(251) Victim Witness Fund

The San Benito County Victim Witness Assistance Program’s mission is to ensure safety; help victims of crime mitigate the trauma of crime, navigate the criminal justice system and rebuild their lives. The program does this by providing support, information, links to community resources and assisting in the enforcement of victim’s rights. The program does this by providing mandatory and optional services as specified under CA Penal Code §13835.5 to include support, information, links to community resources and assisting in the enforcement of victims’ bill of rights.

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 Board Program (CalVCB) 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.

Restitution 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 500 individuals (Victims)
• Maintained communications with justice partners and community agencies
• Obtained volunteer services
• Participated in community outreach and educational opportunities

• Contact with hard to reach populations. Specifically the unserved and underserved (i.e., elderly, rural residents, and monolingual Spanish speakers)
• Limited participation by victims of egregious crime types
• Reduced funding of Victims of Crime Act 

• Successfully add a component of crime related mass casualty planning in the County Emergency of Operations plan
• Secure additional funding through grant opportunities to maintain program objectives under specified under CA Penal Code §13835.5
• Maintian staffing levels to meet immediate needs of all individuals (Victims of Crime)
• Maintain efforts to recruit volunteers to assist the program in providing support services