CLEARFIELD – The Victim/Witness program has received a $252,672 grant through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding over a two-year period, according to Director Judy Shirey, who noted that it was a $40,784 increase from its last allocation, at Tuesday’s Clearfield County Commissioners workshop meeting.
Further, she said that the program will be allotted $126,336 in both 2011-12 and 2012-13. However, it’s not entirely for the Victim/Witness program, but is also shared with both the Crossroads and Passages, Inc., which she said offer services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
She said that their policy board would meet Monday, Feb. 14 to determine how to allocate the VOCA funding among the programs. Although she wasn’t certain this time around, she said that in the past, they’ve split the increase with each program receiving one-third.
According to Shirey, the Office of Victims’ Services under the state’s Commission of Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) announced the availability of as much as $32 million in funding through the VOCA grant. Federal funds were being provided to support the provision of direct services to victims of crime, she said.
She said that the VOCA funding may only be used “to provide the direct services, which respond to the emotional and physical needs of crime victims by helping them stabilize their lives after victimization, assisting them in navigating the criminal and juvenile justice process and or provide victims of crime with a safe and secure environment.”
Shirey said the Victim/Witness program was expected to have a deficit of $15,046 in 2011-12 and of $22,672 in 2012-13. Commissioner Mark B. McCracken then asked if the increase was enough to cover the expected deficits of the next two years.
Both Shirey and Commissioner Chairperson Joan Robinson-McMillen indicated that was correct. McCracken then asked if the commissioners could advocate for the increase’s use toward the deficit at the policy board meeting.
“I’m not sure we want to do that,” Robinson-McMillen said. “I’m not sure we want to slam the door in their face like that. I think that we should go and listen. All three programs perform a service for the county. All are wonderful programs, and all are doing a wonderful job.”
Shirey said that Crossroads deals with victims of domestic violate, while Passages, Inc. serves victims of sexual assault. She said that her office only becomes involved if it’s reached the criminal process.
According to her, PCCD mandates that they have the policy board, which meets “roughly” twice each year. She said there used to be specific persons who were designated to serve on the board. Since then, the state has broadened its requirements, and community members are even encouraged, she said.
Anyone who is interested in serving on the Victim/Witness Policy Board is asked to contact Judy Shirey, program director, at 230 East Market St., Suite 217, Clearfield, PA 16830, or by phone at 814-765-2641.