This sourcebook provides information about more than a dozen legislatively mandated victims’ rights in each state. It can be used to access and compare the basic legal protections that exist for crime victims. It is current through 1995. 1996; Available through the OVCRC Document Loan Program or the OVCRC Photocopying Service (NCJ 165359); OVC.

Following an overview of the effects of crime on its victims, this monograph addresses some of the benefits of community involvement for crime victims, including rebuilding self-esteem, reducing isolation, regaining a sense of power, and dealing with fear and anger. The monograph discusses victim assistance, victims’ rights advocacy, and violence prevention and presents some caveats regarding victim activism. September 1998; Free (NCJ 166604); OVC.
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/infores/fptp/welcome.html

Federal law enforcement officials are concerned about victims and witnesses of financial crimes, who often have questions about how their case will be investigated, what services and information will be available, and how to begin to cope with financial losses. This brochure was designed to provide general information to address these common concerns. August 1998; Free (BC 000599); OVC.
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/infores/fraud/brochur.htm

This document provides a comprehensive set of recommendations on victims’ rights and services concerning every community involved with crime victims across the Nation. It highlights the progress made in the Nation’s justice systems and in the private sector since the release of the 1982 final report of the President’s Task Force on Victims of Crime, identifies hundreds of innovative public policy initiatives and community partnerships that are revolutionizing the treatment of crime victims in America today, and recommends improvements that still need to be implemented on behalf of crime victims. Contributors include crime victims themselves and representatives of the agencies and organizations that serve them. New Directions challenges the Nation to renew and refocus its efforts to improve the treatment of victims of crime. May 1998; $6 (NCJ 170600); OVC.
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/new/directions/pdftxt/direct.pdf

This 20-minute video is based on OVC’s New Directions from the Field: Victims’ Rights and Services for the 21st Century and highlights the global challenges presented in the New Directions report. The video is a useful tool in changing attitudes, policies, and practices within the justice, social services, and nonprofit arenas serving this Nation’s nearly 32 million crime victims. February 2000; Free (NCJ 178283); OVC.

This invaluable educational resource kit is designed to aid victim service providers, allied professionals, criminal justice agencies, and public policymakers in implementing the 250 recommendations discussed in the landmark New Directions from the Field: Victims’ Rights and Services for the 21st Century report. These recommendations were developed by professionals in all areas of victim services to create a comprehensive response system in every community. The guide includes a copy of the New Directions report, an index, a videotape, camera-ready resources, and sample speeches to help agencies advance rights for crime victims within the criminal justice system. February 2000; Call for shipping and handling charges (NCJ 179558); OVC.
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/infores/newdirections2000/welcome.html

This executive summary briefly describes the 18 chapters in New Directions from the Field. The document provides examples of promising practices, partnerships, and programs and a summary of the five global challenges that must be met to respond effectively to crime victims in the 21st century. August 1998; Free (NCJ 172811); OVC.
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/new/directions/pdftxt/bulletins/bltn1.pdf

This bulletin presents the broad agenda established in the final report of the President’s Task Force on Victims of Crime for implementing victims’ rights and services; many of the report’s 68 recommendations are highlighted. The recommendations pertain to such areas as the right of victims to notice of public court proceedings, the right of victims to be present throughout public court proceedings, the right of victims to victim-prosecutor consultation, and the right of victims and witnesses to reasonable protection. August 1998; Free (NCJ 172812); OVC.
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/new/directions/pdftxt/bulletins/bltn2.pdf

This manual presents effective program service strategies, suggestions to enhance services by federal personnel to fraud victims, and referrals to outside agencies and programs that provide fraud victims with services or information. Individual sections explain the types, victims, perpetrators, costs, and emotional consequences of fraud and the role of victim/witness coordinators in providing services to fraud victims. July 1998; Free (NCJ 170594); OVC.
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/infores/fraud/psvf/welcome.html

Designed for distribution to victims of fraud, this handbook covers victims’ roles, rights, and responsibilities during the criminal prosecution of a case; the federal justice process; support services available to fraud victims in the federal justice system; frequently asked questions about the process; national organizations and government agencies that provide services regarding fraud crime; suggestions on how to address credit problems; a glossary of legal terms; case contact information; and guidelines for documenting financial losses. September 1998; Free (NCJ 172830); OVC.
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/infores/fraud/rrr/welcome.html

Using moneys appropriated by Congress, OVC funded four innovative projects designed to prevent and intervene in telemarketing fraud schemes that target elderly citizens. This fact sheet describes these initiatives—namely, the Elder Financial Exploitation Prevention Program; the Telemarketing Fraud Project for Latino Elderly; Operation Fraudstop: A Partnership to Reduce Telemarketing Fraud and Assist Victims; and Telemarketing Fraud Prevention, Public Awareness, and Training Activities. August 1998; Free (FS 000214); OVC. www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/factshts/telemark.htm

This bulletin documents a May 1998 OVC-sponsored focus group that studied the concerns, needs, and issues of the traditionally underserved fraud and economic crime victim population. Several OVC contributions to change are described. The meeting successfully generated numerous training ideas, promising practices, recommendations, and an action plan to assist economic crime victims. May 2000; Free (NCJ 176357); OVC.
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/infores/fraud/htmlfraud/index.html

Fraud is defined as an illegal act by nonphysical means to obtain money or property. This 20-minute video, designed to instill in allied professionals a deeper appreciation of the emotional, financial, and sometimes physical impact of fraud, may ultimately help fraud victims receive more sensitive treatment by criminal justice personnel. August 1998; Free (NCJ 170593); OVC.
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/infores/fraud/v-fraud.htm

This bulletin summarizes the Victims’ Rights Compliance Efforts report that describes innovative programs in three states—Colorado, Minnesota, and Wisconsin—to improve the enforcement of victims’ rights. May 1998; Free (NCJ 167241); OVC.
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/infores/vrce.htm

Many victims and their advocates believe that one of the greatest challenges of the criminal justice system is ensuring compliance with victims’ rights laws. This report describes innovative programs in three states—Colorado, Minnesota, and Wisconsin—to improve the enforcement of victims’ rights. The report documents the experiences and challenges faced by state criminal justice systems in providing and enforcing victims’ rights, identifies common themes that enhance and impede the compliance enforcement process, and suggests general models and cautions for program replication. This report is designed for state-level decisionmakers concerned with the provision and enforcement of victims’ rights and should be viewed as a tool for lawmakers and policymakers who are searching for ways to help improve the provision of victims’ rights in their states. May 1998; Free (NCJ 168099); OVC.
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/infores/vrce.pdf