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VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM 2002 MARYLAND STATE WIDE ASSISTANCE REPORT Prepared By: Maryland State Department of Human Resources 311 West Saratoga Street Room 272 Baltimore, MD 21201-3521 tel: (410)767-7176
STATE FUNDING INFORMATION
A. THE ANNUAL AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROJECTS: 1. Appropriations $ 7,100,000 2. Criminal Fines and Penalities $ 0 3. Assessments $ 0 4. Other $ 0 TOTAL:$ 7,100,000
B. TOTAL NUMBER OF AGENCIES FUNDED FROM THE FEDERAL GRANT: 68
C. NUMBER OF SUBGRANTS FUNDED FROM THIS FEDERAL GRANT: 68
VICTIM STATISTICS
A. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS SERVED BY TYPE OF VICTIMIZATION:
NO. OF NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED VICTIMS SERVED 2,013 1. Child Physical Abuse 678 7. Adults Molested as Children 6,884 2. Child Sexual Abuse 826 8. Survivors of Homicide Victims 114 3. DUI/DWI Crashes 556 9. Robbery 10,340 4. Domestic Violence 950 10. Assualt 4,227 5. Adult Sexual Assault 4,081 11. Other 89 6. Elder Abuse TOTAL: 30,758
B. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS WHO RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED 26,674 1. Crisis Counseling 18,663 2. Followup 21,249 3. Therapy 3,888 4. Group Treatment/Support 1,698 5. Shelter/Safehouse 14,660 6. Information/Referral (in-person) 10,981 7. Criminal Justice Support/Advocacy 767 8. Emergency Financial Assistance 3,628 9. Emergency Legal Advocacy 4,213 10. Assistance in filing Compensation Claims 6,047 11. Personal Advocacy 29,179 12. Telephone contact Informational/Referral 6,872 13. Other TOTAL: 148,519
A. EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AID TO CRIME VICTIMS: The Maryland Department of Human Resources, Community Services Administration, Office of Victim Services continued to work closely with its community partners to identify priority areas within the State and to develop strategies to address these priorities. The Office of Victim Services’ Director is on the State Board of Victim Services. The purpose of the State Board of Victim Services is to develop a comprehensive coordinated system of assistance by which the needs of victims are recognized, observed and addressed. Members of the State Board of Victim Services are appointed by the Governor and represent all facets of victim services. The Board identifies victim issues around the State and works in conjunction with programs like the Office of Victim Services to address the issues and work toward a comprehensive and coordinated approach to victim services. The Office of Victim Services’ Director served on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence—the State’s identified domestic violence coalition—as a Special Liaison from the Office of Victim Services. The Director met monthly during the year with Network staff to discuss issues pertaining to funding priorities within the State. The Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence has representative members from all geographic regions of the State; therefore, they are able to address the needs of all twenty-four Maryland jurisdictions. Additionally, the Office of Victim Services’ Director continued to work closely with the staff of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault—The State’s identified sexual assault coalition—to identify priority areas of need for victims of domestic violence who also may be victims of sexual assault. The Office of Victim Services worked closely with the Attorney General’s and Lt. Governor’s Family Violence Council. The Council was formed to prevent and reduce family violence in Maryland and to break the cycle of violence that often is perpetuated from generation to generation. The Council brought together leaders of various systems that respond to family violence to analyze the problems, devise comprehensive solutions, and to serve as change agents to implement solutions.
B. EFFORTS TAKEN TO SERVE FEDERAL CRIME VICTIMS: OVS staff continued discussions with representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland to assess and address the needs of victims of federal crimes. Also, through its interactions with service providers throughout the State, the Office of Victim Services continued to promote the need for services to victims of federal crimes.
C. ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF VICTIM SERVICES: The Department of Human Resources, Community Services Administration, Office of Victim Services collected monthly activity reports from all service providers funded under the Victims of Crime Assistance program. These reports outlined the number of clients served and the types of services provided and were signed by an authorized individual from each program. Monthly reports certify performance of all activities outlined by the provider. Additionally, the Office of Victim Services collected demographic information on clients served, to ensure the provision of services to underserved populations. In order to assess and improve the delivery of victim services, all funded programs receive a site visit from an Office of Victim Services Program Specialist. During site visits, programs are subject to a review of all activities under VOCA funding. The review includes an assessment of program effectiveness pertaining to service provision and meeting the needs of victims. The site visit is followed by a report outlining the findings of the reviewer and recommendations, if any, for corrective action. On-going technical assistance and training is provided to all programs to assure optimum performance. During fiscal year 2002, a workgroup was formed to develop outcome measures for domestic violence services. The workgroup consisted of Office of Victim Services staff as well as staff from several domestic violence programs and Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence staff. The workgroup identified outcomes for shelter and counseling aspects of domestic violence programs and an instrument to be used by service providers in measuring these outcomes. As of October 1, 2002, about half of the domestic violence programs in Maryland volunteered to be part of a pilot of the outcomes project. Quarterly reports pertaining to outcomes collected will be submitted to DHR through June 30, 2003. It is anticipated that in July 2003, all domestic violence programs will begin to collect outcomes for the services they provide. In another effort of program assessment, the OVS entered into an agreement with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s (UMBC) Center for Health Program Development and Management to develop a tool for the efficient collection of domestic violence service data. The project will help domestic violence programs to enhance their data collection capabilities. Please note that the Maryland Department of Human Resources did not use VOCA training funds, as subrecipients were generally trained by VOCA funded staff employed by the Office of Victim Services. In addition, other funding sources were used to provide training for VOCA subrecipients who receive other funding from the Department of Human Resources.
D. WAYS VOCA FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED TO ASSIST CRIME VICTIMS: The Office of Victim Services requested anecdotal information from service providers throughout the State of Maryland to illustrate how VOCA funds were used to assist crime victims. VOCA funds were used to assist the family of a young man who was murdered in Prince George’s County. He was a recent immigrant from El Salvador when he was murdered. He had no family in the area where he lived and only one aunt in Los Angeles. His aunt is of limited means and could not afford to take time off from her job to settle his affairs. In addition, his mother and other family members live in El Salvador, and they wanted to bury him close to them. They also have very little income and could not afford the long distance phone calls to make the arrangements nor the cost of shipping the victim’s body to El Salvador. VOCA funded staff contacted various agencies including the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, funeral homes, the medical examiner’s office, local police and the El Salvadorian Consulate and were able to retain a funeral home that deals with preparing and sending deceased individuals internationally. They were able to arrange for Criminal Injuries Compensation to handle the expenses associated with preparing and shipping the victim to El Salvador and to pay the fees associated with a funeral home in El Salvador to pick up the victims body from the airport and transport him to his final resting place. They were also able to arrange for another organization to assist the family in sending a representative to recover the victim’s belongings in Maryland and return them to his family in El Salvador. An 86 year old woman was financially exploited through telephone and mail solicitation. The woman’s daughter contacted the local Sheriff’s office to make a complaint. The Sheriff’s Department contacted a VOCA funded program that serves elderly and disabled adult victims. The Victim Advocate with the Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the to the victim’s home. The victim indicated that she had been contacted by telephone and through the mail and told that she was the winner of the Canadian Lottery. But, in order for her to claim her winnings she was required to send a small “good faith” check to the lottery officials. At the time of the home visit, the victim agreed to let the Victim Advocate and the Deputy Sheriff obtain needed financial statements from her bank as well as the paper work pertaining to the Canadian Lottery. The Victim Advocate was able to contact the FBI Agent assisting the Canadian Royal Mounted Police in the investigation. The Advocate assisted the victim to close out her bank account and reopen another. In addition the victim was counseled on how telemarketing and mail scams work. She also received assistance in filling out victim compensation forms. The victim was embarrassed and shaken by what had occurred but through supportive counseling was able to realize that she is not to blame. In another case a sexual assault program used VOCA funds to assist a 14-year-old girl who was the victim of rape. The victim had attended an early evening event at the local mall with two of her friends. She was the last of the group to be picked up by her parents. At around 5:00 p.m. she went to the restroom where she encountered a male who grabbed her from behind and wrestled her into a remote area. The victim was so traumatized that she has little memory of what occurred. She was so ashamed of this event and so confused by how it had happened to her that she did not disclose until nearly two years later when she was overwhelmed with flashbacks and severe anxiety. Her parents brought her to a VOCA funded sexual assault program where she is participating in therapy to cope with the anxiety and process the trauma. VOCA funds were also used to help a 6-year-old girl who was sexually abused by a neighbor who provided babysitting. She attended therapy sessions at a VOCA funded counseling center. When she first started therapy, she was in a confused and anxious state. In the course of treatment she learned the difference between good and bad touches. Through stories and play therapy she learned how to assert herself and how to seek help when fearful. In therapy she has been able to describe what happened to her and through the process she has been able to express that the perpetrator and not herself is responsible for the abuse. A VOCA funded domestic violence shelter was able to respond when the Department of Social Services referred a Hispanic family that had originally come to their attention following charges of child abuse. The family consisted of two parents, an 8-year-old boy and a 10-year-old boy. At the time that the domestic violence shelter responded to the home the Father had physically abused the 10-year old boy severely with a belt and then left for a prolonged trip to his country of origin. He took all personal identification papers for the family with him. The two children spoke fairly fluent English, but the Mother spoke and understood very little English. When the DSS responded it became apparent the Mother and both children were victims of the Father’s abuse. The staff of the domestic violence shelter were able act as interpreters to assist her in filling an exparte order. They obtained funds to change all of the locks in her home and assisted her in numerous ways to obtain her independence. The mother and both children participated in counseling at the domestic violence program. The children are now excelling in school. The Mother is becoming more fluent in English and her self-esteem is improving. Upon his return to this country the abuser violated the exparte order on three different occasions. On the third occasion the judge ordered him to serve 60 days in jail. Following the jail stay the abuser stopped harassing the family and has been more compliant with court orders. Additionally, VOCA funds have been used to support a number of victim advocates around the state that respond to crime scenes with the police. In one particular case, 5 individuals working in a fast food restaurant were held up at gun point and forced into the refrigeration unit of the restaurant. The suspects were captured shortly after the incident. The Victim Advocate provided on-scene intervention services to the victims. Crisis counseling as well as information about victim compensation benefits was provided. Literature about victim services and post traumatic stress were also offered. Follow up psychiatric counseling was provided to each victim, including advocacy and support services. The Advocate also educated the victims about the Victim Information & Notification Everyday system (VINE). The Advocate was also able to assist one of the victims to regain possession of personal property that was taken during the robbery.
E. ISSUES OR TRENDS IMPACTING CRIME VICTIM SERVICES: The Maryland Family Violence Council has established the Sex Offender Treatment Subcommittee. The Office of Victim Services staff serve on this Subcommittee along with representatives from the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, the Division of Parole and Probation and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Members of the Subcommittee believe that the proper evaluation and treatment of sex offenders is a meaningful component in a broad range of services dealing with sexual victimization and helps to prevent additional victimization. This approach values public safety and victim protection. The Subcommittee is near completion of a sex offender treatment provider directory, developing proposed minimum standard criteria for sex offender treatment providers and establishing an instrument to enhance the tracking of sex offenders’ progress. A Safety Initiative pilot project was developed to address the needs of three historically underserved populations that have been victimized by domestic violence and sexual assault: i.e., the elderly, persons with limited English proficiecy, and persons with disabilities. The purpose of the project is to develop three training curricula that address the safety needs of the target populations identified. Training of “first responders” will be implemented in three jurisdictions of the State that are diverse in geography, population density (urban, suburban, and rural), and ethnicity. First responders are identified as culturally based organizations, advocates for persons with disabilities, and ESL (English as a second language) instructors, among others. These individuals will be trained through the pilot to recognize and respond to the identified populations in cases of family violence. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 it became apparent that Maryland did not have a large number of formally trained crisis response providers. While every effort has been made to meet the needs of all victims who have come forward since September 11th the Office of Victim Services (OVS) has taken steps to train an additional 125 responders. This has been scheduled in conjunction with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. Additionally, Maryland victim service providers joined with victim service providers from Virginia and Washington, DC to develop strategies and systems for a more cohesive and collaborative response to victims of crimes resulting in mass casualties. OVS staff met with representatives from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Mental Health Administration regarding the profound psychological effects of disasters. Following a disaster, victims, whether directly affected or indirectly affected, will take several months to process the traumatic events. People have difficulty coming forward for services and facing their issues. It was not until 6 months following September 11th that service providers began to request funds to assist victims suffering from the effects of the disaster. Additionally it became evident that individuals who had already been victimized were most vulnerable after the attacks. Once a person has been a victim, memories of the past victimization trigger old responses such as, nightmares, panic attacks and flashbacks. The events of September 11th also have had an extremely profound affect upon the children of Maryland. Many of our service providers specializing in children’s services have reported that children who had already been discharged from treatment were coming back for additional services because they had increased anxiety, depression and general feelings of being unsafe. The Office of Victim Services requested that service providers be vigilant with regard to hate crimes stemming from the terrorist attacks. Some providers have reported that they have seen an increase in crimes against specific populations and have requested funding to serve those victims.
F. USE OF VOCA ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS: The Office of Victim Services used VOCA administrative funds to sustain the salaries of VOCA funded personnel. Staff continued to work with victim service providers, coalitions and advocacy groups in order to assess local victim needs and to assist in developing linkages between the various systems that respond to victim needs. These efforts were critical in improving victim services as they created and maintained partnerships that continue to enhance the delivery of services to victims throughout Maryland. Additionally, VOCA funded staff continued to monitor contracts with subrecipients by reviewing monthly expenditure and activity reports submitted by each provider. Technical assistance was provided to any program that had difficulty spending funds or providing the services outlined in their contract. Also, as referenced in Section D, all VOCA funded programs receive a site visit. During site visits, the Office of Victim Services staff work with the provider to identify gaps in services and offer technical assistance in order to eliminate those gaps and improve service delivery through better coordination with other local service entities. Also, the Office of Victim Services staff met on a regular basis with the staff of the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, the Maryland Family Violence Council and the State Board of Victim Services. These meetings focused on various issues relating to victim services in the State including the identification of service gaps and ways to address those gaps. They also included discussions on ways to enhance and expand victim services throughout Maryland.