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VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM 2002 OKLAHOMA STATE WIDE ASSISTANCE REPORT Prepared By: Oklahoma District Attorney's Council 421 N.W. 13Th Street, Suite 290 Oklahoma City, OK 73103-0000 tel: (405)264-5006
STATE FUNDING INFORMATION
A. THE ANNUAL AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROJECTS: 1. Appropriations $ 5,964,486 2. Criminal Fines and Penalities $ 0 3. Assessments $ 0 4. Other $ 7,354,832 TOTAL:$ 13,319,318
B. TOTAL NUMBER OF AGENCIES FUNDED FROM THE FEDERAL GRANT: 88
C. NUMBER OF SUBGRANTS FUNDED FROM THIS FEDERAL GRANT: 98
VICTIM STATISTICS
A. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS SERVED BY TYPE OF VICTIMIZATION:
NO. OF NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED VICTIMS SERVED 4,381 1. Child Physical Abuse 1,330 7. Adults Molested as Children 4,898 2. Child Sexual Abuse 2,467 8. Survivors of Homicide Victims 535 3. DUI/DWI Crashes 1,093 9. Robbery 27,438 4. Domestic Violence 6,891 10. Assualt 2,749 5. Adult Sexual Assault 4,880 11. Other 498 6. Elder Abuse TOTAL: 57,160
B. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS WHO RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED 16,667 1. Crisis Counseling 22,694 2. Followup 4,221 3. Therapy 5,360 4. Group Treatment/Support 5,841 5. Shelter/Safehouse 15,467 6. Information/Referral (in-person) 16,861 7. Criminal Justice Support/Advocacy 717 8. Emergency Financial Assistance 6,638 9. Emergency Legal Advocacy 5,986 10. Assistance in filing Compensation Claims 13,878 11. Personal Advocacy 49,468 12. Telephone contact Informational/Referral 10,821 13. Other TOTAL: 174,619
A. EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AID TO CRIME VICTIMS: As stated above, the Crime Victims Compensation Program has diligently continued its public outreach efforts. Posters and brochures are distributed to police departments, hospitals, DA’s offices and VOCA subgrantees. This year, the Public Information Officer has started to visit each police department and sheriff’s office across the state, working in an East to West pattern. A rise in the number of submitted applications has already been seen because of this effort. At the subgrantee level, public outreach and coordination is top priority. Presentations to schools, military bases, churches, civic organizations and other public arenas help to promote the issue of victimology to all areas of the community. Most subgrantees report that they are involved in some sort of multi-disciplinary or multi-jurisdictional taskforce made up of representatives from the DA’s office, local law enforcement, hospitals, churches, schools and other victim services agencies. Memorandums of understanding and cooperative agreements are often established between area service providers to eliminate duplication of services. Much needed volunteers and donations from the community are another way that the public helps in aiding crime victims. Unpaid internships for local college students are one way that a subgrantee has been able to get responsible volunteers. The students receive school credit hours and experience in the field, while the subgrantee receives much needed help. Volunteers also play an integral part in the many CASA programs funded in Oklahoma. Other ways that subgrantees coordinate with their communities include candlelight vigils; county fair booths; hosting local training seminars; press coverage in local newspaper, radio and TV; distribution of brochures and regional resource directories; and websites providing information and resources for the public. The community also returns help by providing services at no cost. An example is a locksmith company changing locks on a rape victim’s home at no cost.
B. EFFORTS TAKEN TO SERVE FEDERAL CRIME VICTIMS: Federal crime victims services coordination between local, state and federal entities is greatly enhanced due to the excellent relationship between the Victim Witness Coordinators at the state District Attorneys level and the Victim Witness Coordinators located in the three US Attorneys Offices in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma County DA’s Office is in preparation to try Terry Nichols for the 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building. A VOCA grant is helping to fund a victim advocate for this case. This person is working closely with the VWCs from the US Attorneys Offices in Oklahoma to coordinate services for victims when they are needed. Although a majority of the VOCA subgrantees do not work with federal crime victims on a regular basis, they all stated that they would offer the same services to all victims of crime no matter of the jurisdiction. Agencies who do deal with federal crime victims receive referrals from the FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs and the US Attorney’s Office.
C. ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF VICTIM SERVICES: At the state level, monitoring of the 98 subgrantees continues to take place. The monitoring visits include an in-depth look at VOCA financial record keeping and programmatic activities. After the visit, a letter is mailed to the subgrantee describing any problems found, ways to correct the problems and also pointing out the positive aspects of the agency. A follow-up visit is scheduled if necessary. The VOCA Program Specialist also attended VOCA/VAIC Workshop meetings coordinated through the Department of Justice. It is the hope of these workshops to improve the relationships between VOCA administrators and tribal leaders. The Crime Victims Compensation Program also continues to mail out satisfaction surveys to victims with a self addressed stamped envelope enclosed. The response continues to be high and the surveys have provided invaluable insight to the compensation program staff. To further aid in the language barrier problem, the compensation program has continued to use the services of the AT&T Language Line. This “line’ provides a translator for just about any language. The compensation staff has used this feature many times and has been able to explain the benefits to victims who do not speak English. Although most subgrantees reported that they perform some sort of program evaluation, participate in collaboration with other victim-service agencies and attend training conferences, there were several activities that stood out: 1. Tulsa Medical Society provides pro bono services for clients in the domestic violence shelter 2. Mentoring program made up of women who have completed the outpatient program who now mentor new group members starting their counseling. 3. Hiring a bi-lingual therapist. 4. Local university class developed a project to conduct a program evaluation on a CASA program during the fall semester under the supervision of their professor. 5. Handicap ramps were installed at a domestic violence shelter for disabled victims and for victims with baby strollers. 6. Pet therapy program for victims of crime. 7. Providing a system for live testimony of children from a child-friendly interview room to the courtroom via close circuit TV. 8. In-house library of training materials and videos utilized by staff and checked out to area agencies and the public. 9. Cell phones loaned to domestic violence victims for added safety.
D. WAYS VOCA FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED TO ASSIST CRIME VICTIMS: Case histories of services were provided in the various service areas for victims: Court Advocacy (3) Victims Advocacy Counseling Services Children's Services Domestic Violence In addition photgraphs of various outreach by the victim service provider to the community.
E. ISSUES OR TRENDS IMPACTING CRIME VICTIM SERVICES: 1. Growing number of non-English speaking victims 2. Using SANE nurses to conduct not only adult sexual assault exams, but also children’s forensic sexual assault exams. 3. Domestic Violence is appearing more frequently in child abuse cases. 4. Meth labs are growing at an alarming rate. 5. Growing “collaborative environment” among key entities serving domestic violence victims. 6. Child Advocacy Centers continue to expand into other counties. 7. More and more agencies have information and resources available on the Internet. 8. An increase in crimes involving the Internet. 9. An increase in crimes involving the elderly. 10. An increase in the number of crime victims compensation claims submitted. 11. An increase in the implementation of SANE programs. 12. More people in the community are becoming aware of and knowledgeable of the issues that are involved in domestic violence and sexual assault. 13. State fiscal crisis in Oklahoma is impacting all levels of services. 14. Reduction in funding from the private sector after 9/11.
F. USE OF VOCA ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS: VOCA Administrative funds were used to enhance services to crime victims in the following ways: The VOCA-funded staff and Board members attended training seminars and computers were purchased for new subgrantees for record keeping and reporting. Communication with the VOCA office was greatly enhanced due to the e-mailing capabilities within each subgrantee agency. Funds were also used to continue paying existing Victims Assistance staff. The state VOCA office moved during the reporting period, causing a need for additional expenditures in maintenance / operating and furniture categories. During the reporting period, a total of $127,457.71 was used to assist in the administration of the VOCA program as follows: 99VAGX0040 00VAGX0040 TOTAL Personnel 5,439.34 4,673.73 60,113.07 Travel 625.16 5,666.37 6,291.53 Supplies (4.30) 2,257.56 2,253.26 Maintenance & Operation 570.62 7,341.10 7,911.72 Furniture 0 3,631.79 3,631.79 Equipment 0 43,625.66 43,625.66 Dues 0 3,500.00 3,500.00 Training 0 130.68 130.68 TOTALS 6,630.82 120,826.89 127,457.71