This publication updates and expands the first edition of Serving Crime Victims and Witnesses, a National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Issues and Practices in Criminal Justice report originally published in 1987. During the first half of the 1980's, victim assistance programs and public awareness or crime victims' problems were beginning to spread rapidly across the country. In 1982, President Reagan's Task Force on Victims of Crime issued its final report, which recommended the wider establishment of victim assistance programs. Recognizing the need for practical guidance for program development, NIJ requested the preparation of the first edition of Serving Crime Victims and Witnesses to offer information on how to initiate, improve, and when necessary, modify services for victims and witnesses.

The original edition of Serving Crime Victims and Witnesses combined suggestions regarding program development with detailed descriptions of six programs across the country. The publication proved to be popular among victim service providers. By 1994, however, it was clear that some of the information in the report had become outdated. Given the significant proliferation of programs, victims' rights legislation, and State constitutional amendments occuring since 1985 and given the need for current data regarding the structure and operations of these programs in 1994, NIJ commissioned this second edition of the report. The second edition provides a detailed discussion of strategies for planning, implementing, and refining victim assistance programs.

Since the crime victims movement began over 20 years ago, considerable progress has been made in recognizing and meeting the needs of crime victims. Many talented program administrators and policymakers have fostered the growth of victim assistance over the years, and these efforts continue to evolve and grow to meet the compelling needs of our nation's crime victims.

Considerable work still remains. Leadership in this movement has been provided by the Office for Victims of Crime, working in conjunction with State officials, local officials, and other components of the Department of Justice. As wee approach the 21st century, the National Institute of Justice hopes that this second edition of Serving Crime Victims and Witnesses will prove as useful as the first for promoting the development and improvement of victim services.

To order, please visit the A–Z Publications/Products section of the National Criminal Justice Reference Service Web site: http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/AlphaList.aspx.

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