Caroline Bailey

Communities across the country are calling for a re-examination of how the police interface with citizens. Research and evaluation can help inform these conversations by examining existing innovative models within police departments that impact interactions between the police and the public. The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority funded the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois at Chicago to conduct an evaluability assessment of one such model, police department-based victim assistance programs. Evaluators assessed four Illinois sites to examine program operations, service provision, and program benefits. The evaluation found increased victim access to, and awareness of, their rights and service options were related to improved victim outcomes. In addition, the programs increased police understanding of trauma and victim behavior, as well as awareness of, and access to, victim-relevant resources. Recommendations for program improvement are provided.