To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): District Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, Department of Health Services, Human Services Department, Probation Department
Staff Name and Phone Number: Tatiana Lopez 565-2822
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Recommended Action:
Title
Adopt a Gold Resolution proclaiming April 21 through April 27, 2024 as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
Body
Executive Summary:
On behalf of the many public and private agencies working together to improve crime victims’ services, and to prevent and respond to crime in our community, five departments - the District Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office, the Human Services Department, the Department of Health Services, and the Probation Department - have come together to seek a proclamation declaring April 21 through April 27, 2024, as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in Sonoma County.
The week of April 21 through April 27, 2024, has been designated as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by the Office for Victims of Crime of the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Center for Victims of Crime. Since 1981, communities across America have joined together annually to recognize the needs and rights of crime victims and survivors. In an effort to provide recognition to crime victims, Sonoma County is joining other counties and states throughout the nation in showing a commitment to raising awareness of the devastating impacts of crime and holding events honoring the courageous survivors of crime and those who help them heal. The theme for 2024, “How would you help? Options, services, and hope for crime survivors.” Sonoma County joins agencies across the country to call upon our community to ask ourselves how we can help victims of crime and how we can create environments where survivors have the confidence that they will be heard, believed, and supported. We all have a part to play in reaching crime victims, especially those in marginalized communities, and to be prepared to help by being familiar with the services within our county. Together, we can reduce barriers for victims by ensuring the availability of comprehensive services in a variety of ways.
We seek a future in which victims are strengthened by the response they receive, organizations are resilient in response to challenges, and communities are able to seek collective justice and healing. We continue to work to support all victims through our own work and that of our community leaders, organizations and local partners to empower victims throughout the healing process and as they become survivors. As we better learn how to meet the needs of underserved victims, we expand victims’ options.
Discussion:
During Crime Victims’ Rights Week, outreach activities will take place throughout the county to raise awareness about victims and the services available to victims of crime in Sonoma County. On Saturday, April 27, 2024, to mark the conclusion of Victims’ Rights Week 2024, the District Attorney’s Office, in partnership with The Living Room, Verity, California Parenting Institute, Council on Aging, and Voices, to name a few partners, will host for a third year in a row a community event at Old Courthouse Square in Downtown Santa Rosa. The goal of this event is to highlight the services available to the community which serve victims of crime as well as anyone needing assistance in Sonoma County. For the first time ever, we will also be hosting a brown bag webinar, "How Can You Help?", intended for health care providers, law enforcement and community partners. The webinar will be a safe space for the partners to discuss the levels and steps of trauma-informed care. All of these Victim's Rights Week events will be promoted through print, radio, and social media campaigns.
The following sections identify key services provided to victims within county agencies.
Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office
Historically, victims of crime have been under-served in a system geared to prosecute and protect the rights of the criminal. During the mid-seventies, the State of California began realizing that the trauma and financial loss experienced by victims should be acknowledged and began developing programs to address the problem. The California Legislature mandated that counties establish programs to assist crime victims who suffer the ill effects and trauma of crime. Section 13835.2 of the California Penal Code mandates the scope of services that must be offered. The Sonoma County Victim Services Division was established in 1978 to serve victims of crime. On November 4, 2008, the People of the State of California approved Proposition 9, the Victims’ Bill of Rights Act of 2008, known as Marsy’s Law. This measure amended the California Constitution to provide additional rights to victims.
The District Attorney’s Victim Services Division offers comprehensive services to victims and witnesses of all types of violent crimes. Mandated services provided by the Victim Services Division include crisis intervention, emergency assistance, direct follow-up counseling, court escort and support. Some optional services provided include creditor intervention, restitution information, and assistance with funeral and burial expenses through the State of California Victim Compensation Board.
In compliance with Marsy’s Law, the District Attorney’s Victim Services Division ensures that victims receive all appropriate notifications related to court proceedings. We list the victims’ Marsy's rights on our website. In order to better serve victims, the District Attorney implemented a web-based server, linked to the District Attorney’s website, where victims are able to access online up-to-date court information and receive electronic notification of upcoming court dates.
The Victim Services Division served 3,639 new clients in FY 22/23, and while that number is fewer than FY 21/22, advocates were supporting victims through trauma of more serious crimes, including more juvenile cases that require the upmost attention to confidentiality and can involve heightened emotions.
The District Attorney’s Office Victim Services Division participates in numerous outreach events throughout the year to educate and inform our community about the services offered and available to victims and witnesses of crime. Victim Services will be launching a countywide campaign to honor Victim’s Rights Week which will include a community resource fair and learning webinar opportunity.
The District Attorney’s office is the lead agency for the Family Justice Center Sonoma County, a multi-agency collaborative effort that opened in August of 2011. The Family Justice Center (FJC) concept is a multi-disciplinary, physically co-located model with a coordinated, single point-of-access offering comprehensive wrap-around services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse and child abuse. The Family Justice Centers seek to improve the services being offered to victims, and to reduce the number of locations a victim must visit as well as the number of visits they must make to tell their story and receive the help they need.
Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office receives approximately 35,000 "911" calls for service each year. Thousands of these calls are victim contacts. The Sheriff’s Office provides victim services such as emergency first aid, criminal investigation, assistance with criminal justice process, and referrals to victim assistance resources. The Sheriff's Office works collaboratively with other government agencies to prevent and protect individuals from violence in an ongoing commitment to keeping our community safe. The Sheriff's Office continues to be co-located at the Family Justice Center and is a strong supporter and partner of the FJC and the multi-disciplinary teams that advocate for victims.
Sonoma County Department of Health Services
The Department of Health Services’ Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) was created in 1995. SART provides 24-hour, seven-day-a-week on call specialized, coordinated forensic medical exams for all child and adult victims of sexual assault in Sonoma County in a caring, supportive, collaborative and professional manner. The SART conducts a limited medical examination for the specific purpose of assessing, documenting, and collecting forensic evidence. The SART is part of a multidisciplinary team of trained professionals who work closely with the Human Services Department, the District Attorney’s Office, local law enforcement, and community partners, such as Sutter Hospital, the YWCA of Sonoma County and Verity, to provide services to victims and families.
Sonoma County Human Services Department (HSD)
The Human Services Department administers benefits programs and provides direct services to support the health, safety, and well-being of our community members. Programs include: health care and nutrition benefits programs and cash assistance; employment and training assistance; and protective services for children, older adults, and persons with disabilities. In 2023, the Human Services Department child abuse hotline received 8,917 calls with reports of concern for children in our community. Adult Protective Services received 6,560 reports of abuse or neglect of an older or dependent adult, including reports of financial abuse.
Sonoma County Probation Department
The Probation Department provides a number of services that aid victims. The Department’s investigations units prepare pre-sentence reports for the Superior Court that includes a description of the impact of crimes, including victim impact statements. These statements allow victims the opportunity to participate in and influence the court’s sentencing process. Deputy Probation Officers provide ongoing contact with crime victims to enhance their safety, explain the criminal and juvenile justice processes, and provide referrals to available victim services. Additionally, the Department works collaboratively with other agencies to identify victims of human trafficking within the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems, in order to refer victims to appropriate services. Deputy Probation Officers supervise offenders in the community, collect restitution owed to victims, and work to ensure offenders understand the impact their behavior has had on their crime victims. These supervision efforts reduce the likelihood of further community and/or individual victimization. Further, in appropriate juvenile cases, officers participate in a restorative justice process that allows the victim a voice in the development of the offender’s supervision plan, and officers monitor completion of these plans.
Prior Board Actions:
Resolutions have been approved proclaiming National Crime Victims’ Rights Week every year from 2004 through 2019, and in 2022 and 2024.
Fiscal Summary
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Attachments:
Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board: