OUR STORY
Over thirty five years ago, Governor Richard Riley’s office convened a task force on victim rights to respond to concerns that victims had no rights in the legal system, no right to stay informed of the progress of an investigation, no right to appear at trial, no right to know if an arrest had been made, and no right to know when an offender was released from prison. Their advocacy and the subsequent South Carolina Crime Victims Bill of Rights enacted by the General Assembly in 1984 ensured the provision and enforcement of those rights.
The S.C. Victim Assistance Network (SCVAN), a 501(c)(3) organization, was created in 1985 in response to a mandate in the S.C. Crime Victims Bill of Right for a network of service providers to be formed to better protect and serve victims of crime. For over thirty years, SCVAN has been the “go to” agency as the voice of victims of crime and a resource for the providers who serve them.
SCVAN fulfills three main objectives: 1) to ensure ALL crime victims receive access to and assistance from the criminal justice system; 2) to improve the quality of services provided to crime victims by victim advocates; and 3) to ensure the criminal justice system adequately serves crime victims.
To fulfill those objectives, SCVAN advocates on behalf of victims and witnesses of crime, maintains a communication network, enhances public awareness, facilitates research and evaluation, serves as technical support, facilitates quality training, provides education regarding legislative initiatives pertaining to crime issues, coordinates policy development, manages “one of a kind” programs and encourages citizen and victim participation in the justice process.
Throughout its history, SCVAN has made an impressive impact on services available to our state’s victims and criminal justice professionals, with a proven track record of addressing the needs of crime victims with measurable results in all of our programs.
SCVAN provides effective fiscal oversight and management of five grant programs:
•Financial Relief for Victims Program provides direct emergency and transitional housing assistance and information to victims.
•The Crime Victim Information Services System (CVISS) provides a research, resource and referrals to crime victims and service providers state-wide.
•Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) provides legal assistance and access to culturally competent assistance and resources for foreign-born crime victims.
•Faith-based Victim Service Program to develop resources that will assist crime victims and their families in South Carolina in partnership with faith communities.
• Statewide Forensic Nurse Examiner (FNE) Coordinator provides coordination and support to existing and developing FNE programs in our state; building alliances with service providers to promote victim-oriented medical response and treatment of sexual assault victims.
Since 1987, SCVAN has sponsored South Carolina's Annual Victims’ Rights Week Conference. One of the Nation’s longest standing observances recognizing and publicizing crime victim issues, this conference assembles 400+ crime victims, victim service providers, criminal justice professionals, judges, lawyers. mental health professionals and social workers to receive cutting-edge training from some of the most notable criminal justice and victim service providers across the state and nation. The three-day conference also provides support and information to crime victims and honors them through a Candlelight Vigil and awards ceremony.
SCVAN’s organizational structure includes a CEO who reports to a Board of Directors composed of representatives of the business community. Office and grant staff report to the CEO. Financial transactions are recorded on QuickBooks Pro, using a program approved by the U.S. Department of Justice Comptroller General and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, Department of Crime Victim Services. SCVAN is audited annually by an independent accounting firm.