Essay Sample on Victim Services: Protecting the Vulnerable from Trafficking

Introduction

The victim and support services are an array of activities provide by nongovernmental organizations and government agencies to people in need of assistance. In the U.S law, victim services are organizations that assist dating violence, domestic violence, stalking victims, and sexual assault including domestic violence shelters, crisis centers, and faith-based organizations. The increase in the cases of human trafficking across the world as led to the rise of victim services that are meant to support victims of this crime (Barton & Losalu, 2018). The victim services for victims of human trafficking play critical roles in assisting the affected individuals.

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Scope of Victim Services in U.S. Law

The provision of basic needs is the most critical role of victim services provided to victims of human trafficking. Trafficking victims are generally not able to obtain necessities by themselves, thus making it necessary to have organizations to assist such individuals (Barton & Losalu, 2018). These basic needs include food, shelter and clothing. For food, the victim's service organizations may establish soup kitchens, food pantries, or collect day-old food from bakeries, restaurants, and supermarkets to give to the victims (Barton & Losalu, 2018). Besides, they may provide shelter or cooperate with organizations or individuals who offer accommodation. Catholic Worker Movement in the U.S is an example of a religious organization that shelters victims of human trafficking. Lastly, local chapters of national organizations such as St. Vincent de Paul, Goodwill, and AMVETS Thrifts Stores provide clothing to the victims.

Victim services also provide other critical services other than basic needs. In many cases, the victims of human trafficking offer experience poor health status due to hardships and inhuman conditions subjected to them (Kim et al., 2018). Victim services, therefore, attempt to restore their physical, mental, and spiritual health by providing necessary medical assistance and therapy. They facilitate free medical services in community health centers and county mental health clinics, among others (Barton & Losalu, 2018). Catholic Legal Immigrant Network, Inc. is an example of victim service that provides all-inclusive mental, physical, and spiritual health services to the affected individuals. These services help restore the health condition of the victims, thus enabling them to be productive members of society.

Addressing the Global Issue: Victim Services for Human Trafficking

The human trafficking victim services organizations play critical roles in the economic empowerment of the affected people. These organizations try to enable victims to work and earn a source of income by themselves instead of always relying on aids and support (Pascual-Leone et al., 2017). As a result, they offer job training programs, on which upon completion, they can quickly secure apprenticeships and employment assistance from organizations targeting these victims (Kim et al., 2018). Apart from job training programs, victim service organizations offer free education services to the victims. The education services are offered at immigrant community centers, local adult education centers, schools, and even colleges (Pascual-Leone et al., 2017). For victims to enroll in education programs, the victim service organizations facilitate their transportation needs from the place of residence to where they take their learning classes.

Exemplifying Victim Service Organizations

The victim service roles may include crime victim compensation. The victim service organizations help their clients apply for funds at the city or county level (Pascual-Leone et al., 2017). These funds can be used to settle most of the bills associated with the service offered, such as relocation costs for safety purposes. Besides, the roles of victim services include the provision of legal services to the affected individual, especially if the individual is an immigrant (Kim et al., 2018). Catholic Legal Immigrant Network is an example of faith-based immigration organizations that help victims of international human trafficking (Roberson, 2017).

Conclusion

Victims of human trafficking offer experience difficulties compared to other people in society. As a result, victim services organizations are meant to alleviate those difficulties by providing essential services. These organizations offer basic needs, notably shelter, clothing, and food. It also provides other services such as medical, legal, education, and job training programs to the victims. From the above discussion, it is evident that victim service for victims of human trafficking plays a critical role in helping the affected people live a healthy life.

References

Barton, N., & Losalu, R. (2018). Victims' services best practices guide. Association of Paroling Authorities International http://apaintl.org/resources/documents/publications/victims_services_best_practices.pdf

Kim, H. W., Park, T., Quiring, S., & Barrett, D. (2018). The anti-human trafficking collaboration model and serving victims: Providers' perspectives on the impact andexperience. Journal of evidence-informed social work, 15(2), 186-203.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/23761407.2018.1432433

Pascual-Leone, A., Kim, J., & Morrison, O. P. (2017). Working with victims of humantrafficking. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 47(1), 51-59.https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10879-016-9338-3

Roberson, C. (Ed.). (2017). Routledge Handbook on Victims' Issues in Criminal Justice. Taylor & Francis.