SC Victim Assistance Network

Board Meeting Minutes

July 8, 2005

 

PRESENT:

Brett Macgargle

Marian Lindsey

Ritchie Tidwell

Don Zelenka

Hope Blackley

Larry Bergmann

Pam Gregory

Lillian Garcia

Mary Ann Stroup

Vicki Bourus

Gwen Herod

 

Veronica Swain

Nicole Goodwin

Ginger Williams

 

ABSENT:

Margaret Frierson

Saylor Fox

Kaye Holmes

Anne Laver

Lynn Hawkins

Carol Wyatt

Anne Wolf

Dean Kilpatrick

 

Minutes taken by Nicole Goodwin

 

Brett Macgargle called meeting to order.

 

Minutes of May Board meeting reviewed and accepted without changes.

 

Financial Report (Ritchie Tidwell)

·       Proviso approved and signed July 1

·       Fundraised monies will be used to assist with refurbishing main conference room

·       SCVAN’s finances are sound.

 

New Business (Veronica Swain)

Anne Laver has resigned from the Aiken Department of Public Safety to accept a position as Program Coordinator for the new Aiken County Child Advocacy Center.  The Board approved her continued service on the SCVAN Board.

 

Gervais and Vine fundraiser was a success. SCVAN received a check for $1,011.

 

Veronica will attend Performance Outcome Training offered by the United Way in July.

 

Proviso

§   Bill Matthias and Jim Fraser assisted with developing a performance budget and a line item budget for the Performance Agreement between SOVA and SCVAN.

§   Board reviewed and approved Performance Agreement, budgets and SCVAN budget.

§   Veronica introduced performance/outcomes chart she developed to assist with identifying outcomes and measuring performance related to the duties set out in the Performance Agreement.  SCVAN will track performance using measurement tools identified in the chart to insure accurate reporting to SOVA. 

§   Matthias and Fraser will consult with Veronica to develop Performance Report for SOVA.  After the Report has been outlined, Mike Cavanaugh will be invited to review and edit Report format.

§   Since performance budgets are new to SCVAN, SOVA has agreed that there will be some latitude within the proposed performance areas and line items.

§   Ritchie and Brett met with Mike to request more frequent feedback from SOVA re SCVAN’s performance rather than what was initially stipulated (review after six months).

§   SCVAN’s Board members are individually involved with other collaborative efforts to improve victim services in South Carolina.  These efforts will be reflected in reports to SOVA.  Veronica will develop a form to survey the Board for information about their work to enhance services to victims (i.e., other Board membership, Task Forces, councils, etc.)

 

Gwen Herod suggested the Board provide information about Board members’ involvement with specific cases that impact/cause system improvements.

 

A standard victim satisfaction form will be developed to assist with performance measurements.  It was noted that CVLN already utilizes victim satisfaction forms and data, which are completed by victims after a case is completed.  The new, brief forms can be filled out while on the phone with a victim, if mailing is not an option.  SCVAN phone log, implemented since August, 2004, tracks specific data about people calling for assistance and how we help them.

 

Pam Gregory maintains information about each referral to SCVAN, and suggests Advocates be asked to track number of victims who are referred to SCVAN for assistance.

 

Upcoming Issues

Laura sent out an “after action” report to update victim service community about new laws.  SCVAN will approach Attorney General McMaster to offer assistance and potential co-sponsorship of legal updates training to criminal justice professionals about new laws.  Newsletter article will be written regarding the impact new laws will have on citizens / criminal justice professionals.

 

Mary Ann recommended the definition of “family” be revised in CDV law.  Vickie informed the Board of the efforts of SCCADVASA and SCVAN to revise the definition this year, which was unsuccessful.  Vickie noted that a special legislative committee will be develop this year to carefully review domestic violence laws before the next legislative session begins, as outlined in new CDV law.  SCCADVASA and SCVAN will advise the committee.

 

Mary Ann informed the Board about an issue provoked by new law: victims may be fined $125 if a judge believes criteria are not met when requesting a Restraining Order. Veronica advised that if Judges are being unfairly punitive to victims, attorneys working with the CVLN may be able to challenge the ruling.

 

Veronica encouraged the Board to forward to her interesting information/articles to add to the upcoming newsletter.

 

The Board discussed the need for victims’ rights training to judges. Veronica requested permission from Chief Justice Toal to coordinate victims’ rights training for judges at upcoming conference in August.  One key issue to mention at training: Restitution should be ordered at time of sentencing.

 

Tana Vanderbilt manages the pro bono program at Nelson Mullins.   After meeting with Tana, she has agreed to provide cases to attorneys at Nelson Mullins for pro bono assistance, particularly with appeals cases.

 

It was determined during the Clinics meeting in Oregon (attended by David, Veronica and Shannon) that all clinics should limit their scope from numerous volunteer attorneys handling cases to fewer, well-trained attorneys.  This will enable us to engage in well-planned, strategic litigation.  CVLN’s original goal was 32 attorneys.  CVLN has thus far recruited 9 lawyers located in Columbia, Georgetown, Greenville and Charleston.  

 

The first attorney/student training will be held in August at the Charleston School of Law.  Shannon is applying for Continuing Legal Education accreditation for the training.

 

David is interested in contacting USC School of Law again to encourage their students’ participation with CVLN.  The Oregon meeting provided various ways students can participate in and receive victims’ rights education from this project besides a clinics course, which was our original proposition to them.

 

Solicitors and Assistants need victims’ rights training.  Don Zelenka suggested talking to William Bilton about providing training at the upcoming Solicitor’s conference.  Veronica advised that solicitors were present at a CVLN presentation last year, and would attempt to get on the agenda at this year’s conference.

 

Hope Blackley and Veronica will meet to insure there is not an overlapping of services offered between CVLN and the Crime Victim’s Ombudsman’s Office.

 

Ritchie suggested that the CVLN Steering Committee meet again before upcoming August audit.   

 

A discussion was held about restitution.  Restitution is not being ordered routinely throughout the state.  The Victim Compensation Fund, and possibly the VIP Emergency Fund, may be reimbursed through restitution.  

 

Recommendation:  Judges are accustomed to seeing green victim impact statements.  Advocates should obtain the most current information for judges by contacting SOVA to get an updated victim’s expense list.  Staple the most recent SOVA printout and bills to VI statement.  Veronica and Marian will write an article on restitution to inform advocates, prosecutors and judges.

 

Veronica would like to meet with Board members (Hope, Mary Ann, Marian, Pam Gregory) and invite SOVA’s new restitution specialist to discuss ways to improve restitution for victims.

 

Executive Board Vote:
The Board voted to re-elect existing Executive Officers.   President Brett Macgargle, Vice President Marian Lindsey and Treasurer Ritchie Tidwell we re-elected.

 

Veronica spoke with Rosalyn Frierson to request the Chief Justice consider expanding Rule 608 to allow attorneys pro bono credit for victim representation in criminal court, similar to AG McMaster’s request in 2003.  

 

State Victim Assistance Academy

 

Fundraising Ideas

Develop letter and fact sheet including different cases with which the Emergency Fund has assisted to request donations or ask for matching funds. Rotary Clubs, community organizations sponsor similar projects.

 

Victims Rights Week 2006

·       Conference will be held Wednesday thru Friday

 

·       Combining the VRW march with SCCADVASA’s “Walk A Day in My Shoes” march was discussed at the VRW meeting.

 

·       Ritchie suggested that we analyze attendees so that we can see what victim service groups are missing.

 

·       Recommendation for VRW 2006:  Invite victim advocate supervisors (Sheriff’s, Chiefs, etc.) to a plenary session for Supervisors Only (in recognition of the work they do)

                                          i.    Provide legislative updates

                                        ii.    Educate re duties of Victim Advocates

                                       iii.    Review Act 141 monies and uses

           

Executive Board Meeting was set for August 19 at 10:00AM.

 

 

NEXT BOARD MEETING SEPTEMBER 9, 2005 10:30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Web Page Created with PageBreeze Free HTML Editor