I have had the privilege of working with the Crime Victims Legal Network since its inception. As the lead researcher on the project, I conducted a needs assessment to inform the original design and content of the CVLN website, NY Crime Victims Legal Help. I was fortunate to speak directly with crime victims, service providers, and civil legal attorneys; their input was and continues to be crucial to the efficacy of the CVLN.
As a researcher and evaluator, I often find myself sitting at my computer, designing data collection instruments, analyzing data, and writing reports. While I enjoy this work, I look forward to opportunities to speak with members of the populations I am studying. It is incredibly rewarding to hear about the work a service provider does or the ways in which victimization impacts someone’s life. Inevitably, I learn something about myself through these conversations, which enables me to connect with the work in new and unexpected ways.
Oftentimes, the work I do culminates in a report to a funder. I do not always know if the work made a difference, if it impacted an agencies’ policies or protocols, or if it informed any changes to practice. The CVLN is unique in that I have been able to see and assist with the implementation of study recommendations. For example, in the needs assessment, we learned that victims and service providers needed information about family law, housing, and financial issues; these issues were prioritized in developing content for the CVLN website. Once the site was developed, I conducted focus groups with victims and service providers to learn their thoughts on how the site looked, how information was presented, and what needed to be added or changed. Findings led to modifications in visual elements to ensure the site was welcoming to different victims (considering type of victimization, age, race, literacy levels, and other factors).
Most recently, I spoke with individuals who assist the LGBTQ+ community. Their feedback will inform enhancements to the CVLN to ensure that it meets the needs of LGBTQ+ crime victims-that it provides useful information, makes victims feel welcome, and connects them with legal resources. Following feedback from secondary victims, we anticipate adding information and resources specific to their needs as well. Additional next steps include reaching out to victims of campus sexual assault and the service providers who assist them. In recent years there has been a growing awareness of this type of victimization, yet the CVLN website does not currently include information specific to the needs of victims of campus sexual assault. I look forward to reaching out to this population to ensure that future enhancements to the CVLN are tailored to meet their needs.
Now, almost seven years after the CVLN was first conceived, I have the pleasure of seeing the impact of my work. This is incredibly meaningful on a professional and a personal level. To be with a project from inception through continued implementation and ongoing evaluation is a rare honor. Working with such incredible partners is the icing on the cake.