Hocking County Prosecutor

The first victim assistance program was established in February 1997 after receiving the first grant written in
1996. These grant funds come from the Victims of Crime Act which was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President on October 12, 1984 and amended by several agencies throughout the years. The original Act was one of the results of recommendations made earlier in the year by the President’s Task Force on Victims of Crime. The Task Force concluded that the needs of crime victims
could be adequately met only by the federal, state and local governments, along with the private sector,
sharing responsibility of providing victims assistance.

The Act establishes within the U.S. Treasury a separate account known as the Crime Victim’s Fund. The Fund
is generated entirely by funds, penalty assessments; forfeited appearances and bail bonds collected the

federal government. The Attorney General has been designated as the administrator of the Crime Victims Assistance Grant.

Every grant application must have a 25% required match in which the Hocking County Commissioners have
approved each year since the beginning to help victims and witnesses of crime in Hocking County. With the Hocking County Prosecutor’s
office being a public entity the Victim Assistance Program is allowed to be based out of the Prosecutor’s office to
provide direct services to crime victims. Throughout the legislative history of VOCA, Congress has provided
guidance on the types of direct services intended by this Act. These include those services which respond
to the immediate needs of crime victims, so that the severity of the psychological trauma is reduced; assist
the victim in participating the criminal justice process; and help restore the victim’s sense of dignity, self
esteem, and coping mechanisms. Likewise, costs that are necessary and essential to providing these
direct services may be supported with VOCA funds.

Types of Services provided by the Hocking County Victim Assistance Program

Follow-up – refers to in-person contacts, telephone contacts and written communications with victims to officer Emotional support, provide empathetic listening, check on victim’s progress, etc.

Information/Referral refers to in-person contacts with victims during which time, services and available support are identified.

Criminal Justice Support/Advocacy refers to support, assistance and advocacy provided to victims at any stage of the criminal justice process to include post-sentencing services and support.

Emergency Legal Advocacy refers to assisting with filing Domestic Violence Civil Protective orders and
Stalking Civil Protection Orders along with assistance to the courts and victims with the Temporary Protection orders.

Assistance in Filing Compensation Claims includes make the victim aware of the availability of crime victim compensation, assisting the victim in completing the required forms, gathering the needed documentation, etc. It also may include follow-up contact with the victim compensation agency on behalf of the victim.

Personal Advocacy refers to assisting victims in securing rights, remedies, and services from other agencies;

locating emergency financial assistance, intervening with employers, creditors, and other on behalf of the victim;

assisting in filing for losses covered by public and private insurance programs including worker man’s compensation, unemployment benefits, welfare, etc; accompanying the victim to the hospital; etc