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VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM 2002 INDIANA STATE WIDE ASSISTANCE REPORT Prepared By: Indiana Criminal Justice Institute One North Capital, Suite 1000 Indianapolis, IN 46204-2038 tel: (317)232-1233
STATE FUNDING INFORMATION
A. THE ANNUAL AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROJECTS: 1. Appropriations $ 560,971 2. Criminal Fines and Penalities $ 0 3. Assessments $ 0 4. Other $ 0 TOTAL:$ 560,971
B. TOTAL NUMBER OF AGENCIES FUNDED FROM THE FEDERAL GRANT: 169
C. NUMBER OF SUBGRANTS FUNDED FROM THIS FEDERAL GRANT: 169
VICTIM STATISTICS
A. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS SERVED BY TYPE OF VICTIMIZATION:
NO. OF NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED VICTIMS SERVED 4,172 1. Child Physical Abuse 1,425 7. Adults Molested as Children 7,232 2. Child Sexual Abuse 2,677 8. Survivors of Homicide Victims 3,321 3. DUI/DWI Crashes 5,212 9. Robbery 42,175 4. Domestic Violence 5,815 10. Assualt 3,812 5. Adult Sexual Assault 31,485 11. Other 605 6. Elder Abuse TOTAL: 107,931
B. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS WHO RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED 32,375 1. Crisis Counseling 61,202 2. Followup 3,829 3. Therapy 15,985 4. Group Treatment/Support 18,232 5. Shelter/Safehouse 36,312 6. Information/Referral (in-person) 62,484 7. Criminal Justice Support/Advocacy 1,821 8. Emergency Financial Assistance 9,324 9. Emergency Legal Advocacy 4,817 10. Assistance in filing Compensation Claims 21,750 11. Personal Advocacy 91,320 12. Telephone contact Informational/Referral 23,200 13. Other TOTAL: 382,651
A. EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AID TO CRIME VICTIMS: * All non-profit organizations must be sponsored by a public organization, therefore establishing coordinated efforts with local units of government. * Subgrantees are encouraged to participate in local councils, committees and task forces that bring service providers together to address issues unmet needs and overlapping services. * Sub-grantees are required to demonstrate coordination of services by identifying agencies they collaborate with and provide letters of support from those agencies in the VOCA application packet.
B. EFFORTS TAKEN TO SERVE FEDERAL CRIME VICTIMS: * All VOCA funded programs provide services to federal crime victims as the need arises. * Both of Indiana's North and South U.S. Attorney's Victim/Witness Coordinators work closely with county advocates, statewide coalitions and Indiana Criminal Justice Institute to provide needed referral information and direct services to federal crime victims.
C. ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF VICTIM SERVICES: * Victim Services Grant Manager and the Fiscal Manager provide technical assistance and monitoring through site visits , frequent telephone contact, and electronic mail. * Programs were encouraged to attend statewide and national victim services training to enhance their service skills. * As part of the statewide audit and needs assessment, Sub-grantees were given service evaluation forms to be filled out by victims regarding their client satisfaction. This data will be used to future service recommendation.
D. WAYS VOCA FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED TO ASSIST CRIME VICTIMS: * Diversity outreach programs for growing populations. * Therapy and counseling programs that reach out to victims of violent crime. * Sexual Assault Treatment Centers provide sexual assault exams, counseling, etc. to victims. * Child Advocacy Centers provide services for children to be videotaped/questioned without going to the police station or prosecutor's office for evidence collection; provide supervised visitation sites and collaboration with CASA programs. * Victim/Offender reconciliation programs provide victims-offender mediation services, which has been beneficial with victims of juvenile offenders. * Legal Advocacy programs link domestic violence victims with legal advocates to assist with protective orders or court accompaniment support.
E. ISSUES OR TRENDS IMPACTING CRIME VICTIM SERVICES: As an emerging issue. Indiana has seen an increased need for services for Hispanic crime victims, especially domestic violence victims. Many counties throughout the state are in the beginning stages of expanding services to previously undeserved victims. These services include hiring bilingual advocates, publishing informational brochures in Spanish, and coordinating services within the community. High staff and volunteer turnover is another emerging concern for many programs' stability and quality of service. Budgetary priorities have limited the amounts of state and local general funds dollars committed to victim services, especially those needed for matching requirements. A current trend around the state is an increase in the number of comprehensive forensic evidence collection centers for sexual assault and child abuse in underserved areas.
F. USE OF VOCA ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS: * Administrative funds were used to develop funding criteria for the grantees through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute's Research Division. * In addition, administrative funds were utilized to attend national trainings to learn about other innovative and model programs.