Increasing our understanding of victim services: statistical estimates from the 2019 National Survey of Victim Service Providers

• In Event: Utilizing Federal Data to Understand Victim Service Provisions in the United States

Abstract

Objective: This research aims to examine key characteristics of victim service providers (VSPs) in the United States, such as services provided by these organizations and understanding gaps in services.
Data/Methods: In 2019, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), with the assistance of Westat and representatives from the victim services field, completed the first ever National Survey of Victim Service Providers (NSVSP). This survey was the second part of a new two-phased collection on victim services – the National Census and Survey of Victim Service Providers (NCVSP/NSVSP). The NSVSP instrument includes items on the type of services offers, victim characteristics, and VSP organizational structure. It was administered to a representative sample of VSPs selected from the 2017 NCVSP roster, via a web-based survey.
Results: Results will present information on the average number of services provided, most common services provided, services delivered by VSP type, gaps in services, and common referrals to VSPs.
Conclusions/Implications: Services delivered to victims differ by VSP type (nonprofit or faith-based, governmental, hospital/medical/emergency, campus, and tribal). The VSP field is vast and data are integral to understanding the field more thoroughly.

Author

• Alexandra Thompson, U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics