Victim Services

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The National Institute of Corrections is currently assessing its website and materials in accordance with recent Executive Orders and related guidance. During this review, some of NIC’s webpages and publications may be temporarily unavailable. Please revisit this web page for updates.

This webpage focuses on victim services such as corrections, reentry, parole, and probation that occur after an offender has been convicted, and it will provide resources and information for those working in this important, but rarely recognized area of corrections.

Victims have statutory rights that begin the moment a crime is committed against them. Ideally, victims would be fully informed of their rights at every step in the process: at the time the crime is reported, during the justice process, while the offender is incarcerated, and when the offender reenters the community. Different criminal justice stakeholders are responsible for victim services at each stage of this process.

Many states have created statutes that mirror and expand the federal provisions under 18 U.S.C. Section 3771. It is very important to know and understand the victim rights in your own jurisdiction, how those rights have been interpreted and what agency is responsible for providing for those rights. In many states the duties for post-conviction services are shared between the state departments of correction and the paroling authority.

Agencies wishing to participate in training and/or examine and improve their response to victim services in corrections may apply for technical assistance here: I'm Looking for Technical Assistance for My Agency

Victim Services

Resource Links

Topic Categories and Resources

Below, you’ll find expandable gray bars (accordions) that contain curated resources for this topic. For additional research help, please contact our helpdesk. Click any accordion to explore the resources in that section.

Agencies

Center for Victim Research

The Center for Victim Research is designed to serve as a one-stop shop for victim service providers and researchers to connect and share knowledge to increase (1) access to victim research and data and (2) the utility of research and data collection to crime victim services nationwide.

JUST Alternatives

JUST Alternatives is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to supporting victims/survivors of violence and violation, and to the advancement of promising Victim-Centered practices in justice and corrections. The mission is to identify and support effective alternative approaches to reducing violence and victimization in our culture by affirming crime victims’ needs and the power of personal accountability among offenders.

The National Association of Victim Assistance in Corrections (NAVAC)

The National Association of Victim Assistance in Corrections provides an enthusiastic voice for corrections-based and other post-conviction victim services.

National Center for Victims of Crime

The mission of the National Center for Victims of Crime is to forge a national commitment to help victims of crime rebuild their lives. They are dedicated to serving individuals, families, and communities harmed by crime.

Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)

OVC is committed to enhancing the Nation’s capacity to assist crime victims and to providing leadership in changing attitudes, policies, and practices to promote justice and healing for all victims of crime.

Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)

The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) provides federal leadership in developing the national capacity to reduce violence against women and administer justice for and strengthen services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Research

Human Trafficking in Correctional Institutions: A Survey of Correctional and Anti-Trafficking Leaders

Growing awareness of the overlap between justice involvement and human trafficking victimization has led to calls for correctional institutions to prevent, identify, and respond to trafficking. However, it is unclear how correctional facilities (i.e., jails and prisons) are responding to such calls to action. To examine current efforts to address human trafficking in U.S. correctional facilities, this study surveyed correctional and anti-trafficking leaders about their perceptions and experiences with human trafficking screening, response, and training in correctional facilities.

Risk and Resilience Among Children with Incarcerated Parents: Examining Heterogeneity in Delinquency and School Outcomes.

The present study utilized latent profile analysis with 1088 children with incarcerated parents to identify heterogeneity in behavioral and social problems.

Successes and Challenges in Implementing a Human Trafficking Screening Tool in a Local Detention Center

A victim-centered, trauma-informed screening tool was implemented in a local detention center to identify human trafficking victims, with the purpose of offering them resources to facilitate their exit from trafficking situations. This article outlines the creation and implementation of the tool and discusses its successes, challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations for replication.

Youth for Youth: Raising the Voices of Children of Incarcerated Parents and Implications for Policy and Practice

The aims of [this] study were (1) to explore the impact of having an incarcerated parent on youth (ages 10–18) wellbeing; and (2) to identify recommendations from the youth based on their needs which address the challenges of having an incarcerated parent and promote individual and community flourishing.

Created: August 9, 2022

Updated: June 5, 2025