‘Helping Victims Of Crime:’ New Book From Wheaton’s Institute For Prison Ministries

A new book published by the Evangelism and Missions Information Service (EMIS) at Wheaton College’s Billy Graham Center serves as a resource for people assisting those who have been victimized by crime.

Helping Victims of Crime: Pathways Toward Healing is the sixth book in a series published by the Graham Center’s Institute for Prison Ministries (IPM).

The book, edited by Lisa Barnes Lampman and Jayne G. Crisp, includes information and resources for helping people who have experienced child abuse and neglect; incest and sexual abuse; teen dating violence; stalking; sexual assault; human trafficking; domestic violence; the murder of a child; homicide; drunk driving; burglary and theft; victimization of elders; fraud and identity theft; hate and bias crimes; line-of-duty death; and community tragedy.

“Most of us don’t have to go beyond family, friends, neighbors, and fellow church members to find people experiencing a crisis and crying out for help,” the editors write in the book’s introduction. “In many cases, we’re not sure how to help—or we feel we have little to offer. This is a practical reference guide to help family members, friends, neighbors, pastors, and counselors provide appropriate and needed assistance and support to victims of crime, their families, and close friends. It compiles the wisdom, insight, experience, and expertise of professional counselors, crime victim assistance advocates, and regular folks who have effectively walked through a crisis related to crime in their lives or in the lives of others.”

“Americans experienced 20 million crimes in 2009, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey,” says Dr. Karen Swanson, director of the Institute for Prison Ministries. “In prison ministry, we often focus on the offender, but we have to think about the victims as well. This is a great tool to be used in churches and ministries to address the needs of crime victims.”

Other books published by the Institute for Prison Ministries include Help! My Loved One Is in Jail. What Do I Do Now?; Sentenced: Now What?; Help! My Child’s Been Arrested: A Parent’s Guide to Navigating the Juvenile Justice System; Staying Well: Strategies for Corrections Staff; andComing Home: A Guide for Those Receiving a Loved One Back from Prison or Jail. These books, in addition to Helping Victims of Crime, are available at bgcprisonministries.com.

The vision of the Institute for Prison Ministries (IPM) is to be a center for correctional ministry that encourages and equips those serving in correctional ministries worldwide to evangelize and disciple those within the correctional community. IPM works through networks, collaborations and strategic partnerships to provide leadership and training to those engaged in correctional ministries for the advancement of the Gospel.