Idaho Stakeholders Identify Critical Gaps in Victim Support Programs

February 4, 2025

A recent survey of stakeholders has identified a series of needs across the full spectrum of Idaho’s victim services universe, including staffing of well-being programs, providing more bilingual support for victims, and a need for more specialized and advanced training for service providers.

Within the criminal justice system, the highest need identified by respondents was sexual assault nurse examiners, known as SANEs. Criminal justice system information and victim notification of offender and case status were both rated as high needs by 27% of respondents.

The survey was conducted by the Idaho Statistical Analysis Center, with funding help from the Idaho State Police. The findings about victim services are one part of the 2024 Idaho Justice System Stakeholder Survey. Findings and responses from victim services stakeholders begin on page 22.

This section of the report analyzed responses from 53 victim service employees, including victim-witness coordinators and victim service agency employees and directors. Responses came from stakeholders working in 34 of Idaho’s 44 counties, with nearly 12% of respondents stating they serve all Idaho counties.

The importance of SANE nurses, identified by 56% as a high need, is nothing new. Four years ago, Idaho had fewer than 20 locations where sexual assault victims could get a specialized exam. Since then, more SANE nurses have been trained and are currently providing services in many more locations across the state, with the goal of having 250 trained nurse examiners by the end of 2024.

In the victim service agency sector, 45% of respondents identified staffing of well-being programs as the highest need, followed by advanced and specialized training for staff at 42%. When asked about the top public safety issues, respondents identified domestic violence, addressing victims' needs/trauma, and sexual assault as the top three.

Additional survey findings include:

• 27% of respondents identified access to information about the criminal justice system, including offender and case status updates, as a high priority.
• In the child/teen victim service space, 49% rated play therapy for victims as the highest need, while 45% rated services for victims of teen dating violence as their highest need. More than 38% rated the need for certified forensic interviewers as high.
• The highest-rated counseling and treatment need was mental health support, identified by 69% of respondents. This was closely followed by the need for free victim counseling services for both adults and children.

Also of note, the top barriers to preventing victims of crime from receiving services include lack of funds (29%), lack of transportation (25%), and fear (19%).

While it’s encouraging to see some signs of progress in the way we take care of crime victims here in Idaho, what’s clear from the report are the areas where work remains to be done.

With gratitude for your support,

Matthew Hebb, State Director, Marsy’s Law for Idaho