For the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, responding to a crime scene isn’t just about apprehending the perpetrator. Helping the victim is also a big part of the job.
The office is one of 11 police agencies nationwide noted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police for its work developing a strategy for improving how police respond to victims.
The 11 agencies are acting as pilot sites for implementing the initiative and educating other forces about responding to crime victims.
The strategy, Loudoun Capt. Jeff Ebersole said, focuses on making sure officers pay attention to victims’ “seven critical needs.”
Those needs, he said, are safety, support, information, access, continuity, a voice and justice.
“You don’t take the report, say thank you and start looking for the criminal,” Ebersole said. “It’s going back to the victim and establishing a relationship to fulfill those seven critical needs.”
Improving communication with victims has involved “a lot of simple things,” such as adding e-mail addresses to officers’ business cards, Ebersole said. The office has also conducted a survey of victims to assess their needs, and is planning a second survey this year.
Deputies are also evaluated on how they handle victims, he said.
The Loudoun sheriff’s office became involved in the initiative three years ago when Sheriff Steve Simpson learned about it at a conference. The department applied to be a testing site, and was selected.
Since then, it has educated other agencies about responding to victims and the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy now incorporates the strategy into its training, Ebersole said.
Authorities think the initiative pays off for law enforcement.
“By further enhancing the interests and needs of crime victims, we can increase the likelihood that suspects are arrested and successfully prosecuted,” Simpson said in a statement.
