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VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM 2002 NEBRASKA STATE WIDE ASSISTANCE REPORT Prepared By: Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice 301 Centennial Mall South PO Box 94946 Lincoln, NE 68509-4946 tel: (402)471-3687
STATE FUNDING INFORMATION
A. THE ANNUAL AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROJECTS: 1. Appropriations $ 1,312,145 2. Criminal Fines and Penalities $ 0 3. Assessments $ 0 4. Other $ 0 TOTAL:$ 1,312,145
B. TOTAL NUMBER OF AGENCIES FUNDED FROM THE FEDERAL GRANT: 37
C. NUMBER OF SUBGRANTS FUNDED FROM THIS FEDERAL GRANT: 37
VICTIM STATISTICS
A. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS SERVED BY TYPE OF VICTIMIZATION:
NO. OF NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED VICTIMS SERVED 548 1. Child Physical Abuse 240 7. Adults Molested as Children 1,120 2. Child Sexual Abuse 168 8. Survivors of Homicide Victims 174 3. DUI/DWI Crashes 518 9. Robbery 14,787 4. Domestic Violence 3,187 10. Assualt 2,918 5. Adult Sexual Assault 12,464 11. Other 48 6. Elder Abuse TOTAL: 36,172
B. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS WHO RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED 17,266 1. Crisis Counseling 68,234 2. Followup 69 3. Therapy 18,195 4. Group Treatment/Support 13,549 5. Shelter/Safehouse 14,380 6. Information/Referral (in-person) 30,264 7. Criminal Justice Support/Advocacy 5,587 8. Emergency Financial Assistance 2,170 9. Emergency Legal Advocacy 2,797 10. Assistance in filing Compensation Claims 32,742 11. Personal Advocacy 39,260 12. Telephone contact Informational/Referral 22,980 13. Other TOTAL: 267,493
A. EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AID TO CRIME VICTIMS: Victim assistance agencies conduct interviews with media and provide presentations at various functions regarding crime victims’ issues and their services. Many agencies have PSAs airing within their communities. Private non profit agencies conduct numerous fund raising events. In April of each year, victims’ programs statewide promote National Victim’s Right week activities involving criminal justice agencies and other community representatives. In October of each year, domestic violence programs promote Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities that also involve criminal justice agencies and other community representatives. Nebraska has received Violence Against Women Act funds since 1995. The goal of the funds is to create comprehensive, positive changes in the criminal justice system’s response to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. A requirement for funding is that victim service, law enforcement and prosecution agencies, at a minimum, work together to identify needs, gaps and solutions for their community. Most work with probation and the judiciary as well. As a result, appropriate written policies and procedures are revised or written and training on the adopted policies and procedures provided. Statewide, law enforcement is giving an increased number of victims information on services available and how to access them. Law enforcement will also contact an advocate for the victim or take the victim to meet with an advocate, in a safe location. In many communities, advocates respond immediately to provide services when it is appropriate and safe to do so. Many programs have cell phones available to domestic violence victims so law enforcement can be contacted in a crisis situation. All funded programs agree to coordinate efforts and cooperate with other crime victim assistance agencies and all criminal justice agencies in their community. Programs coordinate with community agencies such as AARP, Hotels and Motels in Partnership, food pantries, HUD/Homeless program, as well as state agencies such as Health and Human Services, to name a few. Volunteers are also invaluable to the delivery of services as well as a requirement of funding. Recruiting, coordination and training of volunteers is ongoing
B. EFFORTS TAKEN TO SERVE FEDERAL CRIME VICTIMS: The Crime Commission works closely with the United States Attorneys’ victim witness unit. The director of the United States Attorneys’ victim witness unit is also a member of the Nebraska Coalition for Victims of Crime. Crime Commission staff is involved in this Coalition. The Omaha/Douglas County Victim Assistance Unit and the U.S. Attorney’s office (located in Omaha) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding so the two victim assistance programs can be hooked into the city of Omaha Intranet. All VOCA funded programs provide services to victims of federal crimes on the same basis as for victims of state and local crimes. This is a requirement of Special Conditions.
C. ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF VICTIM SERVICES: The Nebraska Coalition for Victims of Crime and the Nebraska Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Coalition are both dedicated to ensuring victims are provided needed services. Both Coalitions have recently developed comprehensive training guides to help ensure quality and consistent training. Crime Commission staff regularly provides training on project planning and grant writing. This training is a hands on training that will provide participants with the tools to write a good grant for the Crime Commission as well as for other grants. A computerized case management system was implemented and allows statistics to be submitted to the Crime Commission electronically. This should provide for more accurate reporting. The Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) system is provided funds for continued operation. Victims may register to be notified of the custody status or change in custody status of their offender. For the period of October 1, 2001 thru September 30, 2002, there were 15,095 calls made to VINE; 1,497 victims notified about the status of an offender; and, 1,584 new victims registered with the VINE system. Since 1997 VOCA funds were made available, 4,758 victims have registered with the VINE system.
D. WAYS VOCA FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED TO ASSIST CRIME VICTIMS: 1. A VOCA funded domestic violence shelter has a “Back to School” drive to collect school supplies and gift certificates to local merchants so each school age child in shelter could have a new backpack, school supplies and a “first day of school” outfit and shoes. 2. A two-day legal advocacy training was recently completed and many advocates have had the opportunity to attend this training to enhance their skills in serving victims. 3. One program provides therapeutic in-shelter and after-care counseling for women, children and adolescents residing in emergency shelter. VOCA funds are specifically for the therapeutic services to children to help break the cycle of domestic violence. This program provides extended emergency shelter and helps families transition from shelter into their own home. One story the shelter shared is about a young Mother and four children ages 2 to 8 who completed the program successfully under very difficult circumstances. Her youngest child had suffered physical abuse at the hands of her father and the oldest child had severe emotional and behavioral problems. She fled her home leaving her community, her family, her Church support and her livelihood behind to start over. It is difficult enough to start over on one's own but to have four small children with some very special and challenging needs to struggle with is even more stressful. Through everything this mother persevered with great patience and kindness toward her children. She entered into the transitional program and began classes herself to continue her degree. She graduates in December, 2002 with her degree and will pursue employment and further education. Her children have received services to deal with the abuse and the oldest child has been in therapy and is a different child from the one who came "kicking and screaming" into the shelter. This family has availed themselves of every opportunity offered to them through this program. This mother graduated from the transitional program and is in her own apartment, financially independent and believes she can succeed in achieving all her goals. Without the financial assistance provided by the grant funds this program receives from VOCA, the needed counseling for this mother and her children would not have been provided. The staff in this program offers the "hands-on" care for families such as this but recognizes they do not work alone but along with and for the community. 4. and 5. The following two stories are from a rape/spouse abuse crisis center. She came into the center and sat quietly for most of the whole session. Then she asked if you can ever get away from an abuser who still lives in the home. They had two children and the isolation and the fear had gotten to her. His son started to be abusive to the mother. Her daughter was afraid of the father. For three months she came back and in her mind she was figuring how she could get to a safe place. Two months ago she took what she could. She took the children and she fled. The crisis center helped with gasoline and food to eat and they left. She wrote to say that the children and her are now walking on the floor...no more egg shells. The son is doing well in school and seems very content. Not all of the problems are solved, but at least she and the children are safe. In the second story, Mom was a banker. She also had injuries that her fourteen year old son caused. He was as big as mom and when he got angry she was very afraid. She came to the crisis center and the counselors worked with her. She began to ask questions of the laws and finally the son was caught hurting her and he is now in a care facility for troubled teens and mom is back at her job. The assistance provided helped Mom to be safe and the teenager to get help. A victim assistance program tells of attending funerals of homicide victims, arranging meetings with the family of the deceased which includes the law enforcement agency investigating the crime and the prosecutor that is handling the case. The advocate has gone to the home and consoled family members intially, letting them know exactly what will happen as far as further investigation and keeping them informed as the case proceeds. Program staff states they also introduce themselves to the funeral director and explain the crime victims reparations fund, allowing the stress of the funeral expenses to be temporarily excluded. One victim assistance program tells of transporting 6 family members to attend an Appeal hearing at the State Capital. Victim assistance staff and the family were able to meet with the Attorney General handling the appeal on this murder case which involved a domestic disturbance that ended up with the woman being beaten to the extent that she died as the result of injuries. After closing the case, and the appeal was denied and almost2 years after the murder,the victim assistance staff maintains regular contact with the family. The program also tells how it is assisting in a case in another county that involved a tragedy that claimed the lives of two police officers. Victim assistance programs are also ready to assist other VOCA funded programs whenever needed.
E. ISSUES OR TRENDS IMPACTING CRIME VICTIM SERVICES: The State is under great financial strain right now and agencies have been forced to make large budget reductions. The state appropriation for the victim compensation program was cut by nearly $200,000 for FY 2002. This reduced the state appropriation to $20,000. Given the federal compensation award is based on a percentage of how much is paid to victims in state dollars, the compensation fund will be greatly reduced if these funds are not replaced. Victim service providers are exploring other options to replace the funds through nonappropriated means. It also appears the increase from 40% to 60% in the compensation formula may affect the amount available for assistance if the VOCA cap is not raised accordingly. At the time this report is written, the budget from appropriated funds for the domestic violence and sexual assault programs in Nebraska is proposed to be reduced by 80% which coupled with the possibility of reduced VOCA funds would have devastating affects on programs Victim notification is a major issue which was addressed through the implementation of the VINE system
F. USE OF VOCA ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS: Funds allow the Crime Commission to hire personnel dedicated specifically to the administration and management of the VOCA program. Funds also allow VOCA staff to attend local and national training sessions as well as travel to VOCA programs to conduct financial and programmatic monitoring. Funds also provide for staff to provide grant management training and grant writing training. Printing costs for the program assist with things such as announcements and applications for grant funds.