In Their Own Words: Domestic Abuse in Later Life (August 2010)
This two-DVD package and training guide (NCJ 227928) uses the voices of older victims to facilitate a dialog among a range of professionals about the dynamics of abuse, the barriers these victims have to overcome to live free from abuse, and interventions and potential collaborations that may be effective in such cases. In addition to individual segments with victims, family members, victim service providers, and allied professionals, the DVDs include several topical segments and a montage of victim and advocate voices designed for use by policymakers. It also includes an interactive role play between a parish nurse and an adult daughter caring for her father intended to help professionals recognize justifications for elder mistreatment. A trainer’s guide (PDF 1.4 mb), which accompanies these DVDs, provides background on the victims and discussion questions targeted at a variety of professional audiences.

Responding to Elder Abuse: What Community Corrections Should Know (August 2010)
This 17-minute video (NCJ 223414) is one of a series of three DVDs on elder abuse created for specific audiences. The video provides community corrections professionals with the information they need to help identify and respond to elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation they may encounter in their work with offenders. It includes basic information about what to consider when placing offenders in residential situations, communicating effectively with older victims, following mandatory reporting laws, and working collaboratively with other organizations. A discussion guide accompanies this series. (Guide available September/October 2010.)

Responding to Elder Abuse: What Judges and Court Personnel Should Know (August 2010)
This 14-minute video (NCJ 223415) is one of a series of three DVDs on elder abuse created for specific audiences. The video highlights critical issues for judges and court personnel to consider when they encounter abused, neglected, and exploited older persons participating in the judicial system. The video illustrates what judges may face in these situations, offers recommendations focused on the special needs of older abuse victims, and highlights examples of successful court-based elder abuse initiatives. A discussion guide accompanies this series. (Guide available September/October 2010.)

Responding to Elder Abuse: What Law Enforcement Should Know (August 2010)
This 15-minute video (NCJ 223413) is one of a series of three DVDs on elder abuse created for specific audiences. The video describes what law enforcement officers can do when they encounter elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation in residences, nursing homes, or other long-term care facilities. It includes basic information about locating appropriate referral resources for intervention and support for the older abuse victim, following mandatory reporting laws, and working collaboratively with other organizations. A discussion guide accompanies this series. (Guide available September/October 2010.)

Crime Victims Fund (April 2010)
This updated OVC fact sheet (FS 000319) provides information about the Fund, established by the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), and the various grant programs (formula and discretionary) funded using VOCA dollars. Also available in other languages.

What Is the Office for Victims of Crime? (April 2010)
This updated fact sheet (FS000321) describes OVC's mission and major responsibilities. Also available in other languages.

What You Can Do If You Are a Victim of Crime (April 2010)
This updated OVC brochure (BC000767) explains the rights of victims of crime and the compensation and assistance resources available to them. It also lists national organizations that help victims find information or obtain referrals. Also available in other languages.

OVC Publishing Guidelines (Third Edition, revised March 2010)
This OVC guide (NCJ 229712) describes the criteria you must follow when preparing all types of communication products for publication. It includes guidance on developing e-publications and producing multimedia products that will help expedite the publishing process. Of special importance are submission deadlines and requirements (including file setup guidelines). Other topics include the publishing process, product types, writing tips, and legal and policy requirements. The guidelines are designed to help grantees, vendors, and others work more efficiently with OVC to produce quality products that exceed professional standards of excellence.

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Resource Guide (February 2010)
This guide (NCJ 228418) was developed to help communities and victim assistance providers promote awareness of crime victim issues and help commemorate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) held each year in April. The guide features tips for working with the media, customizable public awareness posters, campaign materials, a theme DVD, public service announcements, and more.

OVC's Technical Assistance Guides (January 2010)
This series is made up of four guides that are tools for victim service providers and allied professionals who want or need to conduct program evaluations or needs assessments. The Guide to Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (NCJ 228961) reviews the basic steps involved in conducting program evaluations. The Guide to Conducting a Needs Assessment (NCJ 228962) describes how to assess the community, target population, and available services. The Guide to Hiring a Local Evaluator (NCJ 228963) lays out how to determine whether the program should conduct the evaluation or assessment or whether an independent evaluator should be hired. The Guide to Protecting Human Subjects (NCJ 228964) provides basic information about the federal regulations that protect the privacy and confidentiality of persons involved in research and explains how they pertain to needs assessments and program evaluations.

2009 OVC Report to the Nation: Putting Victims First (December 2009)
This biennial OVC report (NCJ 226030) outlines the activities and accomplishments of the Office for Victims of Crime during Fiscal Years 2007 and 2008. Each section summarizes victims’ needs in that area and relates how funding from OVC makes a crucial difference in the lives of crime victims. Topics include the Crime Victims Fund—a powerful resource for supporting services to victims; meeting the needs of priority victims; victim funding in Indian Country; and funding and assistance for victims of international trafficking, terrorism and mass violence, identity theft, and domestic violence.

International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program (June 2009)
This brochure describes the International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program (ITVERP), which is authorized by Congress to reimburse eligible direct victims of acts of international terrorism that occur outside the United States for expenses associated with that victimization. It includes a list of the expenses that are eligible for reimbursement; explains the difference between itemized, interim emergency, and supplemental applications; and provides deadlines for filing a claim.
PDF (256 kb)

Good Samaritans: Volunteers Helping Victims—Program Handbook and Training Guide (April 2009)
This online guide (NCJ 225703) is designed for prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, community groups, and faith-based organizations interested in using volunteers to expand their outreach to crime victims. A product of the Good Samaritans program in Mobile, Alabama, it provides guidance for replicating the program in other communities, as Mobile has done, and training volunteers to provide emergency services to victims including home repair, compassionate support, and referrals to other services.

Strengthening Sexual Assault Victims’ Right to Privacy (April 2009)
This online guide (NCJ 226501), developed by Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services, Inc., provides recommendations to statewide sexual assault coalitions and rape crisis centers concerned with protecting sexual assault victims’ privacy. It addresses common challenges, discusses core concepts, and offers practical tips to maintain victim confidentiality to better serve victims.

Victim Services in Rural Law Enforcement (April 2009)
In the aftermath of crime, many victims in rural areas never receive the vital services necessary to begin recovery. Victim Services in Rural Law Enforcement (NCJ 226275) summarizes an OVC-sponsored project of the National Sheriffs’ Association and the Office of the Alabama Attorney General, which developed 17 models for establishing or enhancing rural victims’ assistance. This replication guide offers a blueprint for establishing local programs, outlining approaches, successes, and lessons learned.

Ethics in Victim Services (April 2009)
No issue is more complex—or important—than the ethical considerations related to serving victims of crime. Ethics in Victim Services, OVC’s newest online training curriculum, provides information related to values and responses to victims; ethics and standards in victim services; and ethical decision-making. Downloadable materials include Instructor and Participant Manuals, PowerPoint slides and vignettes, and a customizable agenda.

Terrorism and International Victim Assistance Services (April 2009)
This OVC brochure (BC 000753) was developed for crime victims and service providers as a comprehensive, accessible source of information about specific programs that support victims of domestic and international terrorism and mass violence, as well as victims of global crimes, such as child abduction and tourist-targeted victimization. The programs described in this brochure are the Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program, the International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program, the Crime Victim Assistance Emergency Fund, and the Victim Reunification Travel Program.

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Some of these documents may be ordered online through the Publications/ Products menu of the National Criminal Justice Reference Service. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader to read all PDF documents. Foreign Language Translator (Babel Fish)