Future Policing and Parallel Justice: Helping Victims of Crime rebuild their Lives

Parallel Justice for Victims of Crime is a victim-centered framework that advocates for taking two approaches when responding to crime: holding offenders accountable while also providing support and justice for victims. Created by Susan Herman, former Executive Director of the National Center for Victims of Crime, this framework proposes operating two separate justice systems operating concurrently. One would serve criminals while the other addresses victim needs. Parallel justice seeks to ensure victims are not only acknowledged and supported but are actively included in seeking justice through a process known as parallel justice.

Parallel justice provides victims with comprehensive services and support, including emotional, financial, and legal aid regardless of whether the perpetrator is arrested and brought to justice. This approach recognizes that crime extends far beyond legal definition and that victims deserve justice and support as individuals in their own right. Parallel justice seeks to create an equitable response to crime wherein victim rights and needs are given equal importance with criminal accountability efforts.

Herman's work, including her book Parallel Justice for Victims of Crime, provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how police can play an essential role in helping crime victims rebuild their lives. Police leaders can advocate for Parallel justice in their jurisdictions, emphasizing the need for two systems - one to hold offenders accountable while repairing harm done to victims - so as to help victims rebuild their lives after experiencing the trauma induced by criminals. In the future, this advocacy will be increasingly important for both victims of crime and police leaders. The benefits to victims of police leadership advocacy are apparent. Police chiefs and sheriffs occupy a bully pulpit relative to crime control. When they speak, the public and policymakers usually listen. These leaders benefit from this advocacy as they can be seen to be supporting something other than their own agencies and officers. When they support city or county resources helping create this parallel system for victims they enhance public support and confidence in their community leadership.

The police, as the first point of contact for many victims, are in a unique position to initiate the healing process. Here are several ways in which the police can contribute today to the rebuilding of victims' lives, drawing on the principles of parallel justice and the recommendations of the National Center for Victims of Crime. Forward-leaning police leaders can work to enhance these steps in the future as they become more conversant with the practical application of parallel justice principles. Steps that policing can take today include:

1. Immediate and Compassionate Response

• Training: Police officers should receive specialized training in trauma-informed care, which focuses on understanding the impact of trauma on victims and responding in a way that minimizes re-traumatization.

• Communication: Officers should communicate with victims in a manner that is respectful, non-judgmental, and sensitive to their emotional state. This can help build trust and encourage victims to share their experiences and needs.

2. Providing Information and Referrals

• Resource Guides: Police departments can develop comprehensive guides that list local services and resources for victims, including shelters, counseling centers, legal aid, and financial assistance programs.

• Follow-Up: Officers can follow up with victims to ensure they have accessed the services they need and to provide additional support or referrals as necessary.

3. Ensuring Safety

• Risk Assessment: Police can conduct risk assessments to identify potential threats to the victim's safety and develop safety plans tailored to their specific situation.

• Collaboration: Working closely with other agencies, such as social services and domestic violence shelters, can enhance the safety and support provided to victims.

4. Victim Advocacy

• Specialized Units: Some police departments have specialized units, such as domestic violence or sexual assault units, that include victim advocates who are trained to work with specific types of crime victims.

• Empowerment: Advocates can empower victims by informing them of their rights, helping them navigate the criminal justice system, and supporting them in making their own decisions.

5. Follow-Up and Ongoing Support

• Continuity of Care: Assigning a specific officer or advocate to follow up with victims can provide continuity of care and a familiar point of contact for the victim.

• Support Groups: Police can facilitate or refer victims to support groups where they can connect with others who have had similar experiences, which can be an important part of the healing process.

6. Restorative Justice Programs

• Facilitation: Police can play a role in facilitating restorative justice meetings, ensuring that they are conducted in a safe and respectful manner.

• Voluntary Participation: It is important that participation in restorative justice programs is voluntary for victims and that they are fully informed about the process and their rights.

7. Training and Education

• Cultural Competency: Training in cultural competency can help officers understand and respect the diverse backgrounds and experiences of victims.

• Continuous Learning: Ongoing education and training opportunities can help officers stay informed about best practices in victim support and emerging issues in the field.

8. Collaboration with Community Organizations

• Partnerships: Building strong partnerships with community organizations can create a network of support for victims, providing a range of services and resources.

• Joint Initiatives: Police and community organizations can collaborate on initiatives such as public awareness campaigns, educational programs, and community events focused on supporting victims and preventing crime.

9. Policy and Advocacy

• Legislative Advocacy: Police can advocate for laws and policies that enhance the rights and protections for victims, such as confidentiality laws, victims' compensation programs, and measures to prevent intimidation and retaliation.

• Systemic Change: Police leadership can play a role in advocating for systemic changes within the criminal justice system that prioritize the needs of victims and ensure they are treated with dignity and respect.

10. Feedback and Evaluation

• Victim Surveys: Conducting surveys or interviews with victims can provide valuable feedback on their experiences with the police and the support they received.

• Continuous Improvement: Using feedback and evaluation data to identify areas for improvement and implement changes can enhance the effectiveness of police services for victims.

By focusing on these areas, the police can play a critical role in helping victims of crime rebuild their lives. It requires a commitment to victim-centered practices, ongoing training and education, collaboration with community partners, and a dedication to continuous improvement and accountability. By advocating for a system of parallel justice, and implementing policies and practices within their agencies that are consistent with this, they further a model of policing that is not only effective at crime control, but is empathetic and just to victims of crime.

Note

In addition to the National Center for Victims of Crime, readers interested in learning more about Parallel Justice for Victims of Crime can visit the Burlington Community Justice Center to read about its past experience with Parallel Justice and download its Parallel Justice Implementation Guide. To read an article by Susan Herman on Parallel Justice click here. To read a review of her book click here.