Information Center: With NIC's focus on Justice-Involved individuals, why an initiative on victims?

Ms Brisbin: The initiative is to develop opportunities and resources for victim service providers who work in post-conviction settings.  Most of the traditional resources and funding that is available for victim service providers focuses on the “front end” of the criminal justice system, while very little attention is paid to the services that must occur for victims after a case disposition. 

Information Center: How did you get involved in working with victims?

Ms Brisbin: I was initially a volunteer in a local police department victim/witness office.  My work with the NIC Victim Service Providers Initiative began as a result of my attendance at a national conference for victim service providers.  When I learned about the incredible people that serve victims from inside DOC’s and Parole Boards, many times with no resources, I really felt we needed to find some opportunities for them.  These hard-working staff may cover services ranging from monitoring electronic notification systems to escorting victims to executions. 

Information Center: Do states have mandates for working with victims in the post-conviction stage?

Ms Brisbin: All fifty states and the federal government afford victims basic rights under statute across the entire continuum of the criminal justice experience.  Those rights include notification at various stages of the criminal justice process – if it is a decision that impacts the offender, chances are it will impact the victim or survivor.  There are also rights regarding restitution and compensation and the right to be heard during court and parole proceedings. 

Information Center: What types of services do corrections agencies provide for victims during probation and parole?

Ms Brisbin: Services can include notification of changes in the offender’s status, proceedings that impact release decisions; collection or monitoring of restitution payments; facilitating opportunities such as victim impact panels, apology letter banks and no contact orders; and in some states, participation in the victim/offender dialogue process. 

Information Center: How should institutions address requests from victims for visits and communication with incarcerated offenders?

Ms Brisbin: Any requests of this kind should be referred to the internal victim services office – all fifty DOC’s have someone that serves in this capacity.  The department victim services coordinator will discuss the request with the victim and determine how it should be handled.  It is important to remember that many agencies prohibit the identified victim from visiting the incarcerated individual.

Please note that this initiative is NOT about direct services provided to victims but to the staff members tasked with navigating this extremely demanding and misunderstood area of our business.