The major issue hindering victim assistance programs in assisting crime victims in filing compensation benefits has been the inability of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Commission Board to convene a quorum at their meetings to discuss, approve/disapprove applications for compensation for injuries/expenses incurred by victims/witnesses and to award compensation.

The Office of the Attorney General and its sub-grantees are committed to coordinated efforts to aid crime victims. An example of this is the Family Violence and Sexual Assault Task Force, comprised of local government agencies, federal agencies, private non-profits and religious groups meet routinely to discuss problems of interest to all parties concerned and to arrive at possible solutions to these problems. Another example of coordinated activity is the Sexual Assault Steering Committee which is comprised of Healing Hearts, the Office of the Attorney General, Child Protective Services, Victim Advocates Reaching Out and other agencies. Another example is the participation of the sub-grantees in the many outreach activities and trainings throughout the year. The outreach events provide public awareness to the community on the impact crime has on victims and their families. The outreach events also notify the community of available resources and services offered to victims of crime. Presentations are also conducted at all levels of public and private schools here on Guam. One of the sub-grantees, specifically, Victim Advocates Reaching Out (VARO) continues to collaborate with the Healing Hearts Crisis Center and Child Protective Services agencies in conducting presentations on Good and Bad Touches to the elementary students. At the middle and high school levels the Office of the Attorney General along with other organizations conduct presentations on Family Violence, Sexual Assault, Child Abuse, Sexual Solicitation and Exploitation of Children, Juvenile Violence, Bullying, Cyber-bullying and Teen Dating Violence. 

Crime victims which, upon initial detection of the crime fall under the auspices of the state VOCA organizations, are routinely assisted by these VOCA funded state agencies until jurisdiction is turned over to the federal authorities. For example, the Alee Shelter provides emergency shelter and supportive services for victims of family violence, child abuse and neglect. The program provides safety and refuge for persons affected by domestic abuse/family violence. In addition, the sub-grantees actively attend meetings with the Navy family Advocacy Task Force to share problems and possible solutions any member may have regarding victims of crime. Presentations are conducted on the services provided to victims at the Navy's Sexual Assault Victim intervention Trainings on an annual basis. 

There were several notable activities conducted at the state or sub-grant level to improve the delivery of victim services. For example, a Family Violence Needs Assessment was conducted by the Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence, a coalition made up of non-profits, some of whom are sub-grantees. The needs assessment will be sued to identify gaps in services and to make improvements. 





Additionally, VARO has four methods to evaluate the program. First, VARO advocates use contact sheets to get statistical information which are reviewed and inputted by the Crisis Services Supervisor. A report is generated and submitted to the VOCA administrator on a quarterly and annual basis. Secondly, at monthly general membership meetings in which case reviews are conducted giving all of its volunteers the opportunity to share their experience and problems with cases. Thirdly, policies and procedures are reviewed and changes are accordingly made at the VARO Board of Directors meetings.  Finally, evaluation sheets that consist of questions regarding the training/presentation and the effectiveness of the same is given to all participants and reviewed by the staff thus identifying and rectifying problems or concerns.





Also, the VOCA funded sub-grantees also undertook to participate and attend several conferences to acquire knowledge and improve their skills so that victims could be served better. Within Guam there were several such opportunities during Fiscal Year 2008 including the Governor's Faith-Based Conference, the Human Trafficking Conference sponsored by the U.S. Attorneys' Office, and two conferences sponsored by the Guam Attorney General's office. 





The Office of the Attorney General sponsored two conferences which were open not only to law enforcement entities but also to its partners in the field of victim advocacy, including the non-profits, victims service providers and other non-law enforcement governmental agencies. The first of these conferences occurred in October, 2007, and included such topics as The Interrelationship between Domestic Violence and Child Abuse, Preparing Children for Court and the Court for Children, Issues Surrounding the Compliant Child Victim, and Victims and Witnesses with Developmental Delays. The second conference sponsored by the Office of the Attorney General was held in conjunction with National Crime Victim's Rights Week in April, 2008. The Office for Victims of Crime provided a trainer, Ms. Christine Edmunds, to present on topics which included Domestic Violence: Basic Dynamics and Facts & Effects on Children, Teen Dating Violence, Trauma of Victimization, and Compassion Fatigue/Vicarious Trauma.  Local Individual, Marriage and Family therapists gave a presentation on Cultural Considerations with Intervention of Sexual Assault and Family Violence. Finally, the Jason Foundation also provided a teleconference presentation on youth suicide entitled Giving Our Youth a Promise for Tomorrow. 

With reference to the Victim Witness Ayuda Service (VWAS) advocates of the Office of the Attorney General, VOCA funds have been used to purchase vehicles that are used for the transport victims of crime to and from court appointments/trials/hearings for their cases.  The funds were used for the purchase of food and baby supplies (diapers, milk, baby wipes, etc.) for crime victims who are not able to afford such items while in the care of the VWAS advocates and are awaiting the start of, are in the middle of, or are awaiting the conclusion of their court appointments/trials/hearings. Victim advocates funded by VOCA inform victims of any developments in their cases on as close a real-time basis as possible. VOCA funded victims advocates also inform victims of the release or impending release of the defendants in their cases and arrange for the issuance of court-ordered stay away orders or civil restraining orders against the defendants for the benefit of the victims. 





In the case of another sub-grantee, E.H., VOCA funds were used to assist a mother who was a domestic violence victim. She was afraid to see her ex-partner to exchange their children because she was afraid that she might be abused again. E.H. was able to assist her in providing a safe place to exchange the children for visitation. She indicated on an evaluation form that she and the children felt much safer now.  VOCA funds were also used to assist another mother who was a victim of domestic violence. She was afraid to have her ex-partner see the children because she thought that he might abuse the children to get back at her. Supervised visits were arranged at E.H. to ensure the safety of the children. In both of these cases the mothers were given information and referrals to other community services. Another example involved three children who were victims of child neglect who were able to visit their mother at E.H. under monitored supervision. The children's safety was guaranteed and they were still able to maintain contact with their mother which was important to their psychological well-being. Finally, VOCA funds were used to allow two parents to stay in contact with their children, all of whom are in foster care. 

The increasing migration of other Pacific Islanders and citizens of other Asian countries into Guam and their involvement in crimes and the local criminal justice system are causing an overload to the services capabilities of the VOCA funded service providers. 





Another trend that impacts crime victim services is the constant need for training to update and enhance the service providers' knowledge and sensitivities to the plight of victims of crime. Budgetary shortfalls throughout the economy of Guam have made opportunities for off-island training difficult. Many local agencies have endeavored to provide training utilizing their own resources to bring in trainers and experts in the field of victims services to educate and train the service providers here on Guam.





Given the costs associated with traveling, bringing off-island trainers to Guam is beneficial in that we maximize the attendance in Guam of our Law Enforcement, social service providers, and non-profits personnel at the trainings

VOCA administrative funds have been used to not only augment shortfalls in the budgets of its sub-grantees for fuel costs in the transportation of victims and supplies for educational and reference brochures and other materials; but these funds have also been utilized to fund the victims' services and information components in two conferences sponsored by the Office of the Attorney General as well as to engage in numerous outreach events including the Attorney General's recognition of victims and the service providers of crime victims services held in April, 2008.