Document Type

Report

Publication Date

2017

Abstract

In 2015 a team comprised of the New York State Office of Victim Services (OVS), Empire Justice Center (EJC), Pro Bono Net (PBN), and the Center for Human Services Research (CHSR) at the University at Albany, was a awarded a federal grant to develop a comprehensive, collaborative approach to meeting the civil legal needs of crime victims in New York State (NYS). This approach focused on the use of technology to expand access to civil legal services. To assist with this work, the grant partners formed an Advisory Committee of crime victim advocates, civil attorneys, prosecutors, relevant state and local agencies, and crime victims across NYS.

As a first step in the development of an online resource, CHSR was engaged to undertake a comprehensive needs and systems assessment to identify existing gaps in civil legal services for crime victims. This report presents the findings from the two key components of this needs assessment study–surveys of crime victims and service providers, and focus groups with these same parties as well as interviews with civil legal attorneys and law clinic faculty. The main objective of the needs assessment was to answer the following questions:

  1. What kind of problems do victims of crime face in New York State, and what are their civil legal needs?
  2. What are the existing gaps between services needed and services available?
  3. What are the potential barriers to seeking/ receiving help?
  4. What role can an online resource play in order to fill the existing gaps?

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