Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Victim Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Victim services: advocate reports higher caseload, grant continuity and capped therapy sessions
Summary
Victim advocate Devon Shakespeare told the commission the program served 283 crime victims year-to-date, the state will cover a tracking program subscription cost statewide, the usual grant award continues, and contracted therapist sessions are now capped at about 12–14 sessions per victim under grant rules.
Devon Shakespeare, a victim advocate in the county attorney’s office, updated the commission Dec. 9 on victim services and grant funding.
Shakespeare said the program was awarded its usual $21,000 grant and that this grant cycle covers two years. She reported that the state will now cover the full cost for the online case-tracking program agencies use, a change that will relieve local agencies of an increasing subscription fee. Shakespeare said the office has served 283 crime victims year-to-date; roughly 30% of victimizations were related to domestic violence and about 15% to child-abuse allegations. The office provided more than 1,200 criminal-justice-related services and more than 500 information-and-referral services so far this year.
Shakespeare also said contracted therapist sessions previously available on an open-ended basis under grant arrangements are now capped at approximately 12–14 sessions per victim; staff are working to identify other funding options so clients needing longer-term therapy can continue treatment without cost to the victim. She said the Children’s Justice Center caseload remains roughly steady (15 last year, 13 so far this year).
Commissioners thanked the advocate for the report and asked clarifying questions about billing and grant quarterly disbursement.
