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ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $52,424 FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE/OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS (DOJ/OJP) THROUGH THE OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME (VOC) AND AUTHORIZED THROUGH THE VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT (VOCA) TO BE USED BY THE NORMAN POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE RETENTION OF A VICTIM ADVOCATE, APPROVAL OF CONTRACT K-1920-50 AND BUDGET APPROPRIATION FROM THE GRANT REVENUE ACCOUNT AND THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE.
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BACKGROUND: On September 11, 2018, the City of Norman accepted a grant from the United States Department of Justice/Office of Justice Programs (DOJ/OJP) through the Office of Victims of Crime (OVC) and administered through the District Attorneys Council (DAC) for the purpose of hiring a Victim Advocate and purchasing associated equipment. These funds are awarded yearly on a competitive basis with priority to programs that serve victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, and unserved/underserved victims.
In many cases, victims of these offenses receive services from either the Mary Abbott Children's House or the Women's Resource Center. However, those incidents account for only 28% of our violent offenses and 39% of our victims. That means that 61% of our victims of violent crime do not qualify for services from either of these two community partners.
In other cases, victims of violent offenses receive assistance through the District Attorney's Office. Unfortunately, this assistance is almost always provided during prosecution - well after the conclusion of an investigation. With only approximately 34% of our violent offenses being closed with an arrest, approximately 66% of our victims are never referred to the District Attorney's Office.
This funding (Sub-Grant No. 2019-VOCA-NORMAN PD-252) allows the Norman Police Department to continue ensuring necessary referrals are made and that essential services are provided starting at the initial phase of an investigation and at a time when the trauma is acute and...
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