(251) Victim Witness Fund

The San Benito County’s Victim Witness Assistance Program focuses on three areas of service: Advocacy, Victims Compensation Claims, and Restitution.

Advocacy under this program provides the following:

Crisis support services and counseling

Guidance in navigating the criminal justice system

Emergency assistance: relocation, transportation and safety planning

Referral to local resources and services- employment, medical/dental, mental health, housing and childcare

Crime prevention information

Funeral arrangement

Witness relocation program

Victims Compensation Claims consists of staff assisting in the processing of California Victim Compensation Program (CalVCP) that provides financial support to victims or witness for expenses that result from certain violent crimes. Staff assists victims with preparing, submitting and securing approval for compensation.

The Restitution component is another means to recover compensation for losses directly related to victimization by the offenders. Staff help facilitate restitution requests and submission to the Probation Department.

• Provided mandatory and optional services to at least 1000 victims.
• Increased communication with law enforcement and community agencies.
• Obtained over 300 hours of volunteer services.
• Development of crime related mass casualty incident planning.

• Contact with hard to reach populations. Specifically, the unserved and underserved (i.e., elderly, rural residents and monolingual Spanish speakers)
• Limited participation in community events and outreach opportunities.
• Collaborating with emergency services to incorporate crime related mass casualty planning into the county’s Emergency of Operations Plan.

• To have successfully added a component of crime related mass casualty planning in the County’s Emergency of Operations Plan.
• Securing ongoing funding through grant opportunities to maintain program objectives.
• Maintain staffing levels to meet immediate needs of all victims.
• Maintain efforts to recruit volunteers to assist the program in providing support services.