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VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM 2002 OHIO STATE WIDE ASSISTANCE REPORT Prepared By: Ohio Office of the Attorney General - Crime Victim Assistance Office 65 East State Street, 8th Floor Columbus, OH 43215-4321 tel: (614)466-5610
STATE FUNDING INFORMATION
A. THE ANNUAL AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROJECTS: 1. Appropriations $ 1,833,968 2. Criminal Fines and Penalities $ 0 3. Assessments $ 0 4. Other $ 0 TOTAL:$ 1,833,968
B. TOTAL NUMBER OF AGENCIES FUNDED FROM THE FEDERAL GRANT: 248
C. NUMBER OF SUBGRANTS FUNDED FROM THIS FEDERAL GRANT: 312
VICTIM STATISTICS
A. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS SERVED BY TYPE OF VICTIMIZATION:
NO. OF NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED VICTIMS SERVED 7,213 1. Child Physical Abuse 2,613 7. Adults Molested as Children 15,537 2. Child Sexual Abuse 2,790 8. Survivors of Homicide Victims 1,689 3. DUI/DWI Crashes 9,112 9. Robbery 112,214 4. Domestic Violence 29,340 10. Assualt 8,835 5. Adult Sexual Assault 52,130 11. Other 1,182 6. Elder Abuse TOTAL: 242,655
B. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS WHO RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED 66,213 1. Crisis Counseling 115,935 2. Followup 8,178 3. Therapy 15,826 4. Group Treatment/Support 10,714 5. Shelter/Safehouse 102,001 6. Information/Referral (in-person) 132,735 7. Criminal Justice Support/Advocacy 4,745 8. Emergency Financial Assistance 18,888 9. Emergency Legal Advocacy 22,288 10. Assistance in filing Compensation Claims 61,407 11. Personal Advocacy 153,068 12. Telephone contact Informational/Referral 29,563 13. Other TOTAL: 741,561
A. EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AID TO CRIME VICTIMS: Coordinated public and private efforts within the community include, but are not limited to, collaboration meetings (both at women's health fairs); training foster parents; poster contests for CVRW; computer-linked criminal justice software providing easy access to court and other victim- related information; and literature displayed at hospitals, law enforcement agencies, and court houses.
B. EFFORTS TAKEN TO SERVE FEDERAL CRIME VICTIMS: The federal victim-witness coordinators serve on the VOCA Board. Subgrantees are kept informed of victims of federal terrorism. Subgrantees work with the U.S. Attorney advocates; Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm advocates; and serve on a national crisis response team.
C. ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF VICTIM SERVICES: VOCA funds were used to assist in training over 1400 participants at Ohio's Annual Two Days in May Conference. State funds were used to provide regional training to SANE nurses, which greatly enhanced VOCA-funded organizations' services to sexual assault victims. VOCA funds were used to assist statewide coalitions providing training to their membership and other participants. Funds were used to assist in basic and advanced training for Ohio's statewide crisis response team. VOCA funds were used to provide computers to our subgrantees. VOCA program specialists and the director served on statewide and national boards providing valuable networking and education of the roles we each play.
D. WAYS VOCA FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED TO ASSIST CRIME VICTIMS: 1) To Everyone: You are all great! All of you should be proud of your jobs. My son and I thank you greatly! If not for all of you, where would we be? I thank you for your support, for pointing me in the right directions. I thank you for not giving up on me and not letting me give up. I thank you all for your talks, your insights, arid your praises. Each of your personal times I did get to share with you kept my spirits up and kept me moving forward, especially when going back would have been easier; but all of you reminded me it could have been a deadly mistake. So, my son and I thank you for our new, safe, happy life we now have! Once again, thanks from the two of us! Thank you for being you. Each and everyone of you! You know where we are... Please, come by our new home. . see what your jobs make possible for others! 2) This past year, we have had repeated contact with a woman with a disability. She was extremely fearful of police after her rape, thinking they would not believe her. This was related to her victimization during her childhood. Our Rape Crisis Manager met with her on several occasions and accompanied her on several visits to the detective. The advocate coordinated a team meeting with the survivor, the survivor's counselor, her boyfriend, the detective, the rape crisis director, and the advocate. During the meeting, the advocate was able to continue to provide support and reassurance; and the client was able to share more readily with the group more information about the rape that was helpful to the survivor herself, the detective, and the therapist. 3) Dear Mr. Prosecuting Attorney, 8/30/01: My name is .... three years ago, my nephew... confessed to raping and molesting three of his cousins, all who were under the age of ten. One of those children was my daughter... she was the least victimized, yet a victim. . When we found out what... had done, needless to say, it changed our lives forever. You cannot imagine the absolute hell our family was put through. You cannot imagine the absolute hell my daughter had to endure. I am happy and proud to tell you that she is doing well. But to achieve her wellness, she went through many hours and months of intense counseling and from time to time, as needed, she returns to her counseling. I very firmly believe that she nor I or my entire family could not have handled this terrible tragedy without the help and support of the Victims of Crimes Office. I cannot express enough gratitude towards J .... B... and B... E... Their care and concern for my daughter and all the other victims should be commended. I spent many hours on the phone with J .... and many hours in her office. She guided me through the entire court process, as well as the parole hearings and numerous impact statements, up until ... release July 31, 2001; and she continues to be my rock. It is comforting to know I can still call them anytime with a question or concern, and I know they can answer it. I just felt very compelled to express my gratitude towards two very fine ladies and that you and your entire staff should be very proud of the hard work they do. Their care and compassion for victims go way beyond the call of duty. So, the next time you see them or visit their office, be sure to pat them on the back and let them know how much you appreciate all the hard work and all their caring for their fellow human beings! In conclusion, I thank you, Mr. Prosecutor for your successful prosecution of this particular case. I really appreciate all your hard work in putting a dangerous criminal behind bars. I thank, you for your time. Sincerely, 4) The victim's early life was turbulent; she never knew her father, and her mother abused drugs. She was often left alone with her younger brother and desperately tried to care for him. She was physically and sexually abused. When she was 12, her mother died; and she was passed from relative to relative, finally ending up with her grandmother. By this time, she was angry, defiant, and unable to bond to or care for anyone. Her grandmother felt unable to handle her behavior, and she was placed in foster care. She was aggressive and explosive, resulting in many disrupted foster placements. A Court Appointed Advocate (CASA) began working with her and she was now pregnant. The CASA worked tirelessly to find a good placement for her and get services in place. The CASA also spent time with her, listening to her hopes, fears, and dreams and being someone who she could trust. She eventually moved to her own apartment with her baby, and they have continued to live there while she worked on finishing high school, with the support of her CASA. She has received her high- school diploma in 2002 and has begun college with her CASA helping and encouraging tier every step of the way. She said recently, "Without my CASA, I would have just given up; but she always tells me that I can do anything, and now believe her."
E. ISSUES OR TRENDS IMPACTING CRIME VICTIM SERVICES: The recent increase in federal funds has greatly benefitted the assistance programs in Ohio; however, there are still many outreach and emerging programs in which funding is needed. The loss of grant funds and charity donations has reduced services and eliminated the resources for funding new services. In Ohio, victim service providers report an increase in domestic violence cases, children who witness violence, hate crimes, juvenile crime, elderly abuse and drunk driving. Concern is expressed about the need to find adequate funding for victim service providers. A recent Supreme Court decision rules that shelters can withhold information on its clients from law enforcement authorities. The lack of effectiveness in enforcing CPOs and protecting victims was also stressed.
F. USE OF VOCA ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS: Ohio's VOCA administrative funds were used to fund a clerk position to assist in the financial department. This position has proven to be instrumental in ensuring that subgrantees receive timely monthly payments and use of VOCA funds are closely monitored. Administrative funds are used for travel for Crime Victims Assistance staff to national conferences (i.e., NOVA, NAVAA). Attendance at national conferences has resulted in educating staff about emerging issues and networking with other states in finding innovative ways to serve crime victims. Use of administrative funds for Ohio's annual "Two Days in May Victim Assistance Conference" has substantially increased our ability to provide comprehensive statewide training to subgrantees, criminal justice officials, victims, and other professionals who interact with victims. The conference has 50 workshops and 2 general sessions which attracts over 1,400 participants. Workshop conductors include judges, prosecutors, victim service providers, law enforcement officers, and other professionals The theme of the conference is "Joining Forces On the Journey To Empowerment" which has resulted in a substantial increase in coordination of services and a better understanding of the roles each profession must play in, assisting crime victims.