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VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM 2002 LOUISIANA STATE WIDE ASSISTANCE REPORT Prepared By: Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement 1885 Wooddale Boulevard Suite 708 Baton Rouge, LA 70806-1442 tel: (225)925-1757
STATE FUNDING INFORMATION
A. THE ANNUAL AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROJECTS: 1. Appropriations $ 0 2. Criminal Fines and Penalities $ 0 3. Assessments $ 0 4. Other $ 0 TOTAL:$ 0
B. TOTAL NUMBER OF AGENCIES FUNDED FROM THE FEDERAL GRANT: 88
C. NUMBER OF SUBGRANTS FUNDED FROM THIS FEDERAL GRANT: 182
VICTIM STATISTICS
A. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS SERVED BY TYPE OF VICTIMIZATION:
NO. OF NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED VICTIMS SERVED 2,841 1. Child Physical Abuse 2,186 7. Adults Molested as Children 6,994 2. Child Sexual Abuse 1,775 8. Survivors of Homicide Victims 655 3. DUI/DWI Crashes 1,063 9. Robbery 19,914 4. Domestic Violence 4,878 10. Assualt 2,625 5. Adult Sexual Assault 29,576 11. Other 975 6. Elder Abuse TOTAL: 73,482
B. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS WHO RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED 27,088 1. Crisis Counseling 22,655 2. Followup 5,564 3. Therapy 15,213 4. Group Treatment/Support 4,815 5. Shelter/Safehouse 23,202 6. Information/Referral (in-person) 15,845 7. Criminal Justice Support/Advocacy 3,368 8. Emergency Financial Assistance 9,920 9. Emergency Legal Advocacy 7,205 10. Assistance in filing Compensation Claims 21,722 11. Personal Advocacy 55,870 12. Telephone contact Informational/Referral 77,189 13. Other TOTAL: 289,656
A. EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AID TO CRIME VICTIMS: Public and private social service providers, law enforcement, prosecution and courts continue to collaborate, network, provide training workshops, and improve their services available to victims. Additional collaborations were reported with non profit agencies, health care and mental health providers, hospitals, firefighters, school systems, and clergies. These collaborations provided a wider range of services for crime victims. Nonprofits who reported being hosts to open-door activities, workshops, seminars and educational fairs made available to the public found them to be very successful. Most agencies reported providing informative brochures and literature explaining victims services to victims and their families were beneficial. Some agencies conducted speaking engagements at churches and civic organizations. Scheduled plans of community awareness were reported, such as, vigils focusing on child victims, domestic violence and violence against women. Law enforcement officers who donated their spare time served on private agency boards and participated in multi discipline staffs.
B. EFFORTS TAKEN TO SERVE FEDERAL CRIME VICTIMS: Most agencies referred federal crime victims to the United States Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Some agencies reported their staffs helped survivors by referring them to victims’ advocates. Other agencies provided self-advocacy and routine court preparations in preparing victims for basic court proceedings. These agencies also assisted in developing a list of questions victims may need to address before the hearing itself. ALERT/ESO volunteers received training from the United States Attorney’s Office to coordinate their efforts in identifying and assisting abused, neglected, and exploited elderly victims.
C. ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF VICTIM SERVICES: Each subgrantee is required to report quarterly on programmatic issues. They provide data on the number of victims served, demographics of the victims and measurable progress achieved in meeting the goals and objectives stated in the application. This form is used to evaluate program activities and provide responses to evaluate ways to improve effectively or increase delivery of services to victims. Agencies reported communications with the District Attorney’s Office, law enforcement officers and civic groups better to help crime victims. They administered crime victims entering group homes or emergency shelter programs through needs assessment surveys. Agencies reported that documentation taken from group therapy sessions was reviewed to make any necessary changes in services. Some agencies reported changes to their needs assessment forms to get more information about victims and their needs from the agency. Agencies conducted surveys to assess services from part-time counselors and court advocates. Some agencies reported they held monthly meetings with the District Attorney’s Office to coordinate efforts with the local coordinated agency response team. Most agencies reported they constantly monitor their programs and program services, collect information on a regular basis. These agencies evaluate the information, and if needed, make revisions accordingly.
D. WAYS VOCA FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED TO ASSIST CRIME VICTIMS: CASE HISTORY #1: "The YWCA has helped many children. One particular child is a little girl age 12. She was a resident in the Mary Goss Shelter for Battered Women & Their Children along with her sister and mother. The first step was to enroll this child in school. School supplies and uniform shirts were provided for this child. This little girl had failed last year, so she was having a hard time dealing with school. When the Child Advocate enrolled her in school, she talked to the teacher about the little girl’s school behaviors and explained to the teacher that the parent and Child Advocate would be checking on a regular basis on the child’s progress. Tutoring was offered to the child, in which she accepted and attended on a regular basis. This little girl had an anger problem as well. Although she did not participate in individual counseling, she attended group counseling on a regular basis. During the group, she learned safety planning, participated in arts and crafts, support/play groups, self-esteem groups, story time, and various field trips. Also, her family was the recipient of Christmas gifts from an in-kind donor. Her mom worked really well with the Child Advocate in accomplishing the goals of her child. This little girl showed tremendous progress during her stay at the Mary Goss Shelter." CASE HISTORY #2: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana provides mentors to child victims of abuse and neglect in this mentoring program known as YEP (Youth Enrichment Program). In order to improve the child victims’s sense of well-being and minimize the behaviors resulting from abuse and neglect, Big Brothers Big Sisters will provide much needed screened and trained mentors through the program. A letter from a resident of the Acadiana Shelter for Girls reads: "Tutoring has really helped me out this school semester. I got a chance to get away from my noisy house, sit down and concentrate on my school work. My main problem was Algebra I. My tutor that was assigned to me was really, really helpful. I passed Algebra this year! I believe if I wouldn’t’ve gone to BBBS’s tutoring classes, I would not have passed this year in Math. Not only in Algebra, but in the rest of my classes, I was able to study, and got help to study, and got help to understand in other subjects. I thank my tutor Mr. Jeff. But, I also thank the sponsorer of tutoring at BBBS for them allowing us to come after their work hours so they could help us. That really meant a lot to us all. I am looking forward to next year’s sessions. Kristi" ANECDOTAL INFORMATION #1: The Shreveport Police Department began a Domestic Violence Unit, utilizing both sworn police personnel, civilian police employees and volunteers from the community. In May 2001, the Shreveport Police rounded up forty-nine men with outstanding warrants stemming from domestic violence. As reported in the Shreveport Times, "Police scoured neighborhoods city-wide Monday through Friday for residents charged in outstanding warrants with battering wives, girlfriends, ex-spouses or other victims. ‘We will not tolerate domestic violence in Shreveport," Police Chief Jim Roberts said Friday afternoon in announcing the number of people arrested, handcuffed and booked into City Jail during Operation Pay Day. Most of the surprised suspects taken into custody at their homes, workplaces, relatives’ houses and other locations are charged in 60- to 90-day-old warrants with simple battery. Roberts said other such roundups will be conducted periodically in a city where police respond to about 200 domestic violence-related calls a month." The article later disclosed, "Those rounded up during Operation Pay Day include: a man accused of hitting his girlfriend and a 2-month-old baby in the face; an alleged stalker accused of throwing a rock through a window while the victim and victim’s daughter were asleep; a man who allegedly cut his girlfriend’s hand with a knife and slashed the tires on her vehicle; and a driver accused of kicking a victim out of a moving car." ANECDOTAL INFORMATION #2: Victims of DWI crashes and their family members are often faced with sudden, unanticipated grief and expense for which there is very little help in the criminal justice system. A full-time Victim Impact Panel Coordinator is funded, in part, by this project. A letter received from the Traffic Court of New Orleans read, "MADD has successfully conducted Victim Impact Panels on a monthly basis in the City of New Orleans since October 1998. In my sentencing experience DWI offenders report that attendance at the panel and exposure to the families of victims of drunk drivers is singularly impressive to them. Offenders recognize, as a result of panel presentations, that even they or their loved ones could be victims of either their own impaired driving or the impaired driving of someone else. The VIP experience also erases notions in an offender’s mind that he has been "victimized" by the law enforcement and judicial system. The Victim Impact Panel is a most important component in the sentencing options for a judge and, to the extent that your office is responsible for assisting MADD through a VOCA grant in order to continue the funding of this worthwhile program, I hope that this information will be of assistance in your evaluation."
E. ISSUES OR TRENDS IMPACTING CRIME VICTIM SERVICES: Most agencies reported an increase in referrals from local law enforcement that shows improved relations between law enforcement and victim services. Some agencies reported a relationship between victim services and a well-defined Employees Assistance Program (EAP). They are developing the EAP in the private and public sector. Some agencies have reported that organizations are looking to package victim services within the EAP as they focus on domestic violence in the workplace. Employers are being trained to help employees by recognizing the signs of domestic violence. Services are found to be needed to teach survivor skills to crime victims, such as independent living skills, so those victims can function in society. There is an effort to educate judges on the harmful effects of issuing mutual restraining orders to crime victims who are continually being blamed for what has happened to them. A few agencies noted a lack of funding for medications and medical cards. An increase in the number of cases involving methamphetamine use and production and other drug-related offenses have been reported. These cases are also a factor in which children are becoming victims and being placed into state custody. Some agencies reported an increase in the pregnancy of teenage girls (two were mentally challenged) resulting from crimes or rape or incest. Bullying and intimidation are also being found as a big factor regarding sexual abuse issues. Some agencies are reporting a better response from law enforcement in assisting with adolescent females who were victims of statutory rape by older males, even when victim identified the relationship as "consensual".
F. USE OF VOCA ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS: Louisiana has used its administrative funds to provide a fiscal and programmatic support staff for VOCA monies, both at the state and regional level. A portion of the state administrative funds are awarded to each of the state’s eight regional planning units in order to defray some of the costs of supporting the VOCA Program. This support includes on-site monitoring of programs and initial review and critique of applications, financial and progress reports and other grant documents. There is no question that without the administrative funds it would not be possible to provide a VOCA program that meets all federal requirements.