The Montana Board of Crime Control (MBCC) is soliciting proposals to offer comprehensive specialized services, tailored to the distinct needs of victims of crime; to be funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime.
VOCA Federal Guidelines state that services are defined as those efforts that 1) respond to the emotional and physical needs of crime victims; 2) assist primary and secondary victims of crime to stabilize their lives after a victimization; 3) assist victims to understand and participate in the criminal justice system; and 4) provide victims of crime with a measure of safety and security. For the purposes of this program, a crime victim is a person who has suffered physical, sexual, financial, or emotional harm as a result of the commission of a crime.” The four federally required priority categories are victims of child abuse, victims of domestic violence, victims of sexual assault, and underserved victim populations.
Applicants Must have demonstrated record of providing services. Services must be provided free of charge to victims and their families. Services must be provided to victims of federal crimes on the same basis as victims of state or local crimes. Applicants will determine project activities that best address the needs of their reservation community.
The current Federal guidelines require that VOCA funds be used to provide direct services to individual crime victims. Direct services include, but are not limited to:
- Crisis intervention;
- Emergency services such as shelter, transportation, and food;
- Support services such as follow-up counseling, personal or legal advocacy, referral to other service agencies;
- Court related services such as legal advocacy or emotional support during trial and parole/probation hearings;
- Recruitment, training, and coordination of volunteers who provide direct services to victims;
- Personal advocacy such as intervention with employers;
- Restitution advocacy;
- Victim impact panels; and
- Court Appointed Special Advocates working directly with child victims of crime or coordinating volunteers that work directly with child victims of crime.
Programs must maintain information on the demographic characteristics of the clients they serve. These data include information about the clients' age, gender, nationality/ethnic origin and disability. Programs must provide services to victims of federal crimes on the same basis as victims of state or local crimes. Programs must provide services to crime victims, at no charge, through the VOCAfunded project. Programs must maintain client-counselor confidentiality and confidentiality of research information. The Project Director must complete the Office of Civil Rights training and maintain records of certification.