-
CONTACTS
Elderly Crime Victim Assistance Program Subgrantee:
M. Bofill Duhe'
District Attorney
16th Judicial District
Iberia / St. Martin / St. Mary
Courthouse Bldg.
300 Iberia St. Suite 200, New Iberia, LA 70560
Program Director
Ph. 337-577-1990
Victim Advocate
Ph. 337-352-0670
For information contact
The Satellite Program nearest you:
Baton Rouge Police Department
1-225-389-8648
Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office
1-318-681-0869
Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office
1-337-491-3737
Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office
1-318-324-2652
Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office
1-985-449-4478
Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office
1-337-236-5657
-
Elderly Crime Victim Assistance Program
Victims of Crime Act of 1984
The Victims of Crime Act was passed by Congress in 1984 to provide for direct services to victims of violent crimes. Funding for this program is generated entirely by fines, penalty assessments and forfeited appearance and bail bonds collected by the federal government. The Louisiana Commission of Law Enforcement is the state agency designated by the Governor to administer the program in Louisiana. Through approval by the Victim Services Advisory Board and the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, the 16th Judicial District Attorney’s Office was awarded federal funds to establish the Elderly Crime Victim Assistance (ECVA) Program to provide direct services to elderly victims.
The information on this website applies to the Act as amended, 42 U.S.C. 10601.
Eligibility for Services
A person 60 years or older who believes (s)he is a victim of crime in the State of Louisiana which involved the use of force or threat of force which resulted in emotional and/or physical trauma, and/or which involved the Abuse of Vulnerable Adults to include “the mistreatment of older persons through physical, sexual, or psychological violence, neglect, or economic exploitation and fraud.”
Those Not Eligible for Services
1. The offender and/or accomplice
2. A victim whose own misconduct either caused or contributed to the criminal attack depending on the degree of such misconduct
Services Provided
Direct services provided to elderly victims of crime and to older persons who are victims of mistreatment through physical, sexual, or psychological violence, neglect, or economic exploitation and fraud will include, but is not limited to:
1. Crisis Counseling/Intervention refers to in-person intervention, emotional support and guidance and counseling provided by advocates, counselors/mental health professionals, (through referrals) or peers.
2. Follow-Up Services to offer emotional support, empathetic listening and guidance for other-than-crisis reactions after the victimization.
3. Criminal Justice/Support/Advocacy refers to support, assistance, and advocacy provided to victims at any stage of the criminal justice or legal interventions process.
4. Referral to Crime Victim Reparation Program includes making the victim aware of the availability of crime victim compensation, assisting the victim in completing the required forms, gathering the needed documentation, etc. It also may include follow-up contact with the victim compensation agency on behalf of the victim.
5. Forensic Interview refers to fact-finding interviews of victims for the purpose of information gathering or furthering services.
6. Emergency Legal Advocacy issuing temporary restraining orders, injunctions, other orders and elder abuse petitions.
7. Information and Referral Service through telephone or in-person contacts with victim to identify services offered and support available by ECVA Program and other community agencies.
8. Personal Advocacy refers to assisting victims in securing rights, remedies, and services from other agencies, locating emergency financial assistance, intervening with employers, creditors and others on behalf of the victim, assisting in filing for losses covered by public and private insurance programs, etc.
9. Safety Measures / Plan refers to emergencies that are intended to restore the victim’s sense of security.
10. Financial Exploitation, although VOCA funded programs cannot restore the financial losses suffered by victims of fraud, victims are eligible for support services.
11. Emergency Financial Assistance, when funds are available an emergency award may be made when it appears that undue hardship will result if no relief is provided. Victim Emergency Funds may be awarded for:
• Temporary Shelter for crime victims who cannot safely remain in their current
lodgings.
• Offer measures, such as, repair locks or boarding-up windows to prevent the
immediate reburglarization of a home or apartment.
• Provide crime victims with petty cash for meeting immediate needs
related to:
- Transportation
- Food
- Shelter
- Other Necessities
This project was supported by Subgrant number 3204 awarded by the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement through the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs.