Impact Evaluation of Victim Services Programs: STOP Grants Funded by the Violence Against Women Act

• NCJ Number: 192283
• Author(s): Barbara E. Smith, Robert C. Davis, Laura B. Nickles
• Date Published: January 2000
• Length: 59 pages
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored

Annotation

This report presents the findings from a survey and interviews to determine the impact of a sample of STOP-Violence-Against-Women projects funded under the Federal Violence Against Women Act.

Abstract

This project surveyed two samples of program representatives to obtain information about STOP grant programs: a sample of representatives of STOP subgrantee programs and a sample of representatives of programs that worked in close cooperation with STOP subgrantees to serve victims. The sampling frame for the project was defined as STOP subgrantees awarded to criminal justice agencies for delivery of services to domestic-violence, sexual-assault, and stalking victims. Sixty-two interviews were completed with STOP subgrantee program representatives. An additional 96 interviews were completed with representatives of programs that worked in coordination with the 62 STOP programs. The majority of surveyed programs reported that they were able to serve more victims, expand the type of services, and provide more comprehensive services as a direct result of the STOP funding. The vast majority of respondents believed that STOP grants resulted in empowering victims and improving victims' psychosocial well-being. Improvement in victim's financial circumstances was also noted, but by fewer program respondents than cited improvements in the areas of empowerment and psychosocial functioning. According to the majority of respondents, STOP grants had a direct impact on keeping victims better informed about criminal justice actions taken in their cases; improving the treatment of victims by the criminal justice system; yielding more successful prosecutions; and reducing the number of victims withdrawing their support from the prosecution. The majority of respondents reported that STOP funds impacted on the way domestic violence and sexual assault victims were treated by the community. STOP funds extended the range of services provided by community programs; increased the coordination of victim services; and increased awareness of issues related to violence against women. Suggestions are offered for future research. 8 tables, 52 references, and appended survey instrument