Upon request of state and local representatives the Governor established the Advisory Victim Services Coordinating Committee on August 14, 1997, by Executive Order Number 97-26. The Committee was assigned to recommend standards for the coordination and implementation of victim services delivery on a state and local level. The Governor appointed nineteen (19) individuals or their designees to serve: the Chief of the State Law Enforcement Division (Chairman), Director of the Division of Victim Assistance, Office of the Governor; Crime Victims’ Ombudsman; Executive Director of the South Carolina Victims Assistance Network; Director of Victims Services, Office of the Attorney General; President of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Victim Advocate Association; Director of the Department of Corrections; Director of the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services; Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice; Director of the Department of Public Safety; Director of Court Administration; President of the South Carolina Summary Court Association; Executive Director of the Commission on Prosecution Coordination; President of the Public Defenders’ Association; Executive Director of the South Carolina Sheriffs’ Association; Executive Director of the Police Chiefs’ Association; President of the South Carolina Jailers’ Association; Executive Director of the South Carolina Association of Counties; and Executive Director of the Municipal Association of South Carolina.

The Governor’s Advisory Victim Services Coordinating Committee convened its first meeting on Thursday, August 28, 1997. The Committee determined its objective: establish recommended procedures that could be distributed to agencies as guidelines for implementing comprehensive victim services as outlined in Act 141. The Committee determined its goal: identify the necessary steps to ensure compliance with legislative intent and provide any assistance necessary for the smooth implementation of Act 141. The Chairman assigned subcommittees to establish recommended procedures for implementing comprehensive victim services. Three subcommittees were appointed: Forms and Documents; Personnel and Training; and Revenue and Distribution. On September 17, 1997, subcommittee chairmen reported their respective recommendations to the full committee. With receipt of subcommittee reports, the Chairman established the Report Writing Subcommittee requesting that the Subcommittee combine all recommendations into a helpful guide which could be used by state and local agencies responsible for implementing Act 141. The Chairman requested that the guide be in draft form for review by the full advisory committee. The final report includes a guide that provides state and local agencies with a basic orientation of the mandatory requirements of Act 141 and several recommendations for compliance.