1. What does it mean for you as a Probation Officer
Victim Rights Act
What does it mean for you as a Probation Officer

2. History of Victim Rights Amendment
1982: President Ronald Reagan formed a presidential task force to study the treatment of crime victims.
November 3, 1992: VRA was passed by voters.
January 14, 1993: VRA went into effect.
1994: Probation received grant funding for a part-time victim advocate.

3. Basic Rights of Victims C.R.S. 24-4.1-302(5)
Right to be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity, and to be free from intimidation, harassment, or abuse, throughout the criminal justice process.
Right to be informed of and present for all critical stages of the criminal justice process.
Right to be informed of the process for enforcing compliance with the amendment.

4. Why do victims request notification?
They want reassurance that the offender is being held accountable.
This is the last place in the system where the victim has a voice.
The victim may find relief in just being able to vent (about the crime, about the criminal justice system, etc).
Because they have every right to!

5. Some reasons that victims do not choose to opt-in:
Concern for their safety (or their loved ones).
Feel reassured by the outcome in court.
They want to put it behind them.
They know they can still chose to opt-in at a later time should they change their mind.

6. What can victims expect?
Education
Support
Referrals
Safety Planning
Active listening/validation of feelings
Attempt to have victim focus on their needs vs. focusing on the offender.

7. How are those things provided?
Education – information about how supervision works, CJS, specific information about DV and SO T&C, restitution, and what to expect as a victim in the case.
Support – providing them a person who can empathize with their needs/concerns. Assistance and guidance in developing or rebuilding their support systems and working to empower victims.
Referrals – Provide referrals for resources that may meet their needs. Examples would be counseling, support groups, child support enforcement, emergency funding for basic needs.

8. Continued….
Safety Planning – Helping victims develop a plan for safety for themselves, their children, and their family members. This could mean protection from offenders coming into their home, knowing safe places to be in the house, financial safety, public safety, safety in their workplace, etc.
Active Listening – Often times, victims will call when they are upset. A lot of time is spent allowing victims to vent and to help to debrief their situation. Sometimes, this is all they want/need-validation and reassurance to hold the offender accountable.

9. Dealing with difficult victims
Try to be empathic to their situation.
Allow the victim to express their frustration, but attempt to have them focus their frustration and not use the time to belittle or verbally attack you.
Provide helpful resources, if you know of any.
Give them my name and number or and have them call or me.
If you have a chance, please send me an or leave me a voice mail with that victim's name and contact information so I can touch base with them.
Sometimes, there is nothing you can do or say to satisfy a victim….and that’s okay!!!

10. How victims set up notification (opt-in)
Post sentencing – The DA’s Office provides all VRA victims a blue “Probation Victim Notification Enrollment Form: to complete and send in to Probation.
Post sentencing victim notification is NOT automatic. Victims need to request notification in writing or by phone.
Victims can call the Probation Officer or Victim Services Officer to sign up for notification at any time during the probation period.
We will offer notification to all victims, even if it is not a VBR/VRA case.
If a victim calls you for information, please ask them if they would like to sign up for notification. If they say “yes”, either get their name, address, phone number, and , or refer them to me and I will gather the information.

11. They’re a VNOT, so what??? What is a Critical Stage?
When should I keep the VSO in the loop?
What if I’m not sure?
But I’m soooo busy already!
Does it really matter?

12. When should I notify the VSO:
Any time there is a change (or potential change) to the sentence.
Revocations (Summons and Warrant) Addendums
Changes in DV Supervision levels
Extensions
Unsupervised/Early Terms
Restitution Objections
TOUT or ICOTS

13. Better safe than sorry
If you are ever unsure of where a case stands as far as being a VNOT case, please ask! I don’t bite, and I hear I’m pretty nice for the most part!!!
IN codes/VNOT codes – sometimes they’re missing. Let me know and I’ll verify the date and fix the code.

14. “But I’m already swamped!”
a quick update if anything comes up where you’d like me to reach out to the victim.
Enter your codes right away so I know.
Backdating.
Send a copy of the complaint as you enter the code.

15. Victim input
The victim is entitled to ten (10) business days to respond to extensions, ICOTS, motions for early term, or motions for unsupervised probation!
If they object and I am not able to persuade, then we cannot go forward.

16. Does it really matter???
VRA is the victim’s right; it is not optional for us to notify them “after the fact”, nor can we pretend they don’t exist. They have the right to be
Informed
Heard
Present

17. Examples of VRA complaints
Case study 1
Case study 2
Case study 3
Thoughts?

18. Help me help you… How can I help?
What would be a good way to give you reminders?
What works for you so it can work for me as well?