Available free from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS)
by phoning (800) 851-3420.
It can also be ordered online at www.puborder.ncjrs.org
or downloaded from
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications
/infores/firstrep/2001/welcome.html
Use the reference number NCJ 189631 when ordering.

Designed for "first responders" to a crime scene, this handbook offers basic guidelines for law enforcement officers to use in assisting victims of interpersonal violence and/or drunken driving accidents. The first section of the handbook provides tips for responding to victims' three basic needs "to feel safe, to express their feelings, and to know "what comes next." Separate sections offer specific tips for interacting with victims of various types of trauma and violence, including child abuse victims, elderly victims, surviving family members of homicide victims, and victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. This handbook is a revised version of the original May 2000 edition and includes new guidelines for assisting victims of motor vehicle accidents that involve the use of alcohol. Resource listings include hotlines and toll-free numbers that individuals can use to help them cope with and recover from incidents of criminal victimization.

Recommended for law enforcement professionals who have first contact with victims of crime following a traumatic or violent incident.

©2001, U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime.