The Juvenile Crime Victims Assistance Program of Bell County Juvenile Probation was established in 1995.  The program is currently in it’s sixth year of grant funding by the Victim’s of Crimes Act offered through the Criminal Justice Division of the State Attorney General’s Office (CJD).  The mission of the Victim Assistance Program is to provide victims of juvenile crime, or close relatives of a deceased victim, information concerning their rights, justice support, advocacy and assistance filling compensation class. 

The program is currently staffed with one full-time coordinator who is   responsible for supervising volunteers and interns for a total of 120 hours per year.

              The victim Impact Statement (VIS) is a specialized victim service that allows a victim of crime the opportunity to relate the physical, emotional and financial impact the crime has had on them as well as their family.  A victim’s prompt return of the VIS means the sooner relevant information can be disseminated through the justice system and the better the odds for an appropriate disposition and recovering restitution.  In 2001, 1023 victims of juvenile crime received assistance through the program.  Through the implementation of a new notification and follow-up system, and the streamlining of the VIS in accordance with state standards, the rate of return in the last six months of 2001 was 31%.  This is an increase of 7% from the previous six months and up 10% from the previous year.

               During 2001, the Juvenile Crime Victims Assistance Program was audited by CJD for the first time since the program’s inception.  During the Performance 2000 (PK2000) audit, the Juvenile Crime Victims Assistance Program was recognized for its outstanding performance in meeting and maintaining state requirements.

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