Technology
Few individuals could have predicted how technology would
support the present-day victims' movement. For example, OVC uses
its Web site and other electronic information dissemination vehicles
to provide quick and easy access to online publications, funding
resources, services, promising program strategies, and training resources.
Information-sharing among victim service agencies at the state and
local level is critical for providing a seamless network of victim
services. Automated notification systems are an effective and proven
method of informing victims about the status of their cases and the
subsequent release of perpetrators. In addition to these uses of
technology, the Crime Victims Fund supports initiatives that promote
the use of technology in delivering training and technical assistance
and in processing compensation claims for victims of international
terrorism. To further the use of technology, OVC funds various initiatives
to promote cooperation among service providers.
VS2000 System Information Technology Project
In 1997, OVC began developing Victim Services 2000 (VS2000), a 5-year
demonstration project meant to create model systems for victim service
delivery that could be replicated nationwide. VS2000 was established
to improve the range, quality, and accessibility of services for
all victims through the development of integrated victim service
systems in urban and rural settings. The goal of the VS2000 System
Technology Project is to enhance the three technological components
of VS2000—resource directory management, agency training registration,
and case management for community agencies. The project will pilot
test the system and make necessary modifications, prepare the system
for replication, and increase victim service providers' responsiveness
to the community by training users and making the project's online
resource directory and training center available to the general public.
For more information, visit the VS2000
Web site.
Forensic Telemedicine Training and Equipment
for Indian Health Service Units
Through an interagency agreement with the Indian Health Service
(IHS), OVC provides funding for training and photographic equipment
to document forensic exams of child abuse and sexual assault victims
at IHS clinics and hospitals in Indian Country. The photographic
documentation is designed to minimize or prevent transporting child
victims, an escort or parent, and an FBI agent or criminal investigator
long distances to large urban hospitals for examinations, and to
document medical diagnoses for victims in physical or sexual abuse
and sexual assault cases. The photographic equipment enables the
attending physician, nurse, or sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE)
to properly document medical observations and findings, thus minimizing
or avoiding repeated colposcope examinations of child victims. Training
sessions are scheduled for attending physicians, nurses, and SANEs
in how to use, apply, and maintain the equipment properly. IHS has
consulted with the victim/witness specialist in the U.S. Attorney's
Office for the District of Columbia and the Children's Advocacy Center
of the Uniformed Services at the National Naval Medical Center in
Bethesda, Maryland.
Online Directory of Crime Victim Services
The OVC Resource Center staff has helped create an online Directory
of Crime Victim Services for use by victims and service providers.
The directory lists service providers who address various victim
needs. Launched October 31, 2003, the directory offers a centralized,
searchable database of victim assistance programs nationwide and
allows new programs to enroll. OVC continually updates the database
with new programs that are closely scrutinized before being added.
View the online
directory.
OVC Web Forum
OVC has developed a Web forum, called the OVC Message Board To Help
Exchange Lessons and Practices (HELP) in Victim Services, to link
victim service providers and allied professionals with colleagues
throughout the Nation who face similar challenges and experiences.
The Web forum, which functions similar to a message or bulletin board,
is an online center for ongoing, indepth discussions of specific
topics and issues. Some of the topics discussed include compassion
fatigue, confidentiality issues, victims with disabilities, domestic
violence, identity theft, restitution, posttraumatic stress disorder,
and trafficking in persons. The forum offers users a means to share
ideas, suggestions, and recommendations concerning promising practices,
best practices, and victim issues. OVC's Web Forum was pilot tested
in Arizona, Delaware, and South Carolina and will be launched nationally
in early 2004. For more details, visit the OVC
Web Forum.
OVC Web Site
OVC's Web site is an essential way OVC provides information and
leadership to the field, both domestically and internationally. The
Web site is accessed by victims, victim advocates, VOCA administrators
and subrecipients, discretionary grantees, educators, policymakers,
and the general public. The Web site provides a wealth of information
to site visitors, including the following:
- "What's New at OVC" announces recently released publications,
videos, and current OVC initiatives.
- "Grants and Funding" explains each of OVC's major funding opportunities
and includes the "Discretionary Toolbox," a new, one-stop resource
for information on current funding opportunities, compliance and
monitoring requirements, and financial information for current
and future OVC grantees.
- "Help for Victims" offers Internet links to topical resources
of interest to victims, including OVC's Directory of Crime Victim
Services.
- "Publications" provides an annotated list of OVC publications
that can be viewed online or downloaded. Users may also view digital
clips for select video products and public service announcements
to better understand the products' content and usefulness to the
field.
- "Resources for International Victims" offers information on global
and international issues for victims including a series of OVC
publications in foreign languages such as French, Spanish, Traditional
Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese. More specifically,
in the event of a terrorist attack or incident of mass violence,
OVC has the capacity to post critical information for victims on
its Web site.
OVC significantly enhanced its Web site during the biennium. In
FY 2001, OVC unveiled a new look and theme for the Web site with
expanded, up-to-date content areas; added a "Featured Resources" section
to the site's home page that ties newly released OVC publications
and products with commemorative themes for each month (e.g., Domestic
Violence Awareness month in October); and added current topics, such
as "Trafficking in Persons," to the "Help for Victims" page.
OVC's Web site content continues to grow, as do the number of users
who access the site. OVC has seen a tremendous increase in visitors
accessing the site since its creation in 1997; from June 2002 to
October 2003, the number of visitors to the site increased 55 percent.
The top three pages accessed on OVC's Web site are the "Help
for Victims" page (which offers links to information resources on
29 topics such as terrorism and mass violence, campus crime, stalking,
and identity theft), the "Grants and Funding" page, and the "Publications" page.
For more details, visit the OVC
Web site.
Nationwide Automated Victim Information and Notification
System
Computer automation provides a means for federal investigative,
prosecutorial, and corrections components to be integrated with the
victim notification requirements specified in the Attorney General
Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance (AG Guidelines). Money
allocated from the Crime Victims Fund has been used by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Executive Office for United States
Attorneys, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to develop and
implement a nationwide automated victim information and notification
system (VNS) for the federal program. The system is intended to provide
consistent information and reduce the amount of time and resources
necessary to notify victims of key case events. A pilot test of the
system in Fiscal Year (FY) 2001 produced favorable results. VNS is
operational and, as of the end of FY 2002, the database was populated
with about 21,300 active FBI cases; 16,200 active U.S. Attorney's
Office cases; 19,900 active BOP subjects; and 178,800 active victim
listings.
OVC Training and Technical Assistance Information
System
The OVC TTAC Information System (OTIS) was developed to support
all training and technical assistance (TTAC) operations and functions,
ensure effective management, facilitate proactive project planning,
and identify areas that may need targeted services. OTIS is a comprehensive,
Web-based information management system that provides OVC and other
approved audiences with a single information source for training
and technical assistance resources and activities. The system contains
data on training and technical assistance recipients, consultants,
resource organizations, materials, training and technical assistance
coordination activities, and needs and evaluation data. It provides
a timesaving, standardized way of collecting and tracking data to
support daily project planning and management functions, and it enables
staff to query any data area or module. For more details, visit the
OVC TTAC Web site.
International Terrorism Victim Compensation Program
Software
The International Terrorism Victim Compensation Program (ITVCP),
as authorized under the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), Title II, 42
U.S.C. 10603c, 1404C, authorized OVC's director to compensate victims
of terrorism that occurs outside the United States for expenses associated
with that victimization. To be eligible for compensation under ITVCP,
an individual must have been a national of the United States or an
officer or employee of the U.S. Government on the date the act of
terrorism occurred (incidents must have occurred on or after December
21, 1988, and an investigation or prosecution must have been ongoing
as of April 24, 1996). In addition, the individual must have suffered
direct physical or emotional injury or death as a result of international
terrorism. OVC is developing case management software for this program.
The software will collect, maintain, manage, and process data in
order to make compensation claims to eligible victims.
Conclusion
OVC recognizes the vital importance of keeping the victims' field
abreast of new programs and information. Through the Internet and
other innovative technologies, OVC continues to give victims other
avenues by which to access resources and services. We hope these
enterprising technologies will help victims get the information they
need in a timely manner, which in turn will result in better and
more complete victim services.
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