What Are The Next Steps For Improving Victims Services?

Recommendations

Victim Services System will become more proactive in responding to and preventing victimization

Reporting and Accessibility of Information

• Develop and implement strategies to increase the reporting of crimes. Create multiple ways for victims to report crimes, e.g. hotlines, 211, 311, online. Increase education about the rights and services for victims.
• Develop and use technology to increase fulfillment of mandates such as providing information to victims. This should include the development of an Internet based site that would allow victims to access information about: CVC applications, services, victim rights, court dates, and offender status. Consider cheapest method including outsourcing. This will increase efficiency but will not necessarily cut costs or substitute for personal contact.
• Increase access to information about case disposition by making it available through information technology such as the Internet.
• Expand VINE throughout whole system (TDCJ, TYC, etc.)
• Approach Texas 211 about expanding 211 to allow operators to connect victims directly to providers rather than giving the victim a telephone number to call.
• Work with 211 to develop and maintain current and accurate information for victims. Ensure 211 database is programmed to search by key certain words related to victim services.
• Develop a centralized victim assistance center where victims could get help with all of their needs, including help accessing resources such as CVC. This could pay for itself if victims successfully accessed resources to help pay for their needs resulting from victimization.
• Provide comprehensive, accessible information about the criminal justice process to victims and the community. Develop clear, straight-forward printed materials in English and Spanish. Post information on appropriate websites. Develop a video explaining keys steps in the process.

Funding and Resources

• Maintain current funding for victim services, at a minimum.
• Maintain current level of victim services staff and investigators but work to increase numbers over the long term.
• Increase the capacity of victim witness units in prosecution offices.
• Expand resources to support and follow victims throughout the system, providing short and long-term services.
• Provide resources to help victims complete impact statements and appeal denials.
• Increase collaboration among victim services providers related to prioritizing needs, and securing, contributing and leveraging funds.
• Develop strategies to increase resources for hidden victims.
• Increase funding for medical care resulting from victimization.
• Increase licensed and certified emergency shelter capacity and psychiatric placement.
• Increase financial assistance for children.
• Seek support from the State of Texas for providing some funding and incentives to fulfill mandates. State should develop and enforce consequences for not fulfilling mandates.
• Create new ways to use volunteers to increase the capacity of the system to support and follow victims. Consider developing a shared volunteer pool that allows agencies to share volunteers and allow volunteers to fulfill different types of placements.
• Develop further the pediatric and adult SANE programs – increase numbers accessing these services.
• Reinstate elder law clinic at the University of Texas School of Law and continue support for other clinics such as children’s rights.
• Increase pro bono legal services through a variety of partnerships.
• Develop on site child care services at the courts – reinvigorate efforts with CAC and Travis County.

Training and Service Quality

• Develop training resources and programs to increase the ability of the community to train and place volunteers. Increase collaboration among providers to learn skills, provide training and train the trainer.
• Develop and implement a common curriculum for training professionals and volunteers
• Increase training of professionals outside of law enforcement (medical, clergy, teachers, etc.) to help educate the public about the importance of reporting crimes and the services that are available.
• Establish minimum service guidelines for services offered to all victims.
• Develop internal agency quality assurance standard for care of victims.
• Ensure that service providers know criteria for using Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) and where to send victims.
• Ensure that TDPRS adheres to standards for caseload maximums.
• Educate counselors and victim service providers on how to access information on 211 database.
• Educate service providers regarding CVC reimbursement.
• Educate all basic needs service providers regarding services available to victims.

Systems Improvements

• Encourage the County to adopt a philosophy of restorative justice within the criminal justice community by focusing on the harm that has been done and what the community is going to do to repair it.
• Develop more restorative justice programs to offer options for victims.
• Develop case management model to support and care for victims across the criminal justice system. Use volunteers to help victims navigate the system.
• Increase collaboration among Law Enforcement Agencies.
• Improve hand off between victim services staff of law enforcement agencies to District Attorney and County Attorney (timing and fragmented system contributes to problem) to minimize lapse of support system.
• Examine possible solutions for addressing constant rescheduling of court dates (involve defense bar, judges, victim advocates and prosecutors).
• Work with Law Enforcement officials to ensure that offense reports clearly identify special needs (e.g. non-English speaker, disability, etc.) of victims so that they can be properly served.

Compensation

Improve utilization of and access to CVC. Decentralize CVC such that local jurisdictions have responsibility to decide how CVC is allocated. Develop system to pay upfront for services to decrease the burden on victims.

• Increase support to help victims complete and follow through on applications. Possible strategy: consider using volunteers.
• Convene forum with victim service providers to educate about CVC and identify strategies for increasing applications and reimbursements.
• Work with CVC to secure pre-approval for certain types of expenses so that reimbursement does not delay accessing services.
• Create a centralized local point of contact to help victims access CVC.
• Increase orders, amount ordered, enforcement and collection of restitution.
• Work with mental health providers to identify problems with CVC reimbursement process and work with CVC to address identified problems.
• Increase the availability of emergency financial assistance for victims to relocate or maintain housing.