There are no major hindrances to victim assistance programs helping crime victims to file for crime victims compensation.  Quarterly progress reports submitted to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement (LCLE) by subgrantees outline issues that hinder their programs from assisting crime victims filing for compensation benefits.  In addition, subgrantees generally report that their staff are knowledgeable of the eligibility requirements of the Crime Victims Reparations (CVR) Program and work proactively with law enforcement and court personnel to increase awareness of the rights and responsibilities of victims.  Agencies provide necessary details, procedures, and literature to assist victims by informing them of the eligibility requirements and referring them to the Crime Victims Reparations Representative in the appropriate Parish Sheriff's Department. 





However, victims and their families often change their minds when applying for CVR benefits.  Crime victims and their families are sometimes afraid they will lose benefits from other sources if they accept reparations from the CVR Program and other victims also worry they might be rejected for compensation benefits and do not apply.  In other instances, victims refuse to apply for reparations because they decide not to involve law enforcement because of a previous unpleasant or unsatisfactory experience.  Some victims cannot sit through the application process to answer the necessary questions because they are emotionally drained.  

Agencies that provide services and assistance programs to Louisiana crime victims and their families are working hard to improve collaborative efforts in their communities.  Cooperative Service Agreements or Memorandums of Understanding are some of the tools used to collaborate between private and public services with local criminal justice agencies, legal service agencies, as well as schools and universities.  Victim assistance and outreach projects are working to improve their partnership efforts with other private, non-profit, and public sector victim service providers, as well as faith-based organizations, health care and other service providers.  Many agencies participate in various task forces and coalitions to promote public awareness of the needs of crime victims within their communities.





The Louisiana District Attorney?s Association (LDAA) collaborates with victim assistants in DA?s offices on a statewide basis to provide a coordinated response to victims of crime.  As a condition for receiving VAWA funds, it is a requirement that law enforcement, prosecution and the courts collaborate and consult with victim service organizations during the development of their applications to ensure that proposed services and activities are designed to promote safety, confidentiality and economic independence of victim of domestic violence, sexual assault and dating violence.  LDAA also collaborates with LCLE and Louisiana District Attorneys to promote the Louisiana Victims Notification System (LAVNS) so that victims of crime can be notified on offender custody status and develop a safety plan, if necessary.  The Victim Notification Board, consisting of members from the LCLE, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff?s Office, the Department of Corrections, LDAA, and the Lafourche Parish Sheriff?s office work together to analyze problems regarding the Louisiana Victim Notice and Registration Form. A new form has been designed and will be a multiple-copy format to allow for easy dissemination to all agencies.  





The opening of two Family Justice Centers, one in New Orleans, LA and the other in Monroe, LA, also serves as a coordinated community response and centralized one stop shop for addressing the needs of victims of domestic violence

The establishment of Family Justice Centers in Louisiana has furthered the collaborative efforts of communities in New Orleans and Monroe by entering into Memorandum of Understanding with agencies such as the U.S. Attorney?s office, the Supreme Court, the FBI and local prosecution and law enforcement agencies to address the crimes of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking and federal crimes.  Many agencies work to ensure child victims? forensic interviews are conducted appropriately at various agencies.





The Court Management Information Systems (CMIS) staff of the Louisiana Supreme Court routinely performs error checks on incoming criminal disposition data.  In addition, the staff conducts routine field audits in order to ensure the accuracy of the data transmitted from sixty-one (61) clerks of Court in the sixty-four (64) parishes in Louisiana.  CMIS provides access of its criminal disposition records to the FBI?s National Instant Check System.  By providing the FBI with this information, CMIS is helping to keep disqualified perpetrators from purchasing or receiving firearms to help prevent violent offenders from inflicting further harm on their victims. 

For those victims who prefer to seek services through the internet, the LDAA website now includes a Victim Assistance portal that contains information and resources specifically dedicated to victim-related issues.  These include the Louisiana?s Crime Victim Bill of Rights, Louisiana Victim Notice and Registration Form, information on Crime Victim Reparations, and a list of District Attorney Victim Assistance Coordinators.  LDAA also maintains a statewide liaison office to provide services to victims of crime and to coordinate victim assistance with prosecutors statewide on the implementation and delivery of constitutionally guaranteed victims? rights. 





The Court Management Information Systems (CMIS) Division of the Louisiana Judicial Administrator?s Office is working toward providing criminal disposition information to the Louisiana State Police for the Computerized Criminal History Database (CCH).  CMIS is also working in conjunction with the National Instant Check System (NICS) by providing criminal disposition information when needed.  NICS is a national computerized system designed to immediately identify those person who are disqualified from receiving or possessing firearms by conducting a search of available records.  CMIS also houses the Metro Server, which provides access to the following:  CCH, Motor Vehicles, Sex Offender Registry, and the Louisiana Protective Order Registry.  It also provides access to several Federal databases such as the National Crime Information Center, National Law Enforcement Telecommunications Center, and National Sex Offender databases.





With funding from VOCA, several parishes have been able to upgrade their case management systems and will be better able to serve victims of crime because the data entry information will be more complete and accurate.  By having more complete records, judges will be able to make a more informed sentencing decision.  These upgrades also allow law enforcement offices and district attorneys to have more complete records. 

#1 Below is an abstract submitted by the Big Brother Big Sisters, a Victim Assistance Program in south Louisiana.





Big Sister and Little Sister were matched in early 2008. Little Sister?s mom enrolled her in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Community-based Mentoring Program so that Little Sister would have someone to confide in and help her in making good decisions. Little Sister had recently moved to Lafayette from Houma along with her mom and an older brother. Little Sister?s mom had relocated because her husband (Little Sister?s father) was an abusive alcoholic who often hit Little Sister?s mother and was verbally abusive to the mom and to Little Sister and her brother. Little Sister?s mom reported during her interview with the agency that Little Sister had become withdrawn and lived in fear that her father?s anger would cause him to also physically abuse her.





Now that the family has moved to Lafayette, Little Sister?s mom feels that her children are more stable and no longer fearful for their safety. Little Sister? schoolwork has improved and she has made friends in her new school setting. When she was first matched with Big Sister, Big Sister said Little Sister was very withdrawn and wouldn?t open up. But now that their relationship is established and they spend many hours a month together, Big Sister reports that Little Sister comes to her with problems and concerns. Recently, Big Sister?s father passed away and she and Little Sister have had many conversations about their fathers. Although Little Sister?s experience with her father was a negative one, Big Sister has taught her that not all fathers act the way Little Sister?s father did. Big Sister reports that she sees a definite improvement in Little Sister?s maturity level and coping skills. 





As far as Big Sister?s experience as a Big Sister, she could not be more positive. She came to the program after hearing about it at a local Kiwanis meeting. She was working at an advertising firm at the time and although she was drawn to the program, she felt she didn?t have the time needed. Through a mutual friend, however, she met someone who worked as a case manager at the agency, and from there she enrolled in the program.  Big Sister?s commitment to Little Sister has changed both their lives in very positive ways, and they are looking forward to many years of sharing.  





#2 Below is an abstract submitted by Chez Hope, a Victim Assistance Program in south Louisiana providing advocacy to children.  The case involves a seven-year-old female: 





A 7 year old girl who was sexually abused by an adult friend of the family on several occasions.  Confused and scared, she shared what had happened to her with her mother.  Her mother reported experiencing a range of emotions after her daughter?s disclosure including anger, guilt, and hopelessness.  Her mother immediately called the police in desperation to protect her daughter.  After gathering specific information regarding the allegation, the police contacted Children?s Advocacy Center (CAC) to schedule a forensic interview.  





The family stated that they expected the process to be invasive and difficult.  However, they were surprised and grateful for the safe and child-friendly environment at the CAC.  Crucial information was gathered from the 7 year old, with minimal anxiety and stress.  She was only interviewed once, by a trained forensic interviewer who is knowledgeable in child development and interviewing skills.  Law enforcement observed the interview via closed circuit television in order to gather information pertinent to their investigation.  





The family was guided through this process by an advocate coordinator who provided her family with resources that included an offer to provide free counseling to all family members upon request.  The family eagerly requested the clinical services and attended weekly counseling sessions over the next year.  As time passed, she and her family were able to successfully cope and work through this difficult experience and successfully terminate counseling.  The family has reported that things are normal again and the abuse is no longer controlling their lives.  She is now 8 years old and reports that she enjoys school, her friends, and is happy again.  











#3 Below is an abstract submitted by a Victim Assistance Program in south Louisiana that provides advocacy to Domestic Violence victims. 





A young DV survivor in the Capital Area shared her story at one of six Take Back the Night events this fall.  She is a 38 years old who had relocated to our area after Hurricane Katrina, started her life over and thought she was getting it together.  She began a relationship with a younger guy and was having a blast.  





The abuse began slowly but became severe over a short period of time.  He began using drugs and his violence was worse during those episodes.  She had to have surgery to have a pacemaker put in her body to remedy a bladder problem.  She left the hospital and went to her mother's for three days. She then went back to her home with her partner who began using her pain pills and torturing her rather than caring for her after her surgery.  He pulled out the pacemaker, raped her repeatedly and did not feed her.  He duct taped her pacemaker to the outside of her body when he pulled it out. Her best friend came over after a week and demanded that she see her.  When she did, she was mortified.  She got medical help for her and saved her life.  That was in April of this year.  Since that time, charges have been filed against him and she has obtained a protective order.  He continued his stalking and harassment of her to have her drop the charges.  In July during a two- week period, he called her phone over 941 times. His behavior continued into August when he was again arrested following a high-speed chase down a major thruway and stalking.  





Her recovery has been slow, but she is alive and grateful.  She has begun to tell her story which is healing to have a chance to say out loud what happened to her.  She has begun to set goals and to rebuild relationships that were severed during her relationship with her batterer.  





His behaviors continue.  This week he was arrested, bailed out by his family and filed a restraining order against her in another parish.  Fortunately, our services provided continuity across parishes and we were able to advocate and support her through this process.  Her life is not violence free as of yet.  








#4 Below is an abstract submitted by a Victim Assistance Program in south Louisiana that provides advocacy to domestic violence victims.  This case involves a female with seven (7) children.





A mother of seven recently came to the shelter seeking safety after her batterer bashed in her car windshield and door windows with a bat.  Her 8 month old baby was in the car during the incident.  His mother, a college professor, stood there and watched.  His mother chose to lie to the authorities when they came to take a report to protect her son.  The batterer is a college educated physical therapist from a well respected family.  A protective order has been obtained to provide safety for the family.  The batterer nor his mother offered to repair the windshield or door window.  His mother said she did not do the damage, so she would not repair it.  Her seven grandchildren get wet when it rains because of the lack of protection.   CAFVIC found the money to replace the glass. 





#4 Below is an abstract submitted by a Victim Assistance Program in south Louisiana that provides advocacy to domestic violence victims.





A survivor left our shelter several months ago, after leaving her batterer, for the third time in two years.  She was upset with herself for believing his promises of change in his behavior.  He only changed for the worse.  She was able to get an apartment by herself.  With experience in retail, she transferred to the company in the area and is now working in management. She has continued to stay in contact and offers help by spreading the word about our services, increasing awareness among her staff and having fundraisers among her employees.  

As Louisiana was recovering from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and communities were beginning to recover, the state was hit with Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.  Law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, the courts, and victim service providers (public and private) are still working hard to recruit new personnel and reorganize collaboration efforts to keep up with the increasing numbers of crime victims from all the hurricanes.





The aftermath of the hurricanes has attracted immigrant workers to hard hit areas seeking employment.  Communication for the purpose of providing services has presented an issue for service providers.  Subgrant agencies are faced with developing multi-cultural resources to address the needs of potential crime victims.

Louisiana uses administrative funds to provide fiscal and programmatic support staff for VOCA, at both the state and local regional levels.  Each of the state's eight regional planning districts is awarded a portion of the state administrative funds to support the VOCA Program.  This support includes the initial review and critique of applications, financial reports, quarterly progress reports, and other grant documents, and the on-site monitoring of each subgrant program.  The VOCA Administrator and staff provide VOCA technical assistance to regional planning districts and the Victims Services Advisory Board.