(a) Funds appropriated from the Victim-Witness Assistance Fund shall be made available through the Office of Emergency Services to any public or private nonprofit agency for the assistance of victims and witnesses that meets all of the following requirements:
(1) It provides comprehensive services to victims and witnesses of all types of crime. It is the intent of the Legislature to make funds available only to programs that do not restrict services to victims and witnesses of a particular type of crime, and do not restrict services to victims of crime in which there is a suspect in the case.
(2) It is recognized by the board of supervisors as the major provider of comprehensive services to victims and witnesses in the county.
(3) It is selected by the board of supervisors as the agency to receive funds pursuant to this article.
(4) It assists victims of crime in the preparation, verification, and presentation of their claims to the California Victim Compensation Board for indemnification pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 13959) of Part 4 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(5) It cooperates with the California Victim Compensation Board in verifying the data required by Article 1 (commencing with Section 13959) of Part 4 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(b) The Office of Emergency Services shall consider the following factors, together with any other circumstances it deems appropriate, in awarding funds to public or private nonprofit agencies designated as victim and witness assistance centers:
(1) The capability of the agency to provide comprehensive services as defined in this article.
(2) The stated goals and objectives of the center.
(3) The number of people to be served and the needs of the community.
(4) Evidence of community support.
(5) The organizational structure of the agency that will operate the center.
(6) The capability of the agency to provide confidentiality of records.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 31, Sec. 258. (SB 836) Effective June 27, 2016.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018