The Scope of Crime Victim Services
Table of Contents:
- Background and Statement of Need
- Methodology
- Survey Field
- Survey Findings
- Designated Victim Service Units
- Types of Services Provided
- Victim Assistance in Capital Cases
- Creating a National Network
- Attorneys General Victim Services Network Contacts
Background and Statement of Need
For the past two decades, Attorneys General offices nationwide have identified needs of crime victims and survivors that they could address, and have developed programs and services to assist crime victims.
In 2003, a group of national victim advocates determined the need to identify the scope and range of services provided to victims and survivors of crime by Attorneys General offices nationwide. For many victims, Attorneys General offices provide appellate-level advocacy, services and assistance; sponsor victim compensation programs, and offer a range of services that help victims exercise their rights in the aftermath of a crime.
The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) and its President, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, agreed that a summary of programs and services sponsored by Attorneys General would be helpful to crime victims, and those who serve them. NAAG sponsored this national survey with support from the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators (NAVAA) and Justice Solutions, Inc., and Attorneys General victim assistance staff in California, Illinois and Texas.
A brief survey was developed that included questions about Attorneys Generals’ sponsorship of crime victim-related programs and services. Survey topics included the following:
- Whether or not the Office has a specially designated unit to provide crime victim assistance programs and services.
- Contact information for the Unit or Bureau.
- The types of programs and services offered.
- Activities related to appellate-level and/or death penalty cases.
- Whether or not the Office is interested in joining an informal national network of Attorneys General offices to address issues related to crime victims’ rights and assistance.
The initial survey was disseminated via e-mail in February 2004, with a link to the NAVAA web site to complete the survey form. Follow-on reminder e-mails were disseminated in June 2004.
The survey field included 56 Attorneys General Offices in all 50 states, U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia. A total of forty-seven responses were received (including the District of Columbia; and two responses each from Nevada and Missouri) representing 42 states, the District of Columbia and Guam.
Survey Findings
Designated Victim Service UnitsAll but seven respondents (Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Washington State and West Virginia) indicate they have a designated victim services unit.
Staffing for designated victim service units in 35 states totals 508 staff. Staffing patterns range from one person in nine programs, to more than 85 staff in several programs (Ohio has 85, Florida has 91 and Texas has 99 staff).
The designated units with the largest number of staff (20 or more) also administer the State’s Crime Victim Compensation Program: Texas, Florida, Ohio, Oregon, and Iowa.The table below indicates the scope and range of victim assistance services provided by Attorneys General Offices.
Services Provided Crime Victim Compensation Victim/Witness General victim assistance (including information and referrals Direct Assistance in appellate cases Apellate cases and related victims' rights Grant Management ; federal programs Grant Management; state programs Victim rights' compliance Statewide information and referral phone line Legislation Media Awareness Additional services provided by various Attorneys General Offices include the following:
- Address confidentiality program.
- Crisis response team.
- Victims’ rights training.
- Sexual assault forensic examiner program.
- Public information and outreach programs.
- Statewide victim notification program.
- Audits of criminal justice agencies for victims’ rights compliance.
- Elder death review team.
Victim Assistance in Capital Cases
Thirty-four of the survey respondents handle capital cases. There is a wide range of services provided to crime victims throughout the capital case process, including:
- Accompaniment to criminal justice proceedings.
- Support services and information from trial through the execution.
- Appellate notification.
- Referral support for victims’ families.
- Services in cases tried by the Attorney General.
- Upon request in cases tried by a local prosecutor: information about victims’ rights, case status information; explanation of court processes; and referrals to community agencies.
- Death notification services throughout the appellate process.
Services at both the trial and appellate levels.- Victim notification of case status, disposition, and explanation of the appellate process, including notification when/if Executive Clemency or a stay is granted.
- Accompaniment to oral arguments and evidentiary hearings at the appellate level.
- Referrals to Departments of Corrections for victims who choose to witness executions, and providing supportive services throughout the execution process.
- Education and support.
- Working with the news media and media advocacy on behalf of crime victims.
- Assistance to victim family members who, with the consent of both parties, choose to meet with the death row inmate.
Forty-six survey respondents indicated an interest in maintaining an informal network of victim service contacts within Attorneys General Offices.
Attorneys General Victim Services Network Contacts
Charla Doucet
Administrator
Statewide Victim-Witness Coordinator Alaska Dept of Law - Criminal Division - Central Office
Director
Office of Victim Services
Deputy Attorney General/Director
Office of Victims' Services
Victim Services Coordinator
Victim Assistance
Criminal Justice Section
Attorney General's Office
7th Floor
Denver CO 80203
Director, Victim Witness Program
Criminal Division Victim Witness Program
Chief
Neighborhood and Victim Services Section
Director
Division of Victim Services and Criminal Justice Programs
Office of Attorney Genera
Deputy Attorney General
Criminal Justice Division
State Law Department
Victim/Witness Supervisor
Crime Victims’ Response Unit
259 Martyr Street
Hagatna, GU 96910
671-475-3132
Branch Chief
Grants & Planning
Chief
Crime Victims Services Division
Division Director
Crime Victim Assistance Division
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines IA 50319
515-281-5044
marti.anderson@ag.state.ia.us
State Crime Victims' Rights Coordinator
Crime Victims' Services
Assistant Attorney General
Victims Advocacy Divsion
Victim/Witness Coordinator
Criminal Division
Special Assistant Attorney General
Office of the Attorney General
Executive Assistant; Director of Victim Services
Office of the Attorney General
DirectorVictim Witness Assistance Division
Criminal Bureau
Office of the Attorney General
Paralegal/Victim Witness Coordinator
MN Attorney General's Office Criminal Division
Division Director
Division of Victim Compensation
Jackson MS 39205
800/829-6766
Assistant Attorney General
Administration
State of Missouri, Attorney General's Office
Chief Counsel
Criminal Division
Director
Office of Victim Services
Assistant Attorney General
Criminal Bureau
Nebraska Department of Justice
Deputy Attorney General, Special Prosecution/Habeas Corpus Unit-South, Capital Case Coordinator, Hate Crimes Coordinator, and Victim Advocacy
Victim Advocacy-Crime Victims' Education ProjectOffice of the Attorney General
Domestic Violence Ombudsman
Violence Against Women Programs
Director
State Office of Victim/Witness Assistance
NH Atorney General's Office
Victim AdvocateViolence Against Women Intervention and Prevention
Crime Victim Advocate
Executive
Director
Victims and Citizens Services Section
Assistant Attorney General
Criminal and Regulatory
Sr. Deputy Attorney General
Crime Victims Services Section, Ohio Attorney General's Office
Victim/Witness Coordinator
Criminal Appeals
Oklahoma City OK 73105
(405) 522-4397
allyson_carson@oag.state.ok.us
Director
Crime Victims' Assistance Section
Oregon Department of Justice
Director of Victims Services
Victims Services
Department of Attorney General
Director, Victim Services
S.C. Attorney General's Office
Assistant Attorney General
Victim Assistance & Communications Director
Victim/Witness Coordinator
Commercial Enforcement
Victim Advocate
Criminal Division
Office of Attorney General
Attorney General of Virgnia
Office of the Attorney General
Sr. Assistant Attorney General
Criminal Justice Division
Director
Office of Crime Victim Services
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Last Modified:
April 2, 2011