More (SRS105)   Download a PDF of this report
Stalking POP Guide Developed by the National Center for Victims of Crime and funded by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, U.S. Department of Justice, this Problem Oriented Policing guide  contains practical, field-tested guidance on stalking prevalence, prevention, and effective responses. Emerging from the National Center's model stalking code, the 58-page publication discusses behaviors that constitute stalking and addresses issues concerning both the victim and the offender.   Download a PDF of this report	Bringing Victims Into Community Policing Developed by the National Center for Victims of Crime and the Police Foundation under a grant from the COPS office of the U.S. Department of Justice, this 105-page publication provides "first responder" guides to dealing with specific types of crime victims; a model policy for the prevention of repeat victimization; and the benefits of developing relationships between the police, crime victims, and victim organizations.   Download a PDF of this report
Creating an Effective Stalking Protocol Developed by the National Center for Victims of Crime in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services for law enforcement agencies seeking to improve their responses to stalking. It focuses on the need to establish collaborative partnerships with the community and to develop protocols for early intervention, preventive action, and proactive problem-solving in stalking cases.   Download a PDF of this report	Research in Brief, The Rights of Crime Victims - Does Legal Protection Make a Difference? You may also request a copy of the Research in Brief, The Rights of Crime Victims - Does Legal Protection Make a Difference? (NCJ 173839, 11 pages) from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service at 1-800-851-3420. At this 800 number you can also use the automated NCJRS Fax-on-Demand service to have a copy faxed directly to you.   Download a PDF of this report
Legal Series Bulletins Created for the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, these bulletins provide crime victims with clear and concise information about key legal issues: Strengthening Antistalking Statutes Reporting School Violence The Crime Victim?s Right To Be Present Enforcement of Protective Orders Restitution: Making It Work NEW Ordering Restitution to the Crime Victim NEW Victim Input Into Plea Agreements NEW Privacy of Victims? Counseling Communications NEW
Promising Practices and Strategies for Victim Services in Corrections This compendium is designed to provide the reader with a high level overview of the most essential components of corrections-based victim services. It contains three texts that are designed to help adult and juvenile correctional agencies develop and enhance services for victims of crime. Read the compendium	Talkshow guidelines In response to the concern that crime victims are being re-victimized during their appearances on television talk shows, the National Center for Victims of Crime has developed these specific guidelines alerting television talk show staff to the specific needs of crime victims. Included with the Guidelines are the "Guests' Bill of Rights." Read the guidelines
Victim Impact Statements A Comprehensive final report providing national legislative recommendations; individual criminal justice agency protocol addressing the distribution, collection and implementation of victim impact statements within all criminal justice agencies, i.e., investigative, prosecutorial, judicial, probation, corrections and parole; a review of current Federal and state statutes allowing for the submission of victim impact statements at sentencing and parole hearings; model victim impact statements; and practical tips to enhance victim impact statement program services to elderly, disabled, non-English speaking, culturally diverse and child victims. Read the report