For Immediate Release: April 8, 2005
Contact: Joy Fox, RIDOC Media Relations 401-462-2609
Contact: Angeline Martyn, SATRC 401-421-4100 ext. 223
Rhode Island Department of Corrections Director A.T. Wall, II and Peg Langhammer, executive director of
the Sexual Assault Trauma Resource Center today announced that the Office of Victim Services has expanded its service hours due to an increase in federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding.
SATRC is a contracted vendor with the RIDOC and provides staffing to the Office of Victim Services.
The Office of Victim Services provides the following services:
- Registration assistance for victims who want notifications from the RI-VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) system.
- Answer questions about the RI-VINE system.
- Provide training for professional and community groups about the RI-VINE system.
- Answer victims' questions relating to incarcerated and community-based offenders.
- Offer connections to community victim support agencies and judicial resources.
- Provide crisis intervention and support to victims of crime.
- Provide encouragement with victim empowerment and contributions to restorative justice.
- Advocate for legislation to improve victim rights.
"The rights of victims must be given priority in all DOC programs and decisions," stated Director Wall. "This increase in VOCA funding has strengthened our reach into the community to help those most affected by
crime."
Offered by the DOC for the last three years, RI-VINE is a free, anonymous computer-assisted service that provides victims of crime with two important services: information and notification. In a typical month,
about 50 people register for RI-VINE and over 5,400 callers make use of the system.
"This partnership between the Department of Corrections and the Sexual Assault & Trauma Resource
Center is invaluable for victims," said Executive Director Langhammer. "This increase in funding reinforces the national and statewide commitment to ensuring safety and reducing trauma."
For more information about OVS and RI-VINE please call 462-5203 or log onto www.doc.state.ri.us To contact RI-VINE directly call 1-877-744-8463 (1-877-RI-4-VINE)
National Crime Victims' Rights Week is April 10 - April 16.
