Press Release
For Immediate Release: April 4, 2016
Contact: Janice Mackey, (916) 491-3821
Email: janice.mackey@vcgcb.ca.gov
Twitter: @helpingvictims
Event Addresses Underserved Victim Population and Community Relations
Sacramento, CA — The California Victim Compensation Program (CalVCP) and the UC Davis Police Department are co-hosting a two-day law enforcement conference on community relations and victim services. This event slated for April 11–12, 2016 is being held at the UC Davis Conference Center.
The “Leave No Victim Behind” theme addresses best practices on building partnerships between law enforcement and the communities they serve, connecting victims with needed resources and lifting barriers encountered by underserved victims.
“Collaborative partnerships with law enforcement, victim advocates and medical providers ultimately enhance the quality of victim services,” said Julie Nauman, Executive Officer, CalVCP. “Removing barriers, improving services and building relationships with first responders is a win-win for victims and the community.”
The conference coincides with National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which is being observed from April 10–16. The national theme of “Serving Victims, Building Trust, Restoring Hope” highlights the importance of early intervention with victim services in establishing trust with victims, which in turn begins to restore their hope for healing and recovery.
Conference speakers include California Highway Patrol (CHP) Commissioner Joe Farrow and UC Davis Police Chief Matthew Carmichael. Additional presentations will be given by Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig and Shawn Knittel of the Seattle LGBTQ Advisory Council among several other experts.
“We are pleased to be participating in this conference with our state and local law enforcement partners,” said CHP Commissioner Joseph Farrow. “Together, we can share resources and best practices, gain knowledge and ultimately provide better service to the communities we serve.”
To register and obtain more information about the conference, please visit the UC Davis Police Department’s conference page.
The California Victim Compensation Program (CalVCP) provides compensation for victims of violent crime who are injured or threatened with injury. Among the crimes covered are domestic violence, child abuse, sexual and physical assault, homicide, robbery, and vehicular manslaughter. Last fiscal year, the program received nearly 50,000 applications and provided over $51 million in compensation to crime victims.
If a person meets eligibility criteria, CalVCP will compensate many types of services when the costs are not covered by other sources. Eligible expenses include medical and dental care, mental health services, income loss, funeral expenses, rehabilitation and relocation. Funding for CalVCP comes from restitution fines and orders, penalty assessments levied on persons convicted of crimes and traffic offenses, and matching federal funds.
For more information about victims’ rights and services, visit the CalVCP website at CalVCP.ca.gov.