During FFY 2006-2007, VOCA funds accounted for 32% of the total funds used by the Office of Victim Services (OVS) for compensation payments to crime victims in the State of Connecticut. Without the availability of VOCA funds, payments to crime victims would be significantly reduced.

OVS uses a number of measures to gauge how effectively and efficiently we are meeting victims? needs.  Average processing time is a key measure in this effort.  Processing time is measured along two benchmarks; the amount of time it takes on average to get a file ready for determination and the amount of time on average it takes to reach a determination on a claim once it is ready for determination.  These average processing times are tracked by the Compensation Program?s automated data collection system, known under the acronym CLOVS.  CLOVS records indicate notable improvement with respect to the amount of time it takes on average to prepare a file for determination.  From January 1, 2006 through November 30, 2007 the average processing time to prepare a file for determination dropped by one month.  Another significant measure OVS uses is the Claimant Satisfaction Survey.  These are sent out to every claimant within 60 days of their determination letters going out.  Over the course of fiscal years 2005-2007, OVS mailed out 1,758 satisfaction surveys.  Of those, 431 completed surveys were returned for a response rate of 25%.  Claimant satisfaction with OVS continues to improve.  Notable gains were recorded in all categories.  For the two year fiscal period noted above, the surveys represent an 11% increase in the number of respondents reporting that calls to OVS were returned within one work day.  Overall satisfaction with the program was recorded at nearly 75% from fiscal year 2005 to 2007.  This strongly suggests that the hiring of two new claims examiners in April and June of 2006 has had significant positive impact.  Recent staffing changes include the hiring of another claims supervisor who will devote her time to coordinating the review process and doing determinations.  We fully expect that this will result in lower processing times, greater response rates on the satisfaction surveys and even better results moving forward.

VOCA Administrative funds provided funding for Compensation program staff to attend regional and national training conferences.  The conferences provided opportunities for networking, information sharing, and the ability to learn new practices and ideas in the area of compensation claims processing. Administrative funds were used for temporary staffing services to assist the unit in the processing of compensation claims paperwork. Administrative funds were also used for redesigning compensation brochures which are distributed to service providers and the general public.