Victim/Witness Assistance Division

Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare

the Victim/Witness Assistance Division through the Office of the District

Attorney

17years

has been serving victims of crime

For

Tulare County’s Division of Victim/WitnessAssistance is staffed by:

• 1 program director• 7 victim advocates, two of which are

bi-lingual,serving north and south county

• 2 claim specialists• 3 clerical support staff

About Our Bureau...

All advocates are required to receive 80 hours of training and are certified by the California Victim/Witness coordinating councilAdvocates are also trained and certified by the National Organization of Victims Assistance in Crisis Response

Claim specialists receive 160 hours of training and are certified by the Victim Compensation Government Claims Board to process claims locallyOngoing continuing education is provided through

various seminars, workshops and conferences

About Our Program...The goal of our program is to assess and attend to victim’s immediate and fundamental needs…from initial contact through final resolution

Where do we get our victim referrals?

Law enforceme

nt

Adult protective services

Child protective services

Hospitals

Battered women’s shelters

Rape crisis center

Deputy district

attorneys

The victims themselves

WHAT SERVICES DO WE PROVIDE?

Crisis intervention

Emergency

assistance

Orientationcriminal

justicesyst

em

to the

Orientationcriminal

justicesyst

em

to the

Court escort & support, including kid’s court for minor victims

Assistance with victim impact statements

Property return information

Community

resource &

counseling

referral

information

Restitution

Assistance in filing for financial reimbursement from the state Victim of Violent Crime Fund

assistance and services as needed

Other

If crime occurred outside California, victim must have been a California resident at the time of the crime

THATMUSTBE MET:

REQUIREMENTS

THATMUSTBE MET:

REQUIREMENTS

Crime must have occurred in California

Crime must be reported to law enforcement or adult/child protection agency

Victim must reasonably cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of any known suspects

Victim must cooperate with staff of the Board and/or Victim/Witness Assistance Bureau in the verification of the claim

THATMUSTBE MET:

REQUIREMENTS

THATMUSTBE MET:

REQUIREMENTS

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE

CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION PROGRAM?

WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION PROGRAM?

NOT

Persons who contribute to or take part in the events leading to the crime

Persons who commit the crimePersons who do not cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation and/or prosecution of the suspectsPersons who do not cooperate with the staff

of the Board and/or the Victim/Witness Assistance Division in verification of the claim

FILING DEADLINES:

The State Victims Compensation & Government Claims Board is always payer of last resort, and will only pay those expenses or losses that are related to the crime, and are not covered by any other resources

Victim claims are paid through the State Restitution Fund which is funded entirely by criminal fines and penalties — No taxpayer monies are used

Adult victim applications must be filed within one year of the date of the crimeApplications resulting from crimes against a minor must be filed before the minor’s 19th birthdaySome exceptions to the filing deadlines may apply if certain criteria are met

LOSSESTHATMAYBE COVERED:

Medical/dental expenses for the victimMental health treatment or counselingWage/income lossFinancial and/or support loss for dependents of a deceased or disabled victim

Funeral and/or burial expensesCrime scene clean-upMoving/relocation expenses for victims of domestic violence

Home security installation or improvementsJob retraining for victims disabled by the crime

Home or vehicle renovation or retrofitting for victims who are permanently disabled as the result of the crime

LOSSESTHATARE NOTCOVER

ED:Personal property losses, including cash, are not eligible for reimbursement under the program

Applicants cannot be compensated for “pain and suffering”

NOT

SERVING VICTIMS OF CRIME IN TULARE COUNTY

Tim Ward, District AttorneyOffice of the District Attorney, County of Tulare

Victim/Witness Assistance Division

221 S Mooney Blvd Rm 264, Visalia, CA 93291-4593(559) 636-5471 • www.da-tulareco.org