Victimology

CJUS280

Student’s Name:

Institution:

Victimology

There has been several victim advocacy programs that have been developed in United States among other countries to serve different types of clients. Victim advocacy programs are programs that help to support victims of crime through offering emotional support, helps in finding resources and other helpful information and services. This services ranges from; sexual assault advocate programs, victim compensations, domestic violence programs, offering victim advocates, public education programs, crisis intervention, among others. This essay will however discuss two victim advocacy programs (Rape Victims Advocacy program (RVAP) and The Family Advocacy Victim Advocate Program (FAVAP) while comparing and contrasting them.

Compare and contrast the two different programs

Rape Victims Advocacy program is a victim advocate for sexual assault and prevention education program for individuals of any gender, culture, identity, age etc. RVAP offers confidential and free trauma-informed advocacy to those going through sexual violence as well as promoting social changes in their lives through prevention education. It serves individuals who have been impacted with sexual violence in Lowa countries: Lee, Johnson, Lowa, Cedar etc (The University of Lowa, 2017). While Rape Victims Advocacy program deals with sexual assaults issues only, Family Advocacy Victim Advocate Program on the other hand provides wide-ranging liaison and assistance for and to victims of spouse abuse in addition to sexual assaults. Family Advocacy Victim Advocate Program also provides safety planning, crisis intervention, help in obtaining medical treatment for different injuries, offers information on some legal rights as well as legal proceedings and providing referral to civilians and military shelters, food and clothing to victims (Army Community Service, 2016). It is therefore evident that the two has similarities in their target on sexual assaults victims. However, Family Advocacy Victim Advocate Program goes to an extent of covering domestic abuse victims. Both programs deals with prevention education program for individuals of any gender, culture, identity, age etc.

How effective do you feel are your selected victim’s advocacy programs? Why?

Following a preliminary review of the two advocacy programs’ websites, I believe both advocacy programs are effective as their activities define their success. Family Advocacy Victim Advocate Program is effective as it serves as the main POC which is integrated with FAP in ensuring that complete and timely care has been provided to domestic abuse victims and sexual assaults. Victim advocates provides the victim with information on some of the resources available in assisting such victims. Additionally, victim advocates ensure that they maintain contact of the victim throughout the victim’s medical journey, investigative as well as through counselling and processes of judicial. Also, FAVAP has a 24-hour hot line service in order for the victims to get in touch with them any time. RVAP on the other hand has collaborated with different other community initiatives in running its programs. For instance, it has collaborated with lowa State University in order to ensure that it helps university youths as well. The collaboration of RVAP with the university shows its interest in reaching a bigger number of people (students) who are prone to rape cases.

What types of victims do you think benefit most from the selected victim’s advocacy programs? Explain your reasoning.

As noted from the above statements on the mission of both programs, it is evident that both advocacy programs benefits victims of sexual assault. RVAP benefits sexual assaults victims of both gender. The same applies to FAVAP which benefits victims of sexual assault as well as domestic abuse individuals. Vast majority of victims benefiting FAVAP are went through emotional abuse, economical abuse, verbal abuse, physical abuse among others (Mercurio-Sakwa, 2016). Both gender (male and female) benefit in both programs. However, female benefits mostly in RVAP as they are more prone to rape than men. Additionally, research shows that 85% of women are victims of domestic violence hence explaining that most women than men benefit this two programs.

If you were able to modify a single element or aspect of each program, what would it be? Explain why.

Family Advocacy Victim Advocate Program, does not have enough trained counsellors since not many people volunteer to work for non-government organization. In this case, I would adopt a part time agreement with some local professionals in order to donate some of their free time during weekends and in the evening to help in the program. This will help the Family Advocacy Victim Advocate Program without adding unnecessary costs or depleting their funds. IN RVAP, I would consider modifying their engagement with different other institutions as well as organization and reaching the community directly. While collaboration is very important, it is important too to reach the community directly through conducting survey in different households or institutions.

Do you think the media plays a role in addressing the needs of crime victims? Explain. If yes, does it have a mostly positive or mostly negative impact? Why?

Yes, I believe the media plays an important role in addressing the needs of crime victims. The news media plays an important role through providing the public with important information concerning the extent and nature of crimes happening in the community and the efforts been taken to prevent such crimes and help victims. Sensitive and timely coverage of victim cases through the media has always been helpful and most specifically in emergency of cases that the public need to be aware of (Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime, 2017). The media raises positive degree of public concern on what measures need to be taken in order to ensure safety of different crimes.

Reference

Army Community Service. (2016). Family Adocacy Victim Advocate Program. Retrieved from

http://www.hoodmwr.com/acs/apb_favap.html

Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime (2017). Victims and the media. Retrieved from

https://crcvc.ca/publications/media-guide/victims-and-media/

(2016). “Judicial Shortcomings for Domestic Violence Victims.” SHARE, INC. Retrieved from

https://sharemorgancounty.org/2016/05/13/judicial-shortcomings-for-domestic-violence-victims/

The University of Lowa. (2017). Rape Victims Advocacy program. Retrieved from

https://rvap.uiowa.edu/about/