An issue that continues to be of concern within the state is the lack of staff in programs to assist victims with many problems and this includes filing for victim compensation benefits.  As staffing is limited with the time allowed to meet with victims and assist them with the process it becomes more problematic. They are unable to spend time and resources meeting with victims and providing the time to review documentation, forms and other necessary information to complete applications. Our programs attended a mandatory training and received the most updated information we have pertaining to victims compensation and this issues is also addressed in our solicitation to sub grantees in addition to information relayed during a site visit. The programs are extremely receptive to all information they receive and are willing to ask for assistance with issues of compensation. 





The Victims Compensation staff is making a concentrated effort to reach out to advocates and to increase the efforts to educate and train advocates on the process of claims, and to be a resource for advocates to utilize when they are working with victims. However budgetary constraints continue to affect the way in which we can reach advocates across the state and give assistance to advocates in remote locations. As part of the required training all sub grantees attend, we include an over view of the responsibility VOCA recipients have, and the topic of Victim Compensation was covered during a portion of the training. The Compensation department has produced and distributed the most current information we have, and in conjunction with the Assistance Division materials are available upon request and are also included with site visit information. 

Through close partnerships with the state coalitions, the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute continues to work to improve communication, education and training throughout the state. In corporation with the State coalitions ICJI can assess issues and potential barriers that our sub grantees might encounter and with the aid of our state coalitions we can partner to meet the needs of victims with a corporative effort. It has been through training efforts, and conferences, that we have been better coordinated to meet the needs of victims. This close alliance aids in improving services and increasing education to victims of violent crimes. 





ICJI has also worked in close communication with the Indiana Attorney General?s office, our Department of Corrections, and currently with a program with JTAC to increase victim services. 





We continue to encourage sub grantees to work with the local area task forces, community action committees, and county councils to bridge services and to find more ways to increase collaboration among service providers. When more programs are willing to work in a collaborative manner, programs will continue to grow and unmet needs of victims will diminish. ICJI continues to support and encourage agencies with Faith Bases initiatives and those programs that operate in one of 62 rural counties. We work in cooperation with the coalition to reach areas in which accessibility is limited. And we encourage programs to participate in monthly awareness issues, the National Crime Victims Rights Week; ICJI has participated in community events as representatives on issues such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crime related issues. 

With the support of VOCA funded programs we continue to provide services to victims of federal crimes as the need arises. ICJI, statewide coalitions, and county advocates work in conjunction with the Northern and Southern U.S. Attorney?s Victim/Witness Coordinators to provide referral information when needed and direct services to those crime victims. With the addition of funding to a new sub grantee with the JTAC programs, they are increasing the services to all victims across the state with upgraded technology and accessibility for victims. 

The Victim Services Division of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) conducted 5 regional trainings last year, and included a few non funded guests to the sessions. We had a participation rate of over 99% attendance. This year the staff in coordination with our Victims Compensation Division conducted a one day training for all sub grantees and offered this to new and potential recipients as well. We had over 300 persons in attendance for this training day. ICJI was also able to enlist the expertise of a speaker who covered topic of identifying and serving the Underserved Populations. This event was widely received as one the ?Best? trainings we have been able to conduct. We conducted a post evaluation survey and received high marks for accessibility, communication, and information usefulness. 





IJCI award the following recipients funds to support their training initiatives. The Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault, the Latino Coalition for support with state wide conference, and this was the third year ICJI has been able to assist with that event. ICJI was also able to support the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence in part for their yearly event, also included was Lampion Center, the Albion Fellows Bacon Center with funds to support training efforts in their respective areas. As some of the sub recipients are from out more central locations, two counties are more removed from Indianapolis area. 

All names have been changed to protect victims identity. 

The need to provide services for the Hispanic/Latino community continues to be of high importance. There is also still a need at the local level for more bilingual personnel and informational material. The need to meet issues with the aging population, more transitional housing for domestic violence victims continues to be a growing concern, and the need for programs in our more rural counties, that lack adequate transportation, poor economic situations, and job loss are also placing great strain on our programs. 

Administrative funds have been used to pay a portion of the Victim Services Division Director?s salary and the salary of the VOCA-Assistance Program Coordinators salary and with the addition of a Compliance Monitor last year we are able to conduct more site visits, which have aided in an increase of information sharing and have been instrumental in serving our programs. With the addition of the Compliance Monitor we have been able to reach over 70 grantees the past year, and have increased our customer services by more than 70%.  ICJI also uses the Administrative dollars to help pay the day to day operational expenses through the Victim Services Division. The funds are needed to help the division assist victims and victim services. The Administrative funds have also been used to pay in-state travel for site visits and travel for state and national trainings. The Director has been able to attend the VOCA Administrators Conference, and attended the National Victims Assistance Academy. By using administrative dollars, ICJI has been able to send staff to trainings to gain knowledge on improving services to victims, which transfers to aiding the agencies that receive funds and in addition have access to a broader knowledge bank and increases the potential to service more victims. The impact is two fold as we use our dollars to improve customer services, we in turn improve our ability to service our sub grantees in a more efficient and timely manner. Allowing the staff to concentrate on immediate customer service and give support and guidance to the agencies though out the state.