Regional program offers help to crime victims | News, Sports, Jobs

READY TO HELP – The Hancock-Brooke-Ohio Victim Support Program is led clockwise from left by Jennifer Mollock, who oversees the program and coordinates its services in Ohio County; Erica Gump, Hancock County coordinator; and Brandon Kaufman, Brooke County coordinator. – Warren Scott

WELLSBURG – For more than 25 years, a regional non-profit group has supported up to 1,000 children and adults from the region every year, but many residents of the region do not think about it.

That’s because few people think they’ll be victims of a crime, say the three coordinators of the Hancock-Brooke-Ohio Victim Assistance Program, but they want everyone to know they are ready to help if it should .

The program was started in Wellsburg through the efforts of former Brooke County probation officer Jim Lee and former Brooke County attorney David B. Cross, but it has expanded to include offices in Hancock and Ohio over the years.

And it is available to crime victims of all ages and anywhere, provided the crime was committed in one of the three counties.

Jennifer Mollick, who oversees the program and coordinates its services in Ohio County, found helping crime victims range from fundraising for treatment of injuries to providing advice from professionals contracted with VAP Standing is enough to help them deal with the emotional effects of a crime.

“It can have a huge impact on people for a lifetime, but it’s not something tangible.” said Mollick.

She said that in addition to people who have been physically attacked or emotionally abused, she has also met people who find it uncomfortable to be in their own four walls after a break-in.

Mollick said the counseling is available to primary victims of a crime and secondary victims, such as children whose parents’ behavior has been affected by the crime.

She and Brandon Kaufman, Brooke County coordinator for the program, and Erica Gump, its Hancock County coordinator, have served as mediators for crime victims, accompanying them to court hearings when necessary, and helping them apply for financial aid from the West Virginia Crime Victims Compensation fund.

The fund, administered by the state Legislative Claims Commission, was set up with court fees paid by convicted felons.

In addition, crime victims have received limited compensation for the economic damage caused by their injuries, as well as compensation for glasses, dentures and prostheses damaged in the crime.

There are no funds available to get back stolen property or money.

Claims for damages must be made within two years of the offense that must be reported to law enforcement, or no later than two years after the age of 18.

Mollick said large numbers of those she helps make domestic violence and other assaults.

“Unfortunately I see a lot of child abuse cases” said Kaufmann.

Gump said child neglect due to opioid-addicted parents is common.

She said even after the children, who were often raised by their grandparents, are removed from their homes, their parents’ actions still have an impact.

Gump said during last year’s pandemic, the three had continued to provide services and went to victims’ homes when they were needed and it was safe to do so.

She noted that the program is facing a financial challenge with a significant drop in funding from the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

The program benefited from vacant office space provided by local government agencies and the occasional local grants and fundraiser, but the VOCA fund covers salaries for the three who are its only employees, travel expenses and office supplies.

Mollick noted that it allows them to help victims while they wait for assistance from the state compensation fund, which can take up to six months.

Founded in 1984 with fines and legal fees from convicted criminals, the VOCA Fund has supported thousands of crime victim assistance programs across the United States, including shelters for abused women and child abuse treatment centers.

The fund’s size has fluctuated over the years, but has dropped to $ 5 million from $ 17 million last year.

The decrease has been attributed to an increase in out-of-court settlements, often linked to corporate fraud, for which the financial reimbursement has gone into general funds rather than the VOCA funds.

This summer, Congress passed a bill directing such monies into the VOCA fund and implementing other measures to restore the VOCA fund over the next several years.

To fill this gap, US sensors Shelley Moore Capito, RW.Va., and Joe Manchin, DW.Va. announced plans to allocate $ 8.5 million in federal Justice Department funding to provide grants for such programs.

The three VAP coordinators have made plans to seek the assistance of state lawmakers and local officials to ensure that such funding is available to maintain the same level of service.

The group has had a variety of fundraising drives in the past and currently sells books with hundreds of coupons to numerous local shops and attractions for $ 40 each.

It can be ordered from any of the three offices: (304) 737-2515 in Brooke County; (304) 564-4277 in Hancock County; and (304) 234-3896 in Ohio County.

Each of the three has been with the program for about 10 years and said that although they interact with people regularly during a very difficult and stressful period of their life, they are pleased to be able to help.

Michael Traubert, who has served on the program’s board since 1993, said: “All three are the most wonderful people I have ever been associated with.”

He added, “I think this is a great program, otherwise I wouldn’t have stayed with it all these years.”

Traubert said it provides an important service as crime is non-discriminatory and affects people of all ages and economic backgrounds. He found that, for example, anyone could be robbed or beaten by a drunk driver.

Mollick often said that the emotional effects of a crime go beyond the physical harm to the victim. “I find a lot of people who say I thought I could leave it behind.” She added that the work of the Victim Support Program is to help people cope with both levels.

“That’s what we’re here for – to help people get to the point where they see they were a victim, but now they’re a survivor.” said Mollick.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)

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