COVA News Highlights

In this issue:

 Congratulations to Douglas County Sheriff's Office Victim Assistance Program
  New OVC Training Self-Assessment Tool Available Online
  Cold Case Playing Cards
  Domestic Violence Fatality Review Information for 2009
  Public Website to Locate Interstate Compact Offenders
 How to Access COVA's Victim Emergency Fund
  NEW Cold Case Website by the Colorado Bureau of Investigations
  Victim Compensation Common Application
  SANE Sustainability Technical Assistance Project
  CCADV Announces a New Service: The Advocacy and Resources Team
  Ink Cartridge Fundraiser

  Congratulations to Douglas County Sheriff's Office Victim Assistance Program

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Victim Assistance program was awarded the National Sheriffs’ Association Crime Victim Services Award for 2010.

The National Sheriffs' Association recognizes that victims of crime have unique needs and that appropriate assistance to victims should be provided by law enforcement as early as possible in the response process. In an effort to focus more national and local attention on law enforcement services provided to victims of crime, NSA annually recognizes a Sheriff's Office that has demonstrated outstanding achievement in support of victims with the NSA Crime Victim Services Award. Over 3,000 Sheriffs’ Offices from around the country have the opportunity to apply for the annual award. The award originated in 2005 sponsored by the Office for Victims of Crime, and is now sponsored by Appriss, Inc.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Victim Assistance Program was nominated by the DCSO Administration with supporting letters from COVA and the Office for Victims Programs at the Division of Criminal Justice. Patty Moschner, Program Coordinator indicated, “This is a tremendous honor for our advocates, for Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and for all Colorado victim services. We are proud to represent the high quality of all victim services in Colorado, and bring our state the national attention and recognition that comes with this award.”

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New OVC Training Self Assessment Tool Available Online

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) announces a new online Training Self Assessment tool to assist you and your organization in identifying and assessing your training/technical assistance needs. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3 ...
1. Access the Training Self Assessment Tool.
2. Complete the areas of interest at your leisure.
3. Receive a printable summary of your responses and a list of available resources.
Access the OVC Training Self Assessment Tool any time - 24/7 - from any internet-accessible location. It's easy to use. Save and return later to complete at your leisure.

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   Domestic Violence Fatality Review Information for 2009

Denver Metro Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee has released information for the domestic violence-related fatalities in Colorado for 2009. To view the document, click here. For Information from 2009, click here.

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  Cold Case Playing Cards

The Homicide Assistance and Capital Crimes Unit at the Colorado Attorney General's Office have decks of Cold Case Playing Cards available for $3 per deck (proceeds will provide funding for additional decks of cards in an attempt to feature 1300+ unsolved homicides in Colorado). for more information or to purchase these unique cards contact Investigator Paul Goodman at 303-866-5331. Click for a pdf document with an image of both sides of a sample card.

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  Public Website to Locate Interstate Compact Offenders

Pat Tuthill and the Peyton Tuthill Foundation are pleased to announce the implementation of the public search link to locate offenders under supervision. This service has been a long time coming, but with persistence from the victim community, it is a victory for public safety and victims’ rights.

Victims and their families, whose offenders are interstate compact cases, can go to the Interstate Compact Online Tracking System (ICOTS) website and search the public link to know in which state an offender resides and find contact information for the supervising office. Victims may contact the office to request information to ensure the offender is complying with conditions of supervision or to report violations.

Visit the website at https://interstatecompact.org/PWP/searches/11373.

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   How to Access COVA's Emergency Fund

            COVA receives grant funding from State VALE to establish a Victim Emergency Fund for Colorado victims of crime.  The goal of the program is to provide emergency funds for victims that have unusual needs that cannot be met through any other resource.  Procedures for accessing the fund are as follows:

- All requests must come from advocates in the field, not from the victim directly.
- All traditional resources for funding (Victims Compensation, Denver Center for Crime Victims, Inter-Faith Task Force, for example) should be  exhausted at the time of the request.
- The request should address a current and immediate need that is directly connected to the crime.
- Funds should be provided, whenever possible, to the vendor or service provider, not directly to the victim.
- Documentation (invoices, receipts, etc.) must be provided to COVA for the funded services or products.
- No amount over $500 will be released with approval from either the Executive Director or the Deputy Director of COVA and at least one member of the Executive Committee of the COVA Board of Directors.

           For further information or to request an application form, contact COVA at 303-861-1160 or 800-261-2682.

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  NEW Cold Case Database Website

“CBI would like everyone to view this website and consider any information they can provide to help solve a cold case and assist families and other co-victims see these cases progress towards resolution,” said Director Sloan. The database contains information about the 1,714 persons who have been verified by CBI as homicide victims or those who are missing or whose unidentified remains have been found in Colorado since 1970 to the present. “CBI hopes that by providing information about these cold cases to the public, citizens throughout the state will be able to assist local law enforcement and the CBI by offering new information that will lead to a resolution of these cases,” said Director Sloan. To view the website: https://www.colorado.gov/coldcase

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  Victim Compensation Common Application

If you have been physically or emotionally injured as the result of a crime, or a member of your family has been killed as a result of a crime, you may be eligible for compensation for your financial losses. Losses directly related to the compensable crime are eligible for reimbursement, and may include: medical expenses, mental health expenses, lost wages, loss of support to dependants, residential property damage to exterior windows, locks and doors, and funeral expenses.

For a listing of eligility requirements and how to file a claim, click here. For the Victim Compensation Common Application, click here.

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  Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Sustainability Technical Assistance Project

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center is requesting preliminary applications for its Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Sustainability Technical Assistance Project, developed with grant funding from the Office on Violence Against Women, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The project will provide on-site technical assistance to SANE programs struggling with immediate and significant issues related to their survival. These may include such issues as recruitment/retention, funding and collaboration. Applications will be accepted from October 15 - November 10, 2008.

Once preliminary applications are reviewed, programs meeting the project criteria will be selected to complete the full application, providing more detailed information related to program history, staffing, funding, etc. Please note that all applicants will be eligible for web-based and phone technical assistance from NSVRC or one of its partners. Applications must be submitted no later than November 10, 2008, by online, mail, fax, or email.

For more information about the project, including a copy of the preliminary application and access to an online submission form, please visit the NSVRC website or you may contact Jenifer Markowitz, Project Manager at jenifer.markowitz@gmail.com.

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  CCADV Announces a New Service: The Advocacy and Resources Team

The Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence Advocacy and Resources Team (ART) works to respond to the needs of, and advance the capacity of, Colorado domestic violence programs and their communities. ART is comprised of CCADV staff who are domestic violence specialists with expertise in theory, intervention, prevention, community response, and program management. ART serves as a reliable resource to strengthen member programs by providing support, training, and technical assistance upon request Have a question about a situation or a needed tool or resource? Just contact Pat Tessmer at 303-831-9632 x820 or 888-778-7091 x820 or by email at ptessmer@ccadv.org.

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  Donate Used Printer Cartridges to CCASA of the Four Corners
The CASA of the Four Corners in Cortez, Colorado is a nonprofit that provides court appointed advocates to work with children in abuse and neglect cases. These children need consistency in a noncinsistant environment. They need a voice in court and that is where the CASA of the Four Corners comes in. They give the children a voice. CASA of the Four Corners is having an on-going fundraiser - they will accept used ink cartridges and turn them into funds for their program. For more information on how you can help, email casa4corners@coloradocasa.org or lizzy_njc@hotmail.com or call 970-564-0301.

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