Victims of Crime Act

Joseph Persia
VOCA Administrator
Public Safety Grant Administration Office
One Capitol Hill
Providence, Rhode Island 02908
Tel (401) 222-4498 Fax (401) 222-1294
JoeP@psga.dps.ri.gov

Rhode Island is the first state in the nation to pass a constitutional amendment through a constitutional convention guaranteeing victims the right to participate in the criminal justice process. The amendment is as follows:

"A victim of crime shall, as a matter of right be treated by agents of the state with dignity, respect and sensitivity during all phases of the criminal justice process. Such person shall be entitled to receive, from the perpetrator of the crime, financial compensation for any injury or loss caused by the perpetrator of the crime, and shall receive such other compensation as the state may provide. Before sentencing, the victim shall have the right to address the court regarding the impact which the perpetrator's conduct has had upon the victim."

Article I, Section 23 of the Constitution of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

Attention!

A Victim Assistance Portal »

Victims of crime, you may now pick up and click the link above to follow the criminal justice procedures pertaining to your case.

Victims Assistance Formula Grant Program

The Public Safety Grant Administration Office has administered the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victims Assistance Program since 1985 when the program was first enacted by Congress. The Act is funded through fines paid by those convicted of violating federal laws. The VOCA program has the most restrictive regulations of all PSGAO-administered grant programs as funds are strictly intended to support direct services to victims of violent crime. The Act requires priority be given to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse and other groups identified by the state as being "under-served" victims of violent crimes.

The Public Safety Grant Administration Office made 33 VOCA awards in 2006 totaling $1.599,880 and in 2007, a total of 34 awards totaling $1,655,340.

VOCA Advisory Committee

Originally established in 1986, the VOCA Advisory Committee consists of representatives from both the public and private sectors. The Committee meets throughout the year and works with the Public Safety Grant Administration Office to aid victims of crime in the state, to identify the needs of victims of crime, to set goals for distribution of federal dollars, establish procedures for applicants to submit grant requests and make recommendations for the funding of grant program. The Committee and Public Safety Grant Administration Office staff review progress of individual grantees toward stated goals.

VOCA Advisory Committee Members

• Stephen King, Policy Analyst Rhode Island Supreme Court
• Cathy Cranston, A Crime Victim
• Lee Baker, Project Coordinator Department of Children, Youth and Families
• David Smith, Supervisor Department of Mental Health Retardation, and Hospitals
• James Ganaway, President Casey Family Services
• Wendy Becker, Rhode Island College School of Social Work Assistant Professor
• Joseph L. Persia, Public Safety Grant Administration Office VOCA Administrator

Subgrantee	Project	Description
Attorney General's Office	Providence Statewide Victim Assistance/Information Service	Maintains expansion of services to felony crime victims with focus on priority victim populations to reduce trauma and aid recovery
RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence Warwick	Rhode Island 24 hr. Helpline (with The sexual Assault & Trauma Resource Center, Inc.)	Provides a helpline for easy access to immediate, quality crisis intervention, support and referrals for all victims of crime in Rhode Island
Adoption Rhode Island 500 Prospect St. Pawtucket, RI 02860	Family Support Project	Provides support services to abused children and their adoptive families. Scope: Statewide
Capital City Community Center Providence	Victims Assistance	Meets psychological, emotional and practical needs of victims through counseling case management, advocacy and referral
Center for Hispanic Policy & Advocacy Providence	AYUDAME/HELPME	Program provides a response to the growing Latino community by targeting victims who newly arrive.
Child & Family Service of Newport	Elderly Abuse Program	Provides outreach, assessment, advocacy, case management, and treatment for victims of elderly abuse and their families
Community Counseling Center Pawtucket	Child Sexual Abuse Trauma Treatment Program	Seeks to expand mental health counseling to children and adults who have been sexually abused or traumatized by crime and/or their families.
Comprehensive Community Action Program Cranston	Enhanced Case Management to Victims of Abuse & Neglect	Provides home monitoring & victim services for families in crisis by decreasing incidence of children and adolescents at risk of victimization
Family Service Inc. (Family Service of Rhode Island) Providence	Police Go Team	Provides a master's level clinician on call 24/7 to respond to a Providence Police officer's call from the scene of a violent crime. Model developed by Yale School of Medicine
Federal Hill House Association Providence	Victims Assistance Program	Provides immediate, on-going service to identified victims of violent crime.
Institute for The Study and Practice of Nonviolence	Nonviolence Street Workers Program	Provides crisis intervention, referrals, 24 hour on call, hospital visits/advocacy and court advocacy. Community interventions include, support /advocacy for families, prevent retaliation, conflict mediation, and preventing criminal response by victim.
Interfaith Counseling Center, Inc. Providence	Interfaith Counseling Victims Assistance	Provides focus on all types of crime victimization, with special outreach to male and female victims of sexual abuse, and victims of domestic violence within faith communities.
Institute for The Study and Practice of Nonviolence	Survivors Outreach Services	Provides a range of supportive services for families, friends and significant others of homicide victims
Justice Assistance Providence	Project Victim Service	Notification, referral, counseling, advocacy, restitution, system orientation, court escort, and follow-up services to victims within District Court
Mothers Against Drunk Driving Providence	MADD RI Victim Advocate	Provides victim a advocate to help prepare victims of drunk drivers for hearings and possible trail. Also provides assistance with victim impact statement and victim compensation.
Rhode Island Legal Services Providence	Legal Assistance Project	Provides free legal representation for qualified clients who are victims of domestic violence seeking restraining orders in Civil Court.
Kent Center for Human and Organization Development Warwick	Victims of Crime Act	Provides Case Management services to adult survivors of sexual abuse.
Kent Center for Human and Organization Development Warwick	Victims of Crime Act	Provides clinical intervention and support program for adult survivors who have been victims of traumatic violence and/or sexual abuse as a child
Office of the Child Advocate Providence	Project Victims Service	Provide services and a means of compensation to young victims who are in the custody of the state
Day One Providence	Rhode Island Children's Advocacy Ct.	Provides a team approach involving prosecutors, police, medical personnel, and family human service providers for the investigation and treatment of child sexual abuse cases
Day One Providence	Law Enforcement Advocacy Project	Provides a Law Enforcement Advocate (LEA) to the City of Providence's Police Department
Day One Providence	Sexual Assault Victim Assistance Project	Provides crisis intervention, counseling services and legal advocacy for victims of sexual assault and their families
RI Department of Corrections Cranston	Corrections Victim Services	Maintains an Office of Victim Services to work with victims and provide information
Rhode Island Family Court - Providence	Family Domestic Violence Court	The Family Domestic Violence Court uses the Fund for court-based case management that includes evaluation.
RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence Warwick	Domestic Violence and abuse Victim advocacy	Provides services to victims of domestic violence through the seven member agencies and also through printing and distributing brochures
Socio-Economic Development Ctr. for South East Asians Providence	Victim Assistance Outreach Program	Provides education and outreach to Southeast Asians who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and /or child abuse
SOAR 422 Post Road Warwick	Sisters Overcoming Abusive Relationships	Provides empowerment to women of domestic abuse by uniting female victims with trust and power sharing
St. Mary's Home for Children North Providence	Sexual Abuse Parent Aide Project	Comprehensive, family-based treatment for sexual abuse in families; treating the family as a system, fostering personal growth, independence and responsibility in all family members
Tri-Town Community Action Agency Johnston	Elderly Victim Assistance Program South County	Provides help to Elderly Crime Victims
Youth Pride	Youth Pride Inc. Victim Assistance Project	Provides victim outreach and services to gay, lesbian and transgender youth in RI