ABSTRACT
Crime victimization can be a traumatic experience that results in numerous negative behavioral, health, and emotional problems, including the perpetration of criminal behavior. Victim services can play an important role in crime prevention, but little research has examined their effectiveness in this way. This chapter provides a brief overview of the consequences of violent victimization and the service programs developed to address the needs of adult crime victims. We discuss three promising practices within victim services: (1) trauma-informed care, (2) culturally competent services, and (3) trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. We also discuss gaps and challenges, including the lack of service use by crime victims and the need for more empirical research to further develop knowledge on “what works” in victim services.
