Remote and Hybrid Work in Crime Victim Services: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Public Health
• Criminal Justice

Background:

• Remote and hybrid service delivery models for crime victim services saw slow growth until the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated their adoption.
• While remote work is common in healthcare and tech, a comprehensive review of its application in victim services was lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of empirical studies on remote or hybrid service delivery in crime victim agencies.
• To examine the methods, challenges, benefits, and recommendations related to remote and hybrid services for crime victims.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the PRISMA-ScR framework for a systematic scoping review.
• Included 27 empirical studies on remote/hybrid work in community- and systems-based victim service agencies.
• Analyzed studies based on methods, provider- and client-level impacts, and recommendations.

Main Results:

• Most studies were exploratory/descriptive, using qualitative data, often prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Provider challenges: technology barriers, security concerns, virtual rapport. Strengths: flexibility, collaboration, efficiency.
• Client challenges: technology access, digital literacy, confidentiality. Strengths: increased access, lower cost, anonymity.

Conclusions:

• Remote and hybrid models present both significant challenges and benefits for crime victim services.
• Further rigorous evaluation research is needed to compare remote and in-person service delivery outcomes.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for optimizing support for crime victims and providers.