Whether we are faculty, employers, employees, students, family members, advocates, or friends, we will encounter crime victims in our everyday lives and knowing the appropriate response is critical. Integrating Crime Victims' Issues Into College and University Curricula was designed for use by faculty and university departments and programs to incorporate multidisciplinary educational approaches for integrating crime victim issues into their curricula. One of OVC's aims is to increase the role of educators and educational institutions in addressing the issues that crime victims face.

According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, in 2012 there were an estimated 5.8 million violent victimizations and 17.1 million property victimizations in the United States. Victims and those who are a part of their lives can experience physical, psychological, emotional, and financial consequences from these crimes.

Communities are also impacted by victimization. For students, experiences with their own close friends' or family members' victimization or residing in communities with high rates of crime can lead to a host of negative outcomes that may in turn negatively impact academic performance including class completion and achievement of class objectives and goals.