Title: The Power of Partnership: A Systematic Review of Interorganizational Collaboration among Victim Service Providers.

Program: Criminal Justice MA

Committee Chair: Bill King

Committee: Bill King, Lisa Bostaph, Laura King

Abstract: This thesis aims to comprehensively describe inter-organizational collaboration among victim service organizations as they interact with law enforcement, medical, legal, and social services. Victim service organizations (VSO) provide essential support to victims of crime, helping them heal and pursue justice. In their goal of providing services, these organizations may need to interact with medical, law enforcement, legal and other community organizations to provide comprehensive support. Research has shown collaboration as necessary for addressing some of society’s largest issues, with the response to victims’ needs being no different (Bryson et al., 2006). Effective interorganizational collaboration can enable these relationships to improve their capacity, knowledge, and influence in reaching their desired goal (Hardy et al., 2003). A potential avenue of success for victim service organizations’ goal of service delivery may lie in their ability to navigate these collaborative relationships.