Support for Incorporating an Enhanced Response to Victims as a Priority in Daily Law Enforcement Operations

Submitted by: Victim Services Committee

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WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, with support and funding from the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, has developed, field tested, validated, and updated the "Enhancing Law Enforcement Response to Victims Strategy"; and

WHEREAS, the 1999 "What Do Victims Want?" National Summit identified the seven critical needs of all victims: safety, support, information, access, continuity, voice, and justice; and

WHEREAS, the "Enhancing Law Enforcement Response to Victims Strategy" focuses on all victims of all crimes, and was developed around four core areas: leadership, partnering, training, and performance monitoring; and

WHEREAS, an enhanced response to crime victims involves treating all victims and their families with empathy, compassion, and respect to maximize feelings of safety and security; provide access to information and referrals for assistance; inform victims of their rights and what to expect as their cases move forward; and avoid victim blaming; and

WHEREAS, effective response to victims is the responsibility of all law enforcement personnel, across ranks and disciplines; and

WHEREAS, addressing the seven critical needs of victims through enhanced response strategies can lead to increased law enforcement legitimacy and community trust; and

WHEREAS, the Enhancing Law Enforcement Response to Victims Strategy, 2nd edition includes updated foundational Strategy documents, videos, sample material, and templates and is available to all law enforcement agencies free of charge; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) calls upon every chief of police to incorporate into their organization's daily operations an improved victim response philosophy outlined in the "Enhancing Law Enforcement Response to Victims Strategy."