Variation in Perspectives on Service Adequacy across Crime Victim Service Providers, Culturally Specific Organizations, and Law Enforcement

Background and Purpose: The needs of people who experience a crime, whether a property or violent crime, vary from short-term financial assistance to long-term support and care. In addition to variation in service needs post-victimization, service availability and adequacy often vary. Victims of crime may seek supportive services in a variety of places, including law enforcement, culturally-specific organizations (e.g., local LGBTQ+ center), or crime victims service organizations. This study reports on the perspectives of representatives from various types of organizations regarding the adequacy of services for crime victims.

Methods: A web-based organizational survey was distributed to representatives from organizations across the state and examined service availability, perceptions of service accessibility and barriers, and adequacy of services. Respondents were asked to indicate adequacy of existing services for multiple underserved or minoritized populations (e.g., LGBTQ+ individuals, refugees, veterans, people with disabilities, BIPOC individuals, currently or formerly incarcerated individuals). Organizations fit into one of three categories: crime victims service providers (n=114), organizations that serve specific cultural groups or priority populations (n=55), and law enforcement agencies (n=161). Data were analyzed using descriptive and bivariate inferential statistics to compare perceptions between type of organization, demographic group, and type of crime addressed.

Results: Results show statistically significant differences in perceptions about adequacy of services that address specific crime types (e.g., arson, assault, bullying). For example, 60% of respondents indicated that the needs of victims of domestic and/or family violence were adequately met in the community. However, respondents from culturally-specific organizations were significantly less likely to indicate that these services were adequate (21%) than respondents from crime victims service organizations or law enforcement agencies (65% and 72.6%, respectively). Results also show variation in perspectives about the adequacy of services for members from historically underserved and minoritized groups. For example, 27% of respondents indicated that individuals with psychiatric disabilities who were victims of crime are adequately served in the community. However, this perception differed by type of organization: 17% of crime victim service providers perceived services for this population as adequate, compared to 5% of culturally-specific organizations and 47% of law enforcement agency respondents. Similarly, 34% of respondents perceived services for older victims of crime (65 years or older) as adequate, compared with 28% of crime victims service providers, 6% of culturally-specific organizations, and 52% of law enforcement agency respondents.

Conclusions and Implications: Differences in organizations’ perceptions of service adequacy may indicate varying levels of awareness of service availability and quality and/or differential understanding of victims’ needs. Future research should investigate the adequacy of services from the perspective of victims of crime. It is important for state systems and service providers to identify inadequately served groups and address the unmet needs of victims within them. If services are perceived as adequate by organizational representatives but not by victims of crime, organizations and policymakers should improve the accuracy of their own perceptions and the quality of services provided. This session will conclude with a discussion about the discrepancies across organizational perspectives and the potential impact on clients.