connect networks to exchange knowledge, ideas and resources; provide legal and programmatic technical assistance to strengthen networks and their services; and document successes to improve the delivery of effective legal services now and in the future. Each site built networks composed of 9 to 31 organizations as well as a local research partner. Member organizations included, but were not limited to, legal agencies, criminal justice, victim services and government agencies. The results of the project evaluation indicate that the mutual legal assistance demonstration has achieved its objectives of building network structures capable of providing the necessary services to victims of crime. Ultimately, however, the project did not provide victims of crime with adequate legal advice as intended due to constraints such as program capacity limitations and lack of information exchange. Within the networks, coordination and sustainability have proven to be a challenge – a condition that is not uncommon for networks of programs launched with grants, the researchers noted. Evaluation efforts recommended ways to address these and other program gaps. “The participation of groups working with specific cultural communities is crucial. While these groups are not legal service providers, they are able to determine their clients` legal services needs. In addition, cultural ambassadors (people with relationships with specific communities) can help us provide holistic support.
The first 18-month phase of the project will include a needs analysis that will inventory services for victims of crime, identify the needs of victims of crime in civil legal services, and identify gaps in civil legal advice for victims of crime. The Center for Human Services Research at the University of Albany conducts the needs analysis of victims of crime. At the same time, Pro Bono Net is developing an understanding of current and potential applications of the technology to support the creation of an integrated services system, while the Empire Justice Center acts as project manager and oversees the work of the advisory board. This phase will result in the preparation of an implementation plan. OVC selected five jurisdictions to install network demonstrations in the field: the State of Alaska, Los Angeles County, Texas (72 counties in East Texas), Chicago (Cook County, IL) and the City of Denver. [1] Inter-agency cooperation is critical to the success of the network, as it helps create a shared sense of responsibility, ownership and accountability, the ICF evaluators reported. It can also reduce duplication of effort, encourage resource efficiency, and build network infrastructure. [vc_row] [vc_column] [vc_column_text] In February 2021, Amy Molloy Bogardus joined the Empire Justice Center as regional lawyer coordinator at the Crime Victims Legal Network, where she provides technical assistance, legal advice, and assistance to New York city attorneys who represent victims of crime in their civil justice needs. Prior to joining Empire Justice, Amy spent the last 14 years in the Fourth Division of the Appeal Division as Senior Counsel for the Court of Appeal; His responsibilities included researching and writing legal reports recommending the outcome of various civil, family and criminal appeals, as well as responding to public inquiries. Prior to joining the Appeals Division, Amy spent 5 and a half years as an Assistant Prosecutor in the Monroe County District Attorney`s Office, where she handled appeals, grand jury presentations, hearings, and trials in Municipal Court, Rochester City Court, County Court, and Supreme Court. Amy received her Bachelor of Arts from the College of the Holy Cross and graduated from the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of Washington D.C. Amy is admitted to the states of New York and Massachusetts.
[/vc_column_text] [/vc_column] [/vc_row] The research team found that leadership is essential to a project as complex as a network of legal services. Leaders, both in the network and in its constituent entities, must ensure that their organizations institutionalize change and drive a common vision. Politicians should set clear expectations. The vision of Victim Legal Aid Networks is that there is “no wrong door” for a victim seeking legal advice. If a victim calls an organization that is unable to meet a particular need, they will always be helped and put in touch with an organization that can help them. This project was completed in 2019. The project has generated many resources, including step-by-step guides and replication tools for others who want to create networks. NCVLI maintains the project pages in their original form to support local capacity building. The Legal Information Network of Colorado (LINC) is a collaborative model created to provide holistic, comprehensive and comprehensive legal assistance services to victims of crime in the Denver area, leveraging the existing network of victim services in the City and County of Denver.
The principles of the LINC model, derived from its comprehensive needs analysis, focus on: (1) connecting victims, victim service providers and the community; (2) provide knowledge accessible to the community; and (3) the introduction of a human component to guide victims. The LINC project model is based on the Denver Victim Services Network`s basic principle of “no wrong door” by offering victims multiple ways to enter LINC. The state of Montana covers 145,545 square miles of rural and incorporated counties. These rural county residents represent an average population of 6.8 people per hectare, compared to a national average of 87.4 people per hectare. The 2014 census estimates that there are currently 1,023,579 Montana residents. There are seven state-approved Indian reservations, covering more than 8,000,000 acres, in the state; Each is a sovereign nation with its own government and legal system. Combined with non-legal needs such as utilities, housing, transportation, safety and mental health, it is clear that advocacy requires collaboration, resource sharing and expertise.
