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VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM 2002 WEST VIRGINIA STATE WIDE ASSISTANCE REPORT Prepared By: West Virginia Division of Criminal Justice Services 1204 Kanawha Boulevard East Charleston, WV 25301-2900 tel: (304)558-8814
STATE FUNDING INFORMATION
A. THE ANNUAL AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROJECTS: 1. Appropriations $ 0 2. Criminal Fines and Penalities $ 0 3. Assessments $ 0 4. Other $ 0 TOTAL:$ 0
B. TOTAL NUMBER OF AGENCIES FUNDED FROM THE FEDERAL GRANT: 49
C. NUMBER OF SUBGRANTS FUNDED FROM THIS FEDERAL GRANT: 50
VICTIM STATISTICS
A. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS SERVED BY TYPE OF VICTIMIZATION:
NO. OF NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED VICTIMS SERVED 1,122 1. Child Physical Abuse 880 7. Adults Molested as Children 2,066 2. Child Sexual Abuse 740 8. Survivors of Homicide Victims 527 3. DUI/DWI Crashes 1,606 9. Robbery 16,293 4. Domestic Violence 1,983 10. Assualt 1,406 5. Adult Sexual Assault 6,991 11. Other 285 6. Elder Abuse TOTAL: 33,899
B. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS WHO RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED 10,271 1. Crisis Counseling 15,645 2. Followup 2,105 3. Therapy 1,624 4. Group Treatment/Support 1,919 5. Shelter/Safehouse 13,567 6. Information/Referral (in-person) 17,997 7. Criminal Justice Support/Advocacy 250 8. Emergency Financial Assistance 3,582 9. Emergency Legal Advocacy 1,403 10. Assistance in filing Compensation Claims 10,107 11. Personal Advocacy 20,721 12. Telephone contact Informational/Referral 18,956 13. Other TOTAL: 118,147
A. EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AID TO CRIME VICTIMS: 1. Many of the VOCA advocates serve on various task forces, committees and multidisciplinary teams throughout their local communities, statewide and even on the federal level. Serving on these committees enable advocates to share information, as well as learn from and network with these agencies and community leaders. 2. VOCA advocates make efforts to work with local FRN’s (Family Resource Networks), local police departments, sheriff departments, state police detachments, prosecutors offices, DHHR (Department of Health & Human Resources) and many other agencies and providers. 3. Public Awareness Campaigns during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Victim Rights Week, Senior Expos, Health Fairs, etc. These campaigns involve local advocates, criminal justice agencies, service providers and many members of the community and civic organizations. 4. Distribution of program materials throughout the community such as, local stores, doctors offices, police departments, prosecutors offices, Magistrate and Family Law Master court, hospitals, clinics, etc. 5. Pursue media contacts for public awareness. VOCA advocates, in coordination with local officials and community leaders, record public services announcements for local radio and cable stations; print newspaper articles about the services available to victims; and network with local news stations to get victim services publicized. 6. Networking between government-based advocates and private-based advocates to coordinate services and referrals. 7. VOCA advocates work with their local STOP (Violence Against Women) Teams in order to network with other service providers, law enforcement officials and prosecutors. 8. Recruit volunteers from various disciplines in the communities. 9. Public presentations to civic groups, senior centers, schools, churches, etc. 10. Special efforts by advocates to network with Magistrate Court personnel, Family Court personnel, Circuit Court personnel, etc. So that these key personnel are aware of the services available to victims and how to refer victims to those services. 11. Encourage law enforcement and prosecution to participate in community events, to contact victim service providers with any questions regarding victims, and to refer victims to for services. 12. Work with medical professionals to establish protocols regarding domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse victims. 13. The Division of Criminal Justice has also participated in and co-sponsored statewide workshops to bring VOCA personnel, criminal justice professionals and other service providers together to be trained on victim issues and networking skills.
B. EFFORTS TAKEN TO SERVE FEDERAL CRIME VICTIMS: 1. Two representatives for the US Attorneys Office were appointed to serve on the West Virginians Against Violence Committee. This committee serves as an oversight committee for the VOCA program in West Virginia. (See Appendix B for list of committee members). 2. Both West Virginia VOCA Administrators serve on the Federal Victim/Witness Assistance Committee at he US Attorneys Office - Southern District in Charleston, WV. This committee meets quarterly to discuss current victim issues, upcoming events, and current Federal and State laws concerning victims of crime. The committee consists of Federal officials as well as State and local officials who work with crime victims. (See Appendix C for list of committee members). 3. The VOCA Administrators co-hosted a two-day training workshop with the US Attorneys Office in the Southern District and the Northern District on August 13-14, 2002. The training was entitled “Community Crisis Response: After the Crisis” and focused on providing guidance for a more coordinated response to comprehensively addresses victims short-term and long-term needs in the event of a terrorist attack or other tragedy involving mass victimization (See Appendix D for the agenda and training evaluations).
C. ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF VICTIM SERVICES: 1. The VOCA Administrators perform desktop monitoring of all VOCA subgrantees on a monthly basis. All new subgrantees are visited on-site by one or both of the VOCA Administrators to provide technical assistance and to monitor progress and compliance of the program. On-site monitoring visits are conducted the initial year and a follow-up year for all new grants. All continuing grants are monitored on-site every other year (or more if necessary). 2. VOCA administrative funds sponsored two half-day trainings on the VOCA program and grant administration of VOCA funds in West Virginia. (See Appendix E for agenda, attendance sheets and evaluations). 3. Administrative funds were used to co-sponsor with the US Attorneys Office, a two-day Crisis Response Training Workshop. This is the same workshop mentioned above under #3 part D. 4. The VOCA administrative funds were also used to print and distribute 4,000 statewide Victim Service Provider Directories. These directories were distributed throughout the state to local law enforcement, victim service providers, prosecutors, state agencies, criminal justice agencies, public defenders, Department of Education, and others. The VOCA administrators have received several requests for bulk supplies to be distributed during training events (See Appendix F for a copy of the directory). 5. During on-site monitoring visits and technical assistance visits, both administrators collect information concerning individual training needs for each subgrantee. This information is used when meeting with the Federal Victim/Witness Assistance Committee and determining the training needs for the state.
D. WAYS VOCA FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED TO ASSIST CRIME VICTIMS: 1. In-person and telephone information and referral 2. Personally advocacy to crime victims 3. Follow-up services 4. Criminal Justice Support/Advocacy Please see Appendix G for letters, program information, etc.
E. ISSUES OR TRENDS IMPACTING CRIME VICTIM SERVICES: 1. Funding cuts in many local agencies across the State such as law enforcement officers, domestic violence advocates, sexual assault advocates and child advocates. The reduction of advocate staff was due mostly in part by the loss of TANF funds in the State. 2. Increase in awareness and efforts to reach elderly, disabled and other underserved populations. 3. Establishment of the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s Domestic Violence Advocate Certification. This certification ensures an increase in the quality of domestic violence and sexual assault services to victims. 4. Increased participation by communities and improved public awareness of available victim services. 5. Increased awareness and prioritization of sexual assault victims and services. 6. Better communication and collaboration between victim advocates from different genres. 7. Increase in crimes being committed by juvenile offenders. 8. Dual arrests in domestic violence cases are still causing problems for law enforcement and victim services. 9. Economic decreases and Unemployment increase throughout the State. 10. Family Court System has improved over the last year. Last year was the initiation of protective orders being handled in Family Court. 11. Slow turn-around on compensation payments made to victims. 12. Lack of prosecution of cases by some County prosecutors. 13. Increase in drug-related crimes. 14. A Victim/Witness Coordinator was hired at the FBI Office in Charleston. This provides additional services for Federal Crime Victims.
F. USE OF VOCA ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS: 1. VOCA administrative funds were used to pay a portion of two Justice Programs Specialists, administrative staff and support staff salaries; necessary supplies and equipment to administer the VOCA program; printing costs for administrative manuals, victim services provider directories, training materials for grantees, and other grant related documents; travel to OVC sponsored training workshops and conferences; and general support for the program. 2. VOCA administrative funds were also used to co-sponsor a two-day statewide Crisis Response Workshop with the US Attorneys Office in the southern and northern districts of West Virginia. 3. The use of VOCA administrative funds continued to allow improvement in the victim services in West Virginia. The use of these funds allowed for two full-time Justice Program Specialists who co-administer the VOCA program and devote time to the administration of both the program and to 50 VOCA subgrantees. These two Program Specialists provided technical assistance to subgrantees as well as to other victim service providers in the state of West Virginia. This technical assistance allowed the state to utilize and manage the limited Federal funds in the most efficient manner possible. Both VOCA Administrators also serve on various planning committees and advisory boards in efforts to coordinate victim services throughout the State.