NCJ Number
221072
Date Published
2007
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This report provides an overview of the accomplishments of the State of Pennsylvania’s Office of Victims’ Services for fiscal year 2005-2006.
Abstract
Report highlights include: (1) more than $29 million in State and Federal funding was provided to organizations in every county to promote safer communities, enhancement of victims services in cases involving violence against women, direct services to victims, and to support the implementation of victims’ rights in the criminal and juvenile justice system; (2) funding provided services to approximately 437,200 crime victims, witnesses, and significant others; (3) 7,264 claims were received by the Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP), triple the amount received in 1998-1999; (4) 34 percent of the compensation claims filed came through the Dependable Access for Victimization Expenses (DAVE) system, a 10-percent increase from the prior year; (5) $244,760 was paid on emergency awards that were given top priority as the result of the victim/claimant experiencing undue financial hardship as a result of the crime; (6) 91 victims compensation trainings were held, training 1,530 advocates and allied professionals on basic compensation eligibility and more; and (7) 83 local and State police officers attended 4 trainings on benefits available to public safety officials injured or killed in the line of duty. Through victims’ stories, summaries of services, and descriptions of continued efforts to improve, this report provides a year in review of the accomplishments of Pennsylvania’s Office of Victims’ Services for fiscal year 2005-2006.