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VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM 2002 NEW YORK STATE WIDE ASSISTANCE REPORT Prepared By: New York Crime Victims Board 845 Central Avenue Suite 107 Albany, NY 12206-3079 tel: (518)485-2763
STATE FUNDING INFORMATION
A. THE ANNUAL AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROJECTS: 1. Appropriations $ 0 2. Criminal Fines and Penalities $ 7,051,300 3. Assessments $ 0 4. Other $ 0 TOTAL:$ 7,051,300
B. TOTAL NUMBER OF AGENCIES FUNDED FROM THE FEDERAL GRANT: 174
C. NUMBER OF SUBGRANTS FUNDED FROM THIS FEDERAL GRANT: 187
VICTIM STATISTICS
A. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS SERVED BY TYPE OF VICTIMIZATION:
NO. OF NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED VICTIMS SERVED 7,221 1. Child Physical Abuse 6,049 7. Adults Molested as Children 28,401 2. Child Sexual Abuse 9,008 8. Survivors of Homicide Victims 1,816 3. DUI/DWI Crashes 6,665 9. Robbery 110,317 4. Domestic Violence 24,145 10. Assualt 13,513 5. Adult Sexual Assault 19,409 11. Other 5,995 6. Elder Abuse TOTAL: 232,539
B. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS WHO RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED 85,715 1. Crisis Counseling 110,797 2. Followup 13,949 3. Therapy 13,286 4. Group Treatment/Support 6,605 5. Shelter/Safehouse 145,005 6. Information/Referral (in-person) 54,921 7. Criminal Justice Support/Advocacy 12,698 8. Emergency Financial Assistance 10,716 9. Emergency Legal Advocacy 64,733 10. Assistance in filing Compensation Claims 72,327 11. Personal Advocacy 51,081 12. Telephone contact Informational/Referral 15,381 13. Other TOTAL: 657,214
A. EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AID TO CRIME VICTIMS: Throughout the year funded programs conduct periodic community presentations and in-service training at local hospitals and police agencies. These presentations educate both the public and human service professionals about the VOCA-funded programs' services and CVB compensation benefits. At the local level, allied agencies and professionals in several counties continue to develop multidisciplinary teams as a response to domestic violence and child abuse. This seamless structure provides communities with an immediate and coordinated response by all concerned groups including victim advocacy, law enforcement and prosecution. CVB continues to support prototype restitution programs in two counties with the goals of improving assessment, collection and payment to victims. Both programs have began to demonstrate modest success in improving restitution assessment. This has been largely due to public outreach and education efforts targeted toward judges, prosecutors, court clerks, advocates and other professionals in the criminal justice system. The continued success of both projects will depend on effective coordination and collaboration among these parties and local probation departments.
B. EFFORTS TAKEN TO SERVE FEDERAL CRIME VICTIMS: Several U.S, Attorney and FBI victim/witness coordinators serve on the Crime Victims Board Advisory Council. Several local coordinators also participate in regional coalitions located throughout the state. Notable achievements in coordinating services to federal crime victims in FFY 01-02 include New York State's coordinated response to the September 11th terrorist attacks. CV13's swift and effective delivery of services to the victims of these attacks and their families is largely attributable to successful coordination with several agencies including, but not limited to: the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Office for Victims of crime, the Red Cross, the New York State Emergency Management Office, the New York State Office of Mental Health, the New York City Mayor's Office, the New York City Police and Fire Departments, VOCA compensation and assistance programs in other states, and over 180 VOCA-funded victim service organizations throughout New York State.
C. ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF VICTIM SERVICES: The CVB holds bi-yearly statewide conferences designed to bring together a variety of service providers and funded programs to address victim issues and to share new ideas and initiatives related to better assisting victims. In May 2002 CVB sponsored a two-day conference in Saratoga Springs, New York. Attendance at this event was unprecedented with over 480 participants from victim assistance programs and allied, professions. CVB also conducts regional monthly training programs for funded program staff and other victim service professionals to help them better understand the compensation claim process, related forms, documentation requirements, and state and federal regulations. In response to other specific training needs identified by funded programs, CVB will also be sponsoring periodic regional training on topics such as hate crime, vicarious trauma, and program development. Originally scheduled to begin in the fall of 2001, this initiative was suspended until recently as the result of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
D. WAYS VOCA FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED TO ASSIST CRIME VICTIMS: 1. 5 newspaper articles describing victim services. 2. 2 newspaper articles honoring crime victims, 3. 1 newspaper article reporting on conference spotlighting domestic violence. 4. 1 TRIAD brouchure highlighting "Crime Victim's Rights." 5. Copies of two different shelters' newsletter in responce to victims of 911.
E. ISSUES OR TRENDS IMPACTING CRIME VICTIM SERVICES: Crime victim services in New York State continue to be notably impacted by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. CVB and the network of VOCA-funded programs already provide services to more than 200,000 victims of crime each year. Almost instantly, the unprecedented and devastating mass violence of the September 11th attacks presented New York's victim service community with thousands more in need of services and created new challenges to providing these services. The network of nearly 80 VOCA-funded victim assistance programs in Now York City and nine surrounding counties was available in the immediate aftermath of the attacks to provide crisis intervention, emergency assistance and crisis counseling. These programs continue to be an invaluable resource to thousands of September 11th victims for mental health counseling, hotline services, compensation assistance, outreach and information and referrals. Likewise, over 100 other VOCA-funded victim assistance programs continue to be available statewide to provide assistance to victims and family members in communities well beyond the immediate disaster area.
F. USE OF VOCA ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS: VOCA administrative funds continue to support the staff required to effectively monitor and assist nearly 200 victim assistance programs in New York State. These administrative funds are also used to support other costs, necessary for effective program oversight such as training to enhance staff skills and travel costs for on-site program reviews and technical assistance.