National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Content Topic Results

The authors confirm that community notification efforts protect and inform residents, thereby serving the purpose that policymakers intended, but at the cost of increased public anxiety, hindered reintegration of offenders into society, and increased labor burdens on service providers. In documenting community resident responses and expectations, Zevits and Farkas acknowledge the need to educate the public about what notification laws can and cannot accomplish.

It also explores why women did not report crimes to police, and the circumstances surrounding the crime, including the relationship between victim and attacker, and the protective actions the woman attempted. Among its statistics, it found that in an average school year (a 7 month period):

It has a section on "Learning from Victims" that may be a useful tool for advocates and investigators.

This "Research in Brief" summarizes findings from a survey, conducted for the National Institute of Justice, that examined the response by criminal justice systems to immigrant victims of crime and the barriers that exist that prohibit immigrants from reporting crimes to officials. The report also highlights innovative programs serving immigrant victims.

This paper discusses the findings of the National Academy of Sciences Panel on the Understanding and Control of Violent Behavior, established to review the current status of research in violence; the extent and nature of violence in this country; promising opportunities for prevention; and areas in which further research and better measures are needed, particularly to identify causes and additional opportunities for prevention.

This NIJ special report outlines the issue of untested sexual assault kits that remain in law enforcement custody and evidence rooms and the impact that these kits have on communities and sexual assault response. The report addresses victim notification and protocol when a kit is sent for testing and appropriate follow up.