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Show Larry Landward, Director of the Davis County Victim and Witness Assistance Program, recently described the program to the Breakfast Exchange Club of Bountiful. HE EXPLAINED that traditionally the main focus of the criminal justice system is on the offender, with crime being viewed as an event affronting society. The identity iden-tity of the victim and the victim's vic-tim's problems have typically been ignored. Mr. Landward explained that Davis County received federal assistance about l2 years ago to undertake a pilot program to assist the victims of crime. The pilot program was one of only eight in the nation. THE PROBLEMS victims experience include loss of personal possessions, which become evidence in criminal prosecutions but are often never returned; a lack of interest in the victim's problems by police and prosecuting authorities; being be-ing required to tell and re-tell and hence to repeatedly relive re-live the agonizing events of the crime and requirements of repeated court attendance at great personal inconvenience and inconvenience to employers and family members. Local examples of victim frustration in dealing with the criminal justice system were described by Mr. Landward. In one case a 7-year old child was severely injured by a 38-year 38-year old man who picked up the child and slammed her down on the ground hard enough to severely injure the child. The man took the position posi-tion that "the kid deserved . it." The police, instead of telling the mother what she could do about it, asked her what she expected them to do about it. The mother finally called the office of the County Attorney in desperation because no one else would listen to her. IN ANOTHER local incident, in-cident, a 13-year old girl was raped. On the date of the defendant's arraignment, the defendant kidnapped the girl. The parents were unable to find out what, if anything, the law enforcement agencies were doing for several days and finally one week later phoned the County Attorney to report that no one at all would tell the parents what was being be-ing done to help them find their daughter. In yet another local instance, in-stance, a 12-year old girl was raped. Two physicians in succession suc-cession refused to examine her following the attack, taking the position that they could not take the time later to appear in court. ANOTHER TIME a wife was severely beaten by her husband hus-band several times, and when she finally complained to law enforcement officers, overheard them comment that "it was his right to keep her in line." She therefore did not report the next six incidents, and the seventh time was beaten so severely she received a fractured skull. Landward explained that a Davis County survey of felony . victims discloses that 26.9 percent had been previously victimized or had seen a crime and yet did not report it to the police. The reason commonly given was that the witnesses and victims simply did not think reporting the crime would make any difference. OFTEN TIMES the average citizen will ignore a crime because he does not know where he is supposed to report it or what he has to do, or what will be the result if he does report it. Law enforcement enforce-ment officers are often too busy to give simple answers to witnesses to crimes, including the location of the court, the nature of a preliminary hearing and what will occur if the witness does . not attend, the length of time the witness will be required to attend and what will be expected ex-pected of the witness at the court. The recognition of these kinds of problems led to the creation of a Commission on Vicitm-Witness Assistance under the sponsorship of the National District Attorney's Association. Field offices were established in New York, Kentucky, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Chicago, Denver, Oakland and Farmington, Utah. Within the past 18 months over 400 similar programs have been established throughout the nation. THE VICTIM-Witness Assistance As-sistance Program in Davis Coutny provides several services: ser-vices: 1. A sex crime response unit. Eight women have been trained to provide warm, caring, helpful response to victims of sexual assault. Two of these women responded immediately on Friday, March 26, 1976, when the abduction ab-duction and rape of a 15-year old Bountiful girl was reported. report-ed. THESE WOMEN are present during doctor visits, during the investigation and questioning of witnesses, and during the collection of evidence. They make fol low-up visits, assist with court appearances ap-pearances when required of victims, and provide counseling coun-seling and referral service. 2. A crisis intervention program. Immediate response res-ponse is made to any crisis situation. 3. AN information unit provides information on the progress of the case and an explanation of the events oc-curing oc-curing in the criminal justice system to victims. 4. A court preparation service. ser-vice. This advises witnesses of what is expected of them and how to respond appropriately to examination and cross-examination. 5. AN ESCORT service. In one case, a physician was transported from the delivery room to court and back again to the hospital, all within 14 minutes. His testimony was critical to the prosecution's case. 6. A court appearance control. con-trol. The Davis County unit has been able to prevent 60-80 percent of unnecessary court appearances. 7. INTIMIDATION control. 8. Employer intervention service. Often the Davis County program has been able to enlist the cooperation of employers to make victim -witness employees available without docking their pay. 9. PROPERTY RETURN assistance. 10. Social service referral system. 11. BABY SITTING service. 12. Interviewing and investigation inves-tigation work. 13. AN ALERT system. This makes it possible for witnesses wit-nesses to remain at work or at home until just before they are required in court. The basic objective of all the services provided by the Davis County program is to respond in a timely, personal, human way to persons who are victims and witnesses of crimes. THE DAVIS County Victim-Witness Assistance Program is one instance in which dedicated individuals have made a iocal government govern-ment program genuinely responsive re-sponsive to the needs of the citizen. |