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Public Safety unit provides support for victims of crime
10:11 a.m., Dec. 20, 2006--When a member of an academic community becomes a victim of a crime, either on or off campus, they often find themselves facing a barrage of legal, medical, academic and personal challenges. Sometimes, the challenges and the choices can seem overwhelming. Many victims blame themselves, and this feeling of responsibility for their victimization can make it difficult for them to report a crime. “Victims can get lost in the criminal justice process,” Cpl. Diana Palladino, a community police specialist in UD's Department of Public Safety, said. While all Public Safety police officers receive some training in the area of victim services, Palladino is one of two officers specifically trained to help victims of crime by providing assistance through counseling, support services and referrals to outside agencies. “I look over the list of complaints that we receive at Public Safety,” Palladino said. “Some of these 'red flag' complaints include domestic violence, stalking, ID theft, robbery and assault with injury. All of these have a impact on the lives of the victims.” To initiate contact, Palladino said she sends a letter of introduction to victims of crime, offering her help as a community police officer trained in providing victim services. “I might send out 14 letters a semester, and I may get two responses,” Palladino said. “Some victims do not want to think about it.” Following this initial contact, Palladino arranges for a face-to-face meeting where she can introduce herself and ask the individual how things are going in a general way. “Working in victim services also involves preparing individuals for the many legal, medical and emotional hurdles that lie ahead,” Palladino said. “We teach them how to do things like keeping a logbook describing stalking or other incidents.” Individuals seeking assistance also learn how to keep a record of medical treatments in order to receive proper restitution for harm done to them, Palladino said. “Victim advocacy works to enforce parallel justice and to balance the rights of the victims with those of the accused,” Palladino said. “Victims have the right to be informed of what is going on in relation to their case and to receive proper restitution.” Another hurdle faced by victims of crime is post-traumatic stress syndrome, Palladino said.
Palladino said that it is not unusual for victims to hesitate to report a crime committed against them because they don't want to cause trouble. They also may have serious concerns about the way family and friends will react, she said. “In cases of sexual assault, people who know both the victim and the accused often take sides, and there is a lot of victim blaming,” Palladino said. “Victims also are apprehensive about telling their families because they are afraid that family members, especially fathers, may choose to retaliate against the accused.” When cases do come to trial, victims and their families may face long days in court. They also need to be made aware of what is going on with their case and what their responsibilities in the case are, Palladino said. “The legal process affects the whole family and may have a huge impact on the victim,” Palladino said. “It is especially difficult for victims when they get to court and are told that they did not do something right along the way.” At UD, the Office of Judicial Affairs, Residence Life and SOS help victims with challenges in the classroom and residence halls, Palladino said. “If they are having trouble with their schoolwork, I try to intercede with the academic departments involved,” Palladino said. “Victims also may feel the need to move out of a residence hall, especially if they the accused is living in the same building.” Palladino said that once professors are made aware of the situation they are glad to help students who may be having academic difficulties because they are involved in a criminal investigation. “Victims may end up dropping out of school,” Palladino said. “You don't want that to happen. You don't want an individual to completely withdraw from life at UD.” Palladino, who graduated from UD in May 2000 with a degree in criminal justice and a minor in women's studies, started working for Public Safety the same year. She graduated from the Wilmington Police Academy in 2001. A member of the National Center for Victims of Crime, where she participated in two three-day conferences in Washington, D.C., Palladino said that despite the setbacks that may occur, working with victims of crime often results in a sense of fulfillment in helping individuals remain active members of the UD community, both academically and socially. “There are times when it is frustrating, and it is hard to keep track of what happens to people if they leave UD,” Palladino said. “But, there is a sense of satisfaction when you see somebody graduate who has been a victim of a crime.” For more information, visit [www.udel.edu/PublicSafety/victimservices.htm]. Article by Jerry Rhodes
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