System-based victim advocates identify resources and barriers to supporting crime victims

Abstract

Often left out of conversations around criminal justice reform are the victims of violent crimes. One group of people who have the needs of crime victims at the forefront of their work are victim advocates. The current study examines barriers and resources for victim advocates in being able to do their work of supporting crime victims. Through interviews with nine system-based victim advocates points of intervention are identified, which if improved would allow victim advocates to better be able to support victims of crimes. Using principles of grounded theory analysis, four themes emerged: building partnerships and community support, intersectionality, resources and supports, and bureaucracy. In order to better support victim advocates in their work, systems need to remove bureaucratic barriers. There is also a need for access to culturally sensitive mental health services and supports.

Action against inequalities: a synthesis of social justice & equity, diversity, inclusion frameworks

“…In conjunction with the Politics of Difference, Young's Social Connection Model proposes that the same structure which creates inequalities for certain groups can simultaneously advance the opportunities and influence of other groups [81]. This highlighting of structural inequalities Multiple Statuses: (tally statuses below) [115][116][117][118][119] Poverty [120,121] Intellectual Disability [122,123] Physical Disability [124,125] Chronic Health & Chronic Mental Health [126,127] Addiction, including Neonatal Abstinence [128,129] Lifelong Caregiver [130,131] Foster Experience [132,133] Indigenous/ Aboriginal [134,135] Survivor of Abuse [136,137] Victim of Crime [138,139] Incarceration [140,141] Homelessness or Street/Shelter Experience [142,143] Race [144,145] Rural or Isolated Geography [146,147] Ageism: Children & Seniors [148] Gender [149,150] Hayvon International Journal for Equity in Health (2024) 23:106 is complemented by Young's argument for Five Faces of Oppression, which categorizes inequalities into: economic exploitation, socio-economic marginalization, powerlessness over one's work, cultural imperialism, and systematic violence [55]. In combination, Young's theories of social justice informs the synthesis of constructs number 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8.…”

Perceptions of Institutional Response to Sexual Assault Amongst College-Based Victim Advocates

“…Effective partnerships across disciplines have been found to play a primary role in helping crime victims (De La Rue et al, 2023). However, both community advocates (Kolb, 2012) and campus-based advocates (Brubaker & Keegan, 2019) indicate that their work is often devalued by other professionals.…”

“…How campus-based victim advocates perceive institutional response may be influenced by the strength of these relationships within their campus community. In a qualitative study of victim advocates based in the criminal justice system, stronger partnerships were identified by respondents as a key to effectively helping crime victims (De La Rue et al, 2023). However, campus-based victim advocates have indicated that their expertise is devalued, compared to attorneys and administrators, even those who may not have Title IX experience (Brubaker & Keegan, 2019).…”

“…Understanding their perceptions of institutional response and the factors that contribute to these perceptions may help bridge this gap in the literature and further inform Title IX practices and policy at the campus and national level. While we know that burnout and secondary trauma are associated with how those in the helping profession perceive their workplace (Hippel et al, 2019), and that organizational relationships and leadership deeply influence workplace perceptions (De La Rue et al, 2023; Wilson & Goodman, 2021), how these factors influence victim advocate perception of institutional response has yet to be tested. This article explores different psychosocial and organizational factors that may contribute to advocate perceptions of how campuses respond to sexual assault.…”

We Are Humans Too

“…High caseloads and burnout place advocates at a significant risk for mental health challenges. Jurisdictions must provide adequate funding to increase the number of advocate positions so that these professionals can provide a higher level of care, while reducing their chance of burnout (De La Rue, Ortega, Castro Rodriguez, 2023). Therefore, increasing awareness may help to advocate for more positions, and as a result, spread the caseloads across more individuals.…”