Past trends in the criminal justice system largely concentrated on the offender. From arrest to actual incarceration, legal representation and many support services sprung up to serve the offender population. Victims of crimes were left to fend for themselves in a system that was confusing and unsympathetic to their needs.

Victims of crimes encountered emotional, physical, and financial crises in their lives in the aftermath of crime but had nowhere to turn for help.

Victim Witness Assistance Programs emerged as one of the responses to addressing the problems that victims often encountered. These programs were designed to provide advocacy to victims of crimes in the criminal justice system and to work directly with victims in helping them with the emotional, physical, and financial problems caused by victimization.

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