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VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM 2002 FLORIDA STATE WIDE ASSISTANCE REPORT Prepared By: Florida Department of Legal Affairs PL-01 The Capitol Tallahassee, FL 32399-0000 tel: (850)414-3346
STATE FUNDING INFORMATION
A. THE ANNUAL AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROJECTS: 1. Appropriations $ 51,815,796 2. Criminal Fines and Penalities $ 0 3. Assessments $ 11,112,618 4. Other $ 43,876,296 TOTAL:$ 106,804,710
B. TOTAL NUMBER OF AGENCIES FUNDED FROM THE FEDERAL GRANT: 257
C. NUMBER OF SUBGRANTS FUNDED FROM THIS FEDERAL GRANT: 280
VICTIM STATISTICS
A. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS SERVED BY TYPE OF VICTIMIZATION:
NO. OF NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED VICTIMS SERVED 7,542 1. Child Physical Abuse 1,706 7. Adults Molested as Children 20,212 2. Child Sexual Abuse 3,680 8. Survivors of Homicide Victims 2,815 3. DUI/DWI Crashes 7,869 9. Robbery 120,214 4. Domestic Violence 12,979 10. Assualt 5,901 5. Adult Sexual Assault 27,111 11. Other 2,599 6. Elder Abuse TOTAL: 212,628
B. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS WHO RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED 124,287 1. Crisis Counseling 264,206 2. Followup 29,817 3. Therapy 41,248 4. Group Treatment/Support 36,322 5. Shelter/Safehouse 337,469 6. Information/Referral (in-person) 169,740 7. Criminal Justice Support/Advocacy 17,690 8. Emergency Financial Assistance 31,010 9. Emergency Legal Advocacy 112,735 10. Assistance in filing Compensation Claims 129,389 11. Personal Advocacy 229,126 12. Telephone contact Informational/Referral 242,489 13. Other TOTAL: 1,765,528
A. EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AID TO CRIME VICTIMS: Both the size and diversity of Florida's crime victim population present unique challenges in coordinating victims services while maximizing limited resources. Two successful strategies include placement of regional victim advocates representing the OAG and the involvement of local citizen review teams in the VOCA grant process. Additionally, grant applicants are asked to detail the collaborative efforts of their respective agencies within the community. The OAG increased the number of full time regional advocates who provide coverage throughout the state from nine to twelve. Regional advocates facilitate coalition building and foster cooperation among the public and non profit victim services providers in the community. OAG advocates also serve as resources for local agencies. For example, community advocates and providers who need to locate specific services or solve special problems are encouraged to call OAG advocates for information and referral services. In addition, OAG advocates serve as local liaisons for agency programs which include victim compensation, domestic violence relocation assistance, address confidentiality for domestic violence victims, and the toll-free victim services hotline. A citizen review team process for VOCA grant evaluations continues to contribute to the coordination of services in Florida. Twenty citizen review teams (one for each judicial circuit) are convened annually to review and prioritize the VOCA grant applications for each of the judicial circuits. Each review team is comprised of volunteers who reside within the local community. The citizen review teams have proven to be effective in identifying services that are needed locally and prioritizing VOCA grant applications based on those needed services, available funding, and the ability of agencies to provide coordinated or unique services to the local community. Each year the OAG and the Executive Office of the Governor (EOG) coordinate efforts during Crime Victims' Rights Week in hosting a number of events in honor of crime victims and the service providers who offer assistance to these victims. During this last year, the EOG initiated a blood drive to bring focus to an often overlooked, but crucial need for many victims of crime. A mobile donor station parked on the plaza of the Capitol for a day, providing visible, convenient access to a steady stream of visitors from all walks of life. Sport fishing enthusiasts in Clay County, Florida found a way to participate in a lucrative fishing tournament without depleting the fish population and lend support to local charitable organizations. A portion of the prize money was presented to Quigley House, a certified domestic violence shelter and VOCA recipient. Coordination efforts are also furthered within the OAG through the use of college student interns. Most of these students are seeking a career as an attorney or a specialty area of law enforcement, so exposure to the role played by victim service providers affords a lasting enrichment usually not gained in a classroom setting.
B. EFFORTS TAKEN TO SERVE FEDERAL CRIME VICTIMS: OAG victim advocates facilitate inclusion of the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the FBI advocacy staff in local coalitions and in routine meetings among victim advocates and victim witness coordinators for local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Additionally, there has been renewed effort to extend outreach into native American communities. Florida tribal representatives have been provided with a written overview of the services offered through the OAG, as well as an explanation of the VOCA funding that may be available. As a part of this endeavor, the OAG is represented on the VOCA/VAIC workgroup. Another issue of federal jurisdiction is human trafficking and slavery. As this trend develops, the necessity for coordination of ideas and resources among agencies will increase. While the identification of an appropriate commitment of funding or services from the OAG is not eminent, it is important to participate in preliminary meetings with affected agencies. The OAG has provided training regarding this victim population, as well as participating in the newly formed Florida Human Trafficking Initiative workgroup.
C. ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF VICTIM SERVICES: Training is a necessary and expensive component of quality victim services. During the past year, the OAG, in partnership with another agency, hosted a three-day statewide training for therapists who work with child victim populations. Subsequently, each training participant agreed to document twelve hours of pro bono work when they returned to their respective communities. The OAG continues to provide the Victim Services Practitioner Designation Training, a standardized training for victim service and allied professionals. Objectives of this 24-hour course include providing a standard baseline curriculum for victim services staff; improving the interpersonal skills and interactive knowledge of victim service providers; increasing awareness of statutory mandates and services; and focusing on the need for interdisciplinary coordination of services. Each VOCA subgrantee is required to have at least one member of their professional staff who has completed the designation training. Approximately 250 victim services professionals participate in the designation training program each year. In addition, the OAG provides numerous workshops and advanced training seminars in a continuous commitment to the professional development of victim service providers. This program is designed in direct response to the needs of field personnel. Selection of course topics is predicated on input from victim services professionals throughout the state. The workshops and seminars are held regionally to make them accessible to all agencies, and the courses provide up-to-date information on a wide array of topics, trends, techniques, best practices and new laws affecting crime victims. The OAG conducts annual on-site program monitoring of numerous VOCA subgrantees. The monitoring reports are used as a management tool to improve outcomes and accountability and are also used by citizen review teams as part of the VOCA grant application review process. One notable example of cooperation among agencies to improve the delivery of services to victims occurred in Broward County, Florida, in an incidence of driving under the influence (DUI) Manslaughter that resulted in the death of two teens. Within the space of only a few hours, the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) advocate received information from a state prosecutor, a felony cases victim advocate from the State Attorney's Office and the victim advocate from the investigating law enforcement agency. When the MADD advocate spoke with the mother of one of the victims later that day, all of the pertinent information had been gathered and a specific support network was identified and in place. Survivors of capital criminal offenses are often underserved. Appeals usually continue for decades, compounding the toll of emotional and financial burdens. VOCA funding was made available this year to help defray some of the financial incumbrance by paying travel expenses for one family member to attend the significant proceedings in the criminal justice process, up to $1,000 per victim.
D. WAYS VOCA FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED TO ASSIST CRIME VICTIMS: 1. Magazine article "Senior Volunteers Assist Elder Victims of Crime" describing a Senior Advocacy Program. 2. Newspaper article "Victim hang feelings on clotheslines" describes a healing event for domestic violence victims by displaying decorated t-shirts on clotheslines at the County Fair. 3. 2 Thank you notes from victims for services provided. One described the victims advocates' assistance from the Florida Highway Patrol to a homicide survivor.
E. ISSUES OR TRENDS IMPACTING CRIME VICTIM SERVICES: Human trafficking continues to emerge as a notable trend. Florida has begun to identify a small number of victims, including victims held as indentured servants and victims of sex trafficking. The needs of trafficking victims, primarily women and children, are similar to the needs of refugees but include different health and safety issues, more intensive case management assistance, differing placement and housing needs, and coordination of settlement with ongoing criminal prosecution. IN addition to trafficking victims, Florida is experiencing an increase in the number of identify theft and economic crime victims. Since the passage of law in 1999, identify theft became a chargeable offense in the State of Florida; thereby creating the need for victim services. Since then the Office of Attorney General has employed as advocate to assist these victims with needed services.
F. USE OF VOCA ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS: The OAG continues to use minimal VOCA funding for administrative purposes, preferring to allocate VOCA funds to agencies to provide direct services to crime victims. However, the OAG does use a limited amount of administrative funding (less than one percent of the total VOCA grant) to contract with consultants who coordinate the activities of the local citizen review teams. As described earlier, the local review teams evaluate grant applications and provide community based funding recommendations. The consultant in each judicial circuit is the local "point person" responsible for identifying volunteers, coordinating the evaluations of grant applications, scheduling on-site visits and oral presentations, and providing the final recommendations and associated paperwork to this office.