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VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM 2002 AMERICAN SAMOA STATE WIDE ASSISTANCE REPORT Prepared By: American Samoa Criminal Justice Planning Agency Executive Office Building 3rd Floor Pago Pago, AS 96799-0000 tel: (684)633-5221
STATE FUNDING INFORMATION
A. THE ANNUAL AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROJECTS: 1. Appropriations $ 0 2. Criminal Fines and Penalities $ 0 3. Assessments $ 0 4. Other $ 0 TOTAL:$ 0
B. TOTAL NUMBER OF AGENCIES FUNDED FROM THE FEDERAL GRANT: 4
C. NUMBER OF SUBGRANTS FUNDED FROM THIS FEDERAL GRANT: 5
VICTIM STATISTICS
A. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS SERVED BY TYPE OF VICTIMIZATION:
NO. OF NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED VICTIMS SERVED 544 1. Child Physical Abuse 11 7. Adults Molested as Children 343 2. Child Sexual Abuse 18 8. Survivors of Homicide Victims 25 3. DUI/DWI Crashes 19 9. Robbery 156 4. Domestic Violence 130 10. Assualt 27 5. Adult Sexual Assault 30 11. Other 56 6. Elder Abuse TOTAL: 1,359
B. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS WHO RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED 429 1. Crisis Counseling 303 2. Followup 31 3. Therapy 137 4. Group Treatment/Support 301 5. Shelter/Safehouse 65 6. Information/Referral (in-person) 46 7. Criminal Justice Support/Advocacy 0 8. Emergency Financial Assistance 23 9. Emergency Legal Advocacy 0 10. Assistance in filing Compensation Claims 9 11. Personal Advocacy 15 12. Telephone contact Informational/Referral 0 13. Other TOTAL: 1,359
A. EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AID TO CRIME VICTIMS: The American Samoa. Government. encourages the coordination of both public and private efforts within the community to aid crime victims. Public efforts to aid crime victims are, provided by the following government agencies: Department of Human and Social Services (DHSS), Department of Education (DOE), Department of Health (DOH), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Attorney General" s Office (AG) and the Department of Public Safety (DPS). Private efforts are provided by the Catholic Social Services (CSS).
B. EFFORTS TAKEN TO SERVE FEDERAL CRIME VICTIMS: The American Samoa Government with the assistance provided by the Attorney General's Office coordinate minimum services for Federal Crime Victims (FVC). However, there is no Federal Court in American Samoa. Those who committed federal crime are handled at the state level.
C. ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF VICTIM SERVICES: The Territory of American Samoa has designated the Criminal Justice Planning Agency (CJPA) as the State Administrative Agency (SAA) for Victim of Crime Act (VOCA). The following receive funds from VOCA- Criminal Justice Planning Agency (CJPA), Department of Human and Social Services (DHSS) Tutuila and Manu'a, Attorney General's Office and the Emergency Medical Services. As the SAA for VOCA, CJPA monitors and evaluates all crime victim program or subgrantees. CJPA's subgrantee monitoring process includes the following- site visit by CJPA Program Specialist every month, telephone to subgrantees every week and progress report submitted to CJPA every month. During each site visit, each subgrantee provides the following: updated programmatic records of direct services offered, time and attendance records for each staff paid under CJPA fimds and questions and comments in regards to CJPA funds and issues. If subgrantees do not come into compliance with CJPA monitoring process or program process, the organization's grant award is put on hold until problem is resolved. The evaluation of all subgrantees by CJPA is based on services rendered to the target populations to ensure goals and objectives of each program are achieved and accomplished. Off-island training, conferences and workshops are offered to each subgrantees to better equip themselves for their long term career and profession. CJPA also requires that all purchases and expenditures of subgrantees are pre-approved to ensure proper housekeeping of federal guidelines and compliance with such requirements.
D. WAYS VOCA FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED TO ASSIST CRIME VICTIMS: Some of the ways that VOCA funds were used to assist crime victims in the Territory: 1. Transportation and medical treatment was provided for victims of crimes through the emergency medical services. 2. Ongoing counseling services through the Department of Human and Social Services within the counseling unit program. 3. Temporary housing and shelter available for all victims not only for educational and awareness purposes but also a sanctuary or safe haven of solace. 4. Special witness project for "victim rights" is operated under the Attorney General's Office for victims' services through the legal and the criminal justice system.
E. ISSUES OR TRENDS IMPACTING CRIME VICTIM SERVICES: The Territory of American Samoa continues to raise the issue on the impact of the Samoan culture or ways of life in regards to victims' services. The Samoan culture is heavily based on having "respect for one another". This respect is among the extended families and directly between the relationship of the parents and children. The issue on the impact of the Samoan culture and the existing law and services being introduced into the territory is a very complicated argument in American Samoa. A disciplined Samoan child can be referred to as an abused victim if the child reports to social services. Before Social Services came to Samoa, a child knows that when he/she is being discipline he is being discipline for a reason. Nowadays, when a child is being discipline by the parents the could knows that he/she can escape from it if it is reported to the Social Services. This knowledge that the child has about Social Services really affects the Samoan Culture of respect between parents and children. In the, Samoan culture, there is a time when a child needs to be discipline to help remain the respect for one another especially among the families. It is a big disgrace to the families when they know that one of its siblings has been referred to the Social Services. This is because the Samoan culture builds from extended families and the extended families are responsible with talcing care of the children. The people of Samoa are still in the process of trying to adapt to this new way of life.
F. USE OF VOCA ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS: The Criminal Justice Planning Agency (CJPA) administration receives five percent (5%) from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Grant. The administrative fund is allocated to directors' salary, materials/supplies, equipment and Off/inter Island travel. This fund has helped and improved CJPA's victim service providers not only to victims but also its subgrantees. The off-island and inter-island travel funds intend to fund travel for the director and staff to attend OVC approved national conferences, workshops and seminars to improve our understanding and knowledge for better services to our victims.