Police victim services coordinator outlines VOCA-funded programs and goals

Heather Burr, the victim services coordinator with the Saratoga Springs Police Department, presented the department’s VOCA (Victim of Crime Act) grant report to the City Council on June 17. She acknowledged that the program is supported through VOCA grant funding administered by the Office for Victims of Crime and described the program’s scope, service categories and performance goals.

Burr said VOCA funding requires the program to report on the crime categories served and the types of services provided. She described four primary service categories covered by the grant: information and referrals (including victim rights and protective-order referrals); personal advocacy and accompaniment (medical, forensic exams, law enforcement interviews, immigration assistance, interpreters); emotional support and safety services (crisis intervention, safety planning, on-scene crisis response); and criminal and civil justice system assistance (notifications of hearings, victim-impact statement assistance, restitution assistance, advocacy during prosecution).

During the grant period the program set three specific goals Burr said: notification of criminal justice events, on-scene crisis response, and referrals to other victim service programs when specialized services are required. Burr said domestic violence cases make up the largest share of the program’s caseload and that advocates often work with the same victims across multiple categories and through the court process.

Burr concluded by emphasizing that as the city grows the need for victim services increases and asking for continued council support for maintaining the program within the police department.