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VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM 2002 NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE WIDE ASSISTANCE REPORT Prepared By: New Hampshire Department of Justice 33 Capitol Street Concord, NH 03301-6312 tel: (603)271-3658
STATE FUNDING INFORMATION
A. THE ANNUAL AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROJECTS: 1. Appropriations $ 2,072,343 2. Criminal Fines and Penalities $ 0 3. Assessments $ 0 4. Other $ 1,465,764 TOTAL:$ 3,538,107
B. TOTAL NUMBER OF AGENCIES FUNDED FROM THE FEDERAL GRANT: 25
C. NUMBER OF SUBGRANTS FUNDED FROM THIS FEDERAL GRANT: 39
VICTIM STATISTICS
A. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS SERVED BY TYPE OF VICTIMIZATION:
NO. OF NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED VICTIMS SERVED 1,550 1. Child Physical Abuse 262 7. Adults Molested as Children 1,486 2. Child Sexual Abuse 274 8. Survivors of Homicide Victims 1,202 3. DUI/DWI Crashes 249 9. Robbery 9,183 4. Domestic Violence 583 10. Assualt 929 5. Adult Sexual Assault 1,773 11. Other 46 6. Elder Abuse TOTAL: 17,537
B. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS WHO RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED 8,193 1. Crisis Counseling 6,774 2. Followup 369 3. Therapy 968 4. Group Treatment/Support 775 5. Shelter/Safehouse 7,211 6. Information/Referral (in-person) 5,887 7. Criminal Justice Support/Advocacy 305 8. Emergency Financial Assistance 4,127 9. Emergency Legal Advocacy 477 10. Assistance in filing Compensation Claims 4,480 11. Personal Advocacy 12,651 12. Telephone contact Informational/Referral 4,853 13. Other TOTAL: 57,070
A. EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AID TO CRIME VICTIMS: There are Governor’s Commissions for both Domestic & Sexual Violence and for Child Abuse & Neglect. These Commissions include very wide representation and coordinate the State’s efforts in these areas. On the local level there are district court domestic violence coordination councils which include representation from the courts, prosecution, crisis centers, medical, mental health, law enforcement, visitation centers, community members, etc. We are currently working on projects to institute the Amber Alert system statewide and on enhancing our mass casualty crisis response planning. In both these projects there are a wide range of public and private interests involved.
B. EFFORTS TAKEN TO SERVE FEDERAL CRIME VICTIMS: It is not often that there is an opportunity to serve victims of Federal crimes but all subgrantees are ready to do so at any time. The victim advocate in the local U.S. Attorney’s Office (Shiela Roux) works closely with us in many statewide efforts including training conferences.
C. ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF VICTIM SERVICES: This fall our office mailed a victim needs assessment to hundreds of police departments, victim service agencies, hospitals, and mental health providers. The results of that survey have not yet been finalized but will be used in our continued efforts to serve the needs of victims. Our office sponsors two major training conferences each year, one for Domestic & Sexual Violence (VAWA funded) and another for Child Abuse and Neglect (Children’s Justice funded). These two-day conferences generally have six “tracks” and are attended by about 500 advocates, judges, police, social workers, therapists, nurses, etc. Over the past few years we have also worked with Maine and Vermont to put on advanced trainings for advocates and to develop a basic victims academy on the National Academy model. VOCA training funds have been used to support the efforts of this Tri-State Victims Academy Consortium
D. WAYS VOCA FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED TO ASSIST CRIME VICTIMS: From a Victim Witness Advocate Program This particular case involved a 9-year-old juvenile male that was a victim of an assault crime. As the trial date approached, advocate contacted victim's mother to confirm appearance as witness for trial, review trial process, get victim's input as to disposition, and answer any questions about what to expect. Because of the age of the victim/witness, his mother was obviously concerned about exposing him to this process at such a young age; and, because of the age of the offender, she expressed her concerns about possible retaliation/intimidation toward her son. Advocate was able to offer an area that provided a private "sitting room" where advocate could meet with witness and parents while waiting for case to be called for trial. All family members arrived at Court and were visibly nervous. Advocate accompanied them to the private victim/witness room and waited with them. During this time, advocate was first able to answer general questions by both parents and witness regarding proceedings. This time also allowed the advocate to provide reassurance for parents and to instill confidence for the witness. In addition, the advocate was able to offer a comfortable, warm environment while providing a friendly, calming influence by redirecting nervous energies to more positive, upbeat conversations. By the time the case was called, all family members were informed, appeared confident and relaxed, and expressed their appreciation of the time given to them through the Advocacy Program. From a Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Crisis Services Agency On a daily basis VOCA funds are used to fund staff salaries in providing crisis intervention. Therefore, VOCA funds have supported critical crisis work with every survivor entering our office. I will give just one example however. A beautiful young woman came to our office a few years ago and carried with her a picture of her abusive husband. He was 300 pounds of muscle and used steroids. Much to our dismay, she went back to him. She was too afraid to leave. He promised to kill her. He has attempted to do so before. She has had numerous broken bones, been hospitalized for internal bleeding etc. Her situation is one described in textbooks. Well, this past year she left again, this time with a child. She has not gone back, nor does she plan to. She is committed to keeping herself and her daughter safe. VOCA funding assisted in supporting staff salaries to work with her. VOCA funds supported her in our battered women's shelter of which VOCA partially funds. In addition, this woman utilized the Victims Compensation Program to rebuild her life. She had to leave a prominent profession in order to escape this very scary man. She had to relocate to start over. She was able to do this because of the funding provided by this critical program. From a Victim Witness Advocate Program As mentioned earlier, the relationship between this office and DCYF is crucial in the effort to end family violence. It is my belief that our society has a better chance at ending the domestic abuse cycle. If the violence is acknowledged and addressed at every stage. For example, earlier this year we handled a very difficult case (Simple Assault & Bail Violation) involving a young woman, her 2-year-old daughter and her abusive partner. As her 2-year-old daughter was not present, DCYF was not involved. It looked like a straightforward domestic incident -the woman was hesitant to participate with court proceedings against her partner and wanted the no-contact bail order to be dismissed. There were some mental health issues with the defendant. The case was pleaded and after a short incarceration for the defendant, the family was reunited. Six months later I was involved in a high lethality domestic violence case. The victim was 16 years younger than her abuser and had been in the relationship for ten years. An 18-month-old child was involved and DCYF offered services. In the course of the criminal investigation it was discovered that the defendant was the father of the young woman who I had offered assistance to six months earlier. The domestic violence cycle is often cyclical through generations. Hopefully, the 18-month-old child will have a better chance of missing the damaging cycle of domestic violence in her life through the support and involvement of DCYF whereas her 2-year-old niece remains, unassisted, with a father who has been convicted of domestic assault. As I mentioned last year, many district court matters evolve into superior court matters as they are bound over, become felonies, misdemeanor appeals or contain charges in both courts. Having a victim/witness coordinator in district court helps victims move fluidly and with support from one court to the other. In the past no support was offered these victims until they entered the superior court system. So far this year I have assisted in 6 of those transitions. Letter From a Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Crisis Services Agency Client A Survivors Story I am worth it. I can do it. I am not alone. I will make it. I DID IT! My name is Tina REDACTED. I live in Sullivan County. I have been going to Women's Supportive Services since about 1995, when my oldest daughter at 2 1/2 disclosed that she had been molested. Since 1995 I have gone to Women's Supportive Services sometimes on a regular basis other times to just check in with the staff on things going on in my life, or to just say hi. I also have used their crisis line when things felt out of control and their seemed to be no hope in the future. They always seemed to bring me back to the reality of life, made me see the good things I have in my life. This agency in my opinion has been more benefit for me then going to a therapist that cost money. Now to tell you a bit about the way I first came to Women's Supportive Services. The first time I went I went for the support i~ dealing with my daughter's rape. During my time period that I was going to this agency I somehow got into touch with my inner child. The one that was so covered up with everyone else's problems. I was a peace maker I had to make things better by making other people happy and it did not matter what I suffered underneath I had learned to hide the pain and bury it deep into my body. I was in major denial about the life I was living and about some of my past issues too. Ever since I was a little girl I was taught that what ever happened in the family or the house was private and was never to be discussed with anyone, under any circumstances. The same was true in my marriage. I was married for almost 7 yrs. I never told even my own family including my own parents about the abuse that was going on. My relationship with my ex husband was wonderful for the first couple of years we were together. We met in May of 1991 and got married in august of 1992. We have two children both girls one born in March 1993 and the other born in October 1994. We moved quite often due to the fact that he would cause problems with our neighbors or our landlords. Also I was never able to have any friends, because every time I did have friends we moved. At this time I already knew that something was not right and that the things that were happening to me were wrong. But I had to keep quiet and shut my mouth so no one would find out anything about my horrible life I was living. While I was seven months pregnant with my first child my ex husband and I got into a fight. It got very physical not that unusual; During this fight my ex husband had pushed me onto the floor. While I was down he hauled off and kicked me in the stomach. This sent severe pain to my abdomen. I suddenly started to have cramps that were unbearable. Finally after a couple of hours I decided to go to the hospital. Praying the world never find out the truth about what happened. Or I would pay dearly. I got to the hospital and told them a fake story about getting into an accident a couple days ago and then while I was still shaky about it I fell down landing on my stomach. Nobody ever questioned the story. My ex husband while.I was in the hospital played his loving and concerned role. I lay there while my very active baby did not move anymore. I thought at that point that I was losing my baby, and how could he be like this now knowing that he is the reason if I did lose the baby. At the hospital they stopped the labor I was in and the next day sent me home. My baby did move after a couple of hours I think that she was just in shock. I never told anyone about the real reason why I went into labor early. At that point I hated my husband for what he had done. After this episode the abuse died down some. My daughter was born and she was healthy. I kept this secret in for all our marriage. Along with a lot of other things to. After I was divorced in 1999 I finally told my parents the truth about why I almost lost my daughter. I also told them other things as well that I had kept from them. I was a very good cover up person. I had perfected it through my life. During my marriage I must have tried to leave about 5-7 times but he would always stop me. By playing price charming and pretending he cared or by making me feel like I could never make it in life if I left him. He always used the kids for a way to make me stay. I think it is because he knew how much they meant to me and how I wanted them to have a perfect life (fairy tale life). Finally after years for living like this and through my daughter's crisis I went to Women's Supportive Services. I started seeing someone weekly at first. I also attended several groups while I was still with my ex-husband. I learned a lot of things by going to this agency. They helped me to understand why he was like this and they also helped me change my way of thinking about myself. They helped build my self-esteem up. They showed me ways to be more assertive and say what I felt, also made me realize that I never did anything to make him behave like that towards me. Helped me understand that he was responsible for his own actions. He was the one making the choices. After going to this agency for over 3 years I finally had the courage and the knowledge to leave him for good. I got a restraining order in April of 1999 and in September of 1999 I was divorced from him. They helped me get into the Dove program, which helped with my legal part of the divorce. I was divorced in just 5 months. Through those 5 months Women Supportive Services helped me when I was thinking about going back to him. They always brought me back to reality. This agency was for me a wonderful experience and has inspired me to want to further my education so I can help others in crisis situations too. Also I want to work with children who have been victims of violence of any nature. So now currently in 2001 I enrolled in college at the New Hampshire Community Technical College in the Human Service Program. When I graduate I can finally give back what this agency has given to me, knowledge and courage to finally be free of violence. I now know I AM WORTH IT, I CAN DO IT, all on my own. From a Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Crisis Services Agency A local police department calls to inform the Support Center that they are sending over a woman in her fifties who has been a victim of same sex violence. The woman is very frightened, emotionally traumatized, and has not been eating. An advocate provides crisis intervention support, temporary protective order accompaniment, and arranges for follow-up support. In the meantime, the woman's car is sabotaged (sugar in the gas tank) and she is fired from her job, 15 miles away, for lack of transportation. The crisis center is encouraging her to seek mental health support as she is deteriorating on a daily basis. This victim is also a victim of childhood sexual assault, a domestic violence victim in her former marriage to her ex-husband, and dealing with the on-going trauma of being repeatedly assaulted throughout her most recent relationship. By the end of the month the woman is institutionalized in a mental health facility. The facility calls to ask if she may be released into our shelter program and we accept her. She spends a little over three months in the shelter. During that time the program monitors her on-going mental health support, providing transportation and consulting with her therapist. The program provides her with food and clothing as she has no income. Eventually she becomes eligible for food stamps and is able to provide for her own food. She attends support group and meets almost daily with program staff to stay on track and stable. Program staff assists her with filing victim compensation forms for housing, mental health care, medication, and other needs. The program arranges for her to have regular health care and assists with transportation. Program staff advocates for her and accompanies her while applying for economic services and SSI. State aid comes through and she uses the victim compensation funds to move into her own apartment. Social security will soon be coming through and the program is applying through another agency to attempt to get her a car. She continues to remain in contact with the Support Center and will be a long-term client as she works through her trauma. The client hopes that some day she will be able to function within normal limits. This individual is an excellent example of the devastating effects incest perpetrates upon the human mind. She is an example of a person who has been victimized her entire life. She continues to attend support group and her mental health sessions, and she is slowly getting her physical health back on track. Her story is a story of how coordinated community intervention has helped her get her life back. She has been able to regain her stability, her health, and an acceptable level of self-sufficiency. The accessibility of VOCA funds has been a major factor in this success story. From a Rural Community Mental Healh Services Agency We recently provided counseling services to a 30-year-old woman who was date raped in college. She became pregnant as a result of that incident and chose to give the baby up for adoption. Upon requesting services this woman reported having difficulty with trusting others, difficulty sleeping and problems related to anxiety. She had never sought counseling around this incident before. Counseling at Carroll County Mental Health Service provided her with the opportunity to fmally deal with what had happened to her many years ago. She expressed feeling like simply being able to talk about her feelings about the incident in a safe environment was enormously helpful. We are providing services to a 48-year-old woman who was raped by her boss. She initially presented with a number of psychiatric symptoms including panic attacks and suicidal ideation. Through the course of our intake process she was able to begin making a connection between her symptoms and the rape. Her symptoms have steadily improved over the course of treatment. This woman is now doing volunteer work and has the goal of returning to gainful employment, a plan she could not consider one year ago. From CASA of NH One of the unique characteristics of CASA/GAL volunteers is that most are not professionally trained in law or social work. This allows each volunteer GAL to bring a “common sense” perspective to the court proceedings. CASA fully understands, however, that this very unique quality also requires careful education and astute supervision. Each Volunteer Supervisor is available to individual CASA/GALs for guidance and consultation. While the CASA/GALs perform the day-to-day function of child advocacy, they neither work independently nor outside the guidelines of the CASA organization. A poignant case in point follows: Emergency paramedics were called by a mom who said her one-month old baby had stopped breathing. The baby was transported to the local hospital where a quick assessment determined that he would have to be moved to a trauma facility because he was in severe distress. Once there, the baby was found to have three broken ribs in varying stages of healing, a broken ankle, and bleeding on top of the brain. He had a pulse but was not breathing on his own. A physician ascertained that he was a shaken baby. Mom was arrested for the assault, but bail was posted by a family member and she was released within a week’s time. The father’s identity was not certain. All of this happened at the outset of a long weekend. DCYF and Probate Court were closed until Tuesday and there was difficulty determining who had any authority to make life-altering decisions for the child.
E. ISSUES OR TRENDS IMPACTING CRIME VICTIM SERVICES: Lack of affordable rental housing. Increasing (but still small) population of battered immigrant women. Transportation issues, especially in rural areas. Increased efforts in planning for mass casualties & terrorism.
F. USE OF VOCA ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS: Admin funds are used to support personnel costs from the Grants Management Unit related to VOCA. This includes a significant portion of the VOCA Grant Manager’s time and much smaller portions of others in the unit. All allocations are done on the basis of time and attendance records. Travel that is related to victim issues for conferences, site monitoring, etc. is also covered by VOCA admin. VOCA admin also is charged for its pro rata share of other expenses of the Grants Management Unit such as rent of its office space.