Service Providers’ Knowledge and Perceptions of the Legal Service Needs of Crime Victims

Crime Victim Service Providers’ Needs and Barriers: Rurality and “High Need”

“…Limitations noted, many of the needs and barriers identified through this study (Research Question 1) mirror those identified in previous research in terms of the types of needs and barriers faced by VSPs. For instance, needs and barriers frequently indicated by VSPs in our sample, which have been identified in previous studies, included counseling resources, culturally specific services such as bilingual resources, transportation, child care, shelter/ housing, funding, staff shortage and training opportunities, rurality, and community awareness of services (e.g., Bouffard et al, 2017;CCVAA, 2012;Elliot et al, 2013;Macy et al, 2013;MCCVS, 2001). Several needs and barriers were commonly faced by Idaho VSPs, and our findings identified a portion of providers (approximately one-third of the current sample) that were particularly disadvantaged in this regard, suggesting that these needs and barriers are not evenly distributed across providers, but instead are concentrated among certain agencies (i.e., those identified as "high need" in the present study).…”

“…The need for these services could potentially be addressed through teleservices facilitated via videoconferencing (e.g., Jones et al, 2014). Efforts to enhance familiarity, cooperation, and understanding across service providers in a state (or region) could potentially affect reported needs for referrals to community services and enhanced rural outreach (for a similar discussion see Bouffard et al, 2017). Some needs like emergency services, transportation, shelter, and child care are more challenging to address, especially in rural places; however, other needs, like heightening community awareness of services, 5 may be more manageable and accomplished through a variety of promotion tactics.…”

“…Providers have expressed concern that victims are not aware of available services (Bouffard et al, 2017; Elliot, Cellarius, & Horn, 2013; Minnesota Center for Crime Victim Services, [MCCVS], 2001; Zweig, Schlichter, & Burt, 2002); victims do not have access to services within reasonable proximity (Bouffard et al, 2017; California Crime Victims Assistance Association, [CCVAA], 2012; Cerulli et al, 2015; Elliot et al, 2013); services are simply lacking for specific types of victims, for example, human trafficking (Reid, 2010), male victims of abuse (Tsui, Cheung, & Leung, 2010), deaf individuals (Cerulli et al, 2015), and immigrants (CCVAA, 2012; Elliot et al, 2013); and/or specific types of services are lacking, for example, civil legal aid (CCVAA, 2012), child care (CCVAA, 2012; Elliot et al, 2013; MCCVS, 2001), and housing (CCVAA, 2012; Elliot et al, 2013; MCCVS, 2001). Related to service access, providers have identified specific barriers such as lack of transportation and privacy or the ability to discreetly access services (Bouffard et al, 2017; CCVAA, 2012; Eastman & Bunch, 2007; Elliot et al, 2013; MCCVS, 2001; McGrath et al, 2012; Zweig et al, 2002). Another commonly reported barrier to quality service provision is provider training, including training access and training content based on the victim populations served (Eastman, Bunch, Williams, & Carawan, 2007; Elliot et al, 2013; MCCVS, 2001; Neff, Patterson, & Johnson, 2012; Rosay, 2009; Spence-Diehl & Potocky-Tripodi, 2001; Tsui et al, 2010; Yun et al, 2009).…”

“…Reported barriers related to contextual or community factors are variable, but the theme of the relationship between the community context and service provision is noted in several studies. For examples, McGrath et al (2012) discussed the influence of victim-blaming attitudes (e.g., female victims are liars, promiscuous, getting what they deserve) and adherence to traditional gender roles as barriers in their study’s findings; Cerulli et al (2015) explored the role that stigmatization of deaf persons plays in their experiences with VSPs; Ullman and Townsend’s (2007) sample addressed the influence of racism and its impact on service provision (e.g., victims of color not being believed by police as readily); and intraagency communication and the treatment of victims by certain community partners/organizations have been noted as barriers to satisfactory service access (Bouffard et al, 2017; MCCVS, 2001; Ullman & Townsend, 2007). Finally, with direct relevance to the current study, rurality has been explored in regard to how it creates or enhances existing barriers in several VSP studies.…”