Bridging the Gap - Creating a Victim Centered approach to Services Within Sumter County

Through the FY 2018 Law Enforcement-Based Direct Victim’s Services and Technical Assistance Program, OVC seeks to support projects that will develop or enhance and sustain direct victim assistance service programs within law enforcement-based systems and better coordinate partnerships with community-based programs to serve the broader needs and rights of all crime victims. Funding under this program will support direct victim assistance service grants to state, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies in small, mid-sized, and large jurisdictions to hire staff to develop new or enhance existing law enforcement-based victim service programs.

With this award, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office (SCS) will hire a victim advocate to enhance the existing Victim Advocate Program. The additional advocate will help ensure the provision of wraparound services within the county. Since over half of Sumter County’s population is seniors over the age of 65, SCS will ensure age-appropriate/trauma-informed services for seniors experiencing victimization are provided. Additionally, SCS will augment the efforts of the Victim Advocate Program with the addition of two program vehicles to provide 24/7/365 transportation of child victims to the Lake/Sumter Children’s Advocacy Center for medical and forensic examinations and transportation for other crime victims in Sumter County. SCS will also engage the services of an on-call forensic nurse examiner to ensure that all sexual assault victims receive quality, trauma-centered, sexual assault services. Last, SCS plans to conduct training of all sworn officers about the services available through the Victim Advocate Program to victims in Sumter County.

CA/NCF