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VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM 2002 NEW MEXICO STATE WIDE ASSISTANCE REPORT Prepared By: New Mexico Crime Victims Reparations Commission 8100 Mountain Road NE Suite 106 Albuquerque, NM 87110-7800 tel: (505)841-9435
STATE FUNDING INFORMATION
A. THE ANNUAL AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROJECTS: 1. Appropriations $ 14,000 2. Criminal Fines and Penalities $ 0 3. Assessments $ 0 4. Other $ 0 TOTAL:$ 14,000
B. TOTAL NUMBER OF AGENCIES FUNDED FROM THE FEDERAL GRANT: 74
C. NUMBER OF SUBGRANTS FUNDED FROM THIS FEDERAL GRANT: 79
VICTIM STATISTICS
A. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS SERVED BY TYPE OF VICTIMIZATION:
NO. OF NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED VICTIMS SERVED 734 1. Child Physical Abuse 315 7. Adults Molested as Children 2,665 2. Child Sexual Abuse 695 8. Survivors of Homicide Victims 389 3. DUI/DWI Crashes 235 9. Robbery 13,328 4. Domestic Violence 1,431 10. Assualt 1,716 5. Adult Sexual Assault 1,787 11. Other 65 6. Elder Abuse TOTAL: 23,360
B. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS WHO RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED 7,366 1. Crisis Counseling 11,145 2. Followup 1,812 3. Therapy 2,270 4. Group Treatment/Support 1,828 5. Shelter/Safehouse 10,068 6. Information/Referral (in-person) 7,225 7. Criminal Justice Support/Advocacy 426 8. Emergency Financial Assistance 2,667 9. Emergency Legal Advocacy 4,598 10. Assistance in filing Compensation Claims 6,898 11. Personal Advocacy 10,434 12. Telephone contact Informational/Referral 9,124 13. Other TOTAL: 75,861
A. EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AID TO CRIME VICTIMS: The NM Crime Victims Reparation Commission is a pass through agency for the VOCA Victim Assistance, Compensation and VAWA funds. We work together and with the NM Dept. of Health, the NM Attorney Generals Office, the U.S. Attorney's Office, NM Children, Youth and Families, the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault statewide coalitions, law enforcement, district attorney's offices, and other agencies to foster and encourage cooperation and coordination of funding and services to victims of crime. In some ways, this is a very small state and we are able to identify any difficulties in service delivery and work together in an effort to get matters resolved or moving so that victims will be provided with some type of services.
B. EFFORTS TAKEN TO SERVE FEDERAL CRIME VICTIMS: Staff personnel from the U.S. Attorney's office have been actively involved in planning and coordinating our statewide Advocacy in Action Conference and periodically serve on the VOCA Victim Assistance Peer Review panel for applications. In 2000 we added a column to our statistical report to include victims of federal crimes so that we could accurately count those served. However, in questioning subgrantees about federal vs. non-federal victims of crime, all agencies stated that services were provided to all victims regardless of where the crime took place, if services were requested.
C. ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF VICTIM SERVICES: Our agency offers a statewide Advocacy in Action Conference every year. Last year was our 7th, and there were approximately 550 victim advocates, law enforcement and DA's office personnel, attorneys, therapists, community health representatives, nurses, social workers, tribal service providers and other victim service funders present. This conference offers participants an opportunity to hear national speakers with the latest information on domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse. VOCA training money also funds monthly grant reporting training, pre and post VOCA grant workshops to help subgrantees with the application process, reporting requirements and on site program monitoring. We continue to offer a statewide Victim Advocacy Training. This was our 5th year and it was the best ever. We discussed our program with other states and instituted some new requirements, that fostered better networking and more intensive teamwork. It has helped forge communication about victim programs, services and refocus the priority on quality services and expectations.
D. WAYS VOCA FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED TO ASSIST CRIME VICTIMS: 1. At a VOCA funded rape crisis center group session, a survivor of sexual assault wrote "I remember the day when a "this" survivor who is willing to tell her story of healing came to speak to my group. She talked about her own assault and how she survived. I remember being moved by her story and the way she has come through this chapter in her life with so much poise and dignity. I was convinced of my own ability to survive and the ability of anyone to survive a sexual assault". This agency routinely asks survivors far enough in their healing process if they want to share their process with others. Those who are willing have stated it was a way of helping others get through it and a milestone of how much stronger they are. 2. A family lost their son to a DWI crash and a VOCA funded MADD victim advocate provided services. This is what the family wrote "I contacted MADD to seek emotional support and whatever support they could offer. A victim advocate offered that support in a very compassionate way. She conducts the weekly support groups and the Victim Impact Panel which we participate in. She goes the extra mile to get answers for us whenever needed. She attends the all the criminal justice proceedings with us and provides that extra support whenever we get down. We feel blessed to have come into contact with her". 3. A sister of a victim of domestic abuse wrote this about a victim advocate at a VOCA funded domestic violence shelter. "My oldest sister had a smile that people admired. One horrible night she lost her smile, spirit and confidence. On this particular night things (the abuse) got out of hand and her husband dragged her with his vehicle. She: was badly injured on her face, chest and arms. She lost some teeth in the process. My mother and I tried to get her to press charges on her husband with no luck. We called Jan at the shelter. From the minute we meet the Victim Advocate she was a light of hope for us. She talked with my sister in such depth, we found out thing about my sister and the abuse that she had been hiding for years. She then told my sister the next step was hers and she would be there for her no matter what she decided to do. My sister decided to press charges on her husband. From that moment she has always been there for all of us. She went to all court dates with my sister for support. She helped her get immediate dental attention. She has been there for my sister whenever she needed someone to talk to. My sister is only one page in her book of rescues. She (my sister) is now a strong woman who is headed for only good things. She helped my sister get her smile back (literally). 4. A Domestic Violence Senior Trial Prosecutor wrote this in support of the victim advocate in the VOCA funded District Attorney's Office Victim Assistance Program. The victim advocate brought together a collective of groups and activists to reinvigorate the DV Task Force. She ensured that the components necessary to reinforce the DV Unit at the District Attorney's Office continually communicated and grew in number. Those components include all law enforcement agencies, courts, counseling and treatment centers, schools and concerned individuals. While she carried out a dual command as the Director of the Victim Assistance Program and Chairperson of the DV Task Force, members had a focus person to whom concerns and ideas were directly addressed. She created committees and delegated fresh projects that kept the task force consistently inspired. The local court system and law enforcement agencies now embrace and administer many of her recommended innovations, placing DV cases on the fast track- Inevitably in several courtrooms at once, her compassionate attendance next to a teary-eyed woman defines her commonplace. She will spend the morning pacing with a baby in her arms while the child's mother testifies about her beating. She never hesitates to remind a forgetful prosecutor or judge that the victims have rights in the courtroom. At times she overwhelms us with habitual questions, 'Did you call the victim?' Does she know about the offer?' Did you make arrangements to meet with her?, however, the DV unit could not honestly breathe our sighs of relief and cries of victory with her, who helps make it all happen."
E. ISSUES OR TRENDS IMPACTING CRIME VICTIM SERVICES: Limited state and federal funding and limited number of funding resources are causing agencies to limit their number of staff, to have waiting lists of victims needing services, to underpay staff leading to high staff turnover and less qualified individuals providing services to victim of crime.
F. USE OF VOCA ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS: Administrative funds are used to support a full time VOCA grant manager and financial specialist/clerk and support costs to ensure proper grant oversight.