On May 14, 2008, the American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS) International Foundation, working with the Office of Victims of Crime (OVC), U.S. Department of Justice, held a one-day workshop on how private security professionals can best serve victims of crime. This workshop was funded by OVC as part a grant to advance victim’s rights and services among the private security professional.
With an historical perspective, workshop participants discussed the evolution of private security and their role in dealing with crime victims. Workplace violence incidents and the collaborative process involving law enforcement and victim service providers were used to illustrate best practice recommendations.
As a result of this workshop, the following recommendations were made for industry and private security professional, to make sure services get to those who need them:
Workplace Violence Preventions Programs as part of a “No Threats, No Violence Policy” should include a statement of support for victims of workplace violence, plus what services and support an organization provides. In essence, organization must have a victim’s “Bill of Rights”.
The very highest levels of a company or organization must “buy-in” for a violence prevention program to be successful. The same “buy-in” approach is recommended to provide appropriate victim services to employees.
Just as employees need awareness training on recognizing and preventing workplace violence, they should also be trained on their rights if they become victims of crime.
While training employees on their rights and responsibilities is important, companies with a security presence should also provide this training to security officers.
Every level of an organization—including security, human resources, legal, and management—should have victim services training.
Additionally, private security professionals, who normally would liaison with the appropriate local law enforcement agency, should identify and liaison with the appropriate victim service providers to determine what services are available and how to access them.
Once identified, victim service providers can train security professionals as well as employees. Instructions on accessing services can be provided on organizations’ intranet sites, as well as other through posters, brochures, etc.
Services should be victim-based, as opposed to prosecution-based. That is, services can be made available and will be supported, even if a prosecution is not imminent.
The approach to dealing with crime victims should be seamless: from private security professionals, to law enforcement, to victim service providers, even to any follow-ups once an incident is closed. This would include the initial report of crimes, to law enforcement by victims or through security professionals, referrals to appropriate service providers by law enforcement, and subsequent follow-up by security professionals and any further contacts with the victims’ service providers, if needed.
Collaboration and communication is key to developing effective crime victim responses by private security professionals. Efforts have to be proactive. Victims’ resources have to be identified and relationships have to be developed in advance. Private security professionals have to be aware of their roles and responsibilities. Just as important, they must know what law enforcement and service providers will do—or not do—as part of an effective multi-disciplinary response.
ASIS International is the largest organization for security professionals, with more than 35,000 members worldwide. Founded in 1955, ASIS is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and productivity of security professionals by developing educational programs and materials that address broad security interests, such as the ASIS Annual Seminar and Exhibits, as well as specific security topics. The ASIS Foundation, incorporated in 1966, funds and manages endowments for a wide range of academic, strategic, and professional development activities, and sponsors security industry reports and research.
|
