"We would be lost without them": Detectives Experiences and Perceptions of Violent Crime Victim Advocate Work

• In Event: Perceptions of Investigators and the Evolving Landscape of Policing

Abstract

Criminal justice policy is continually evolving. Several recent efforts seek to align justice with victim wellbeing. Evidence-based approaches, including trauma-informed and victim-centered frameworks, are at the forefront of these discussions. As experts in these practices, victim advocates are poised to be a force for good in the criminal justice system; however, prior victim advocacy research and practice has overwhelmingly been limited to certain victims (e.g., youths) and crime types (e.g., domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking). To understand deputy experiences and perceptions of working with victim advocates in violent crimes, such as homicide and robbery, 48 detectives in the Violent Crimes Division (VCD) of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office were surveyed. Results indicate that detectives held favorable opinions of victim advocates. Victim advocates were found to 1) bring trauma-informed and victim-centeredness to their cases, 2) aid detectives in their communication with victim, witnesses, and next of kin, and 3) allowed detectives to focus their attention on the case. Substantively, victim advocates were highly valued by VCD detectives. The policy implications and areas of future research are discussed.

Authors

• Colette Content, Florida Atlantic University

• Seth Wyatt Fallik, Florida Atlantic University