1997-98 Academy Text Supplement

Chapter 6


Dynamics of the Criminal Justice System and the Current Status of Victims' Rights

Statistical Overview

date). (Federal Bureau of Investigation. Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted - 1995. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.)

Results of Recent Federal Legislation Regarding Law Enforcement

The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 authorized funds to promote community policing and to add 100,000 community policing officers over six years. As of 1997, the following initiatives have occurred with respect to enhancing community policing efforts:

(Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Public Law No. 103-322, Title IV)

Implementation of Victims' Rights

With support from the National Institute of Justice, the National Victim Center released the results of a study in the spring of 1997 about the implementation of victims' rights laws in four states. The Center selected two states that had strong statutory protections for victims' rights and two states whose statutes provided more limited victims' rights protections. The study determined the following:

(National Institute of Justice. (1997). "Crime Victim Responses Regarding Victims' Rights." Research in Brief. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.)

Research Summaries Available from the U.S. Department of Justice

In 1997, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) within the U.S. Department of Justice published two reports summarizing the vast research that has been conducted with support from NIJ within the past few years. These two publications are important resources for those who strive to keep up-to-date on the myriad research being conducted in the justice- and victim-related fields. A brief summary of these publications is provided below.

Criminal Justice Research Under the Violent Crime Control

and Law Enforcement Act -- 1995 to 1996

The 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act (Crime Act) was enacted by Congress in response to concern over the continuing high rates of violent crime. Over the six-year life of the Act, Congress authorized the expenditure of $30.2 billion to support local criminal justice. In the first three years (1994-1997), $11.1 billion was appropriated by Congress. Literally thousands of local and state programs have been funded under the Act. Among others, these include community policing initiatives, domestic violence intervention programs, drug courts, and new prison construction.

As a result, tremendous innovations are occurring at an accelerated rate across the justice system and in local communities across our nation. There are increased opportunities for the assessment and evaluation of programs, policies, and practices to determine what works and to disseminate research on effective interventions.

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) was assigned the responsibility for much of the research and evaluation to be conducted under the Crime Act. The research agenda of NIJ has been developed with significant input from all offices within the Justice Department that administer the program components of the Crime Act, including the Violence Against Women Grants Office and the Office for Victims of Crime. The many research projects that have been initiated with support from NIJ include, for example, studies that are intended to determine:

(Reardon, J. (1997, September 13). Criminal Justice Research Under the Crime Act -- 1995-1996, NCJ-166142. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice.)

Research Portfolio from the National Institute of Justice

In November of 1997, NIJ released its research portfolio for projects supported through June of 1997. Of the many projects currently being funded by NIJ, many aspects of crime victimization are being addressed, including issues relating to homicide, domestic violence, gangs, HIV/AIDS, the impact of legislative initiatives, community policing and many other subjects. (National Institute of Justice. (1997, November). "1997 Research Portfolio [Interim]," NCJ-166374. Research in Brief. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.)