Needs Assessment,

which is just seeing what victims immediate and long-term needs are, and helping alleviate them.

Orientation To Justice System, and Rights of Victims

This is explaining to victims what rights they have.  We work with victims to maximize their knowledge of and participation in the justice system, which promotes accountability of the criminal for their actions.

Information About Case Status and Outcome

This is keeping victims abreast of hearings, sentencings, and outcome, so they can participate with a minimum of wasted time because of continuances, postponements, and transfers.

Assistance to Victims Who Must Testify

is where people are helped to be as effective on the witness stand as possible, and supported when they are apprehensive about testifying.  An advance visit to the courtroom sometimes helps to relax a victim/witness enabling their testimony.  We intervene with schools and employers, if necessary, to assure victim availablity to testify.  We supply court escorts, which minimizes intimidation of victims/wittnesses, facilitating their testimony.  This is often critical for a conviction.

Facilitating Victim Participation in the Process

This is help with Victim Impact Statements, transportation to court when needed, and help with filing Victim Impact Statements for parole hearings.  This empowers victim, helping with cure.

Assistance With Restitution

is helping victims find an Attorney to file their reparation application, or if they wish, helping them to file their own application to The Court of Claims of Ohio.   Either way, there is no cost to the victim.  This fund comes from fines and assessments against criminals.    Eligibility Requirements for the program    (popup window)

Property Return Assistance

is where property is photographed as evidence, so it can be returned to the victim sooner, should this become a problem.

Information and Referral

is providing information to victims as to where services outside of those provided by Victims Services can be found.

Education and Training

is presenting programs to groups and individuals such as the recent crime victims seminar held at Vantage Vocational School, which helps more people become aware of what services are available to help victims with the healing process.

Paralegal Services Are Offered by Van Wert County Victims Services

such as help with affidavits, applications, and Scheduling Common Please Court hearings to secure a Domestic Violence Civil Protective Order, which can protect victim from further violence, saving cost of sheltering victim.

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