Indiana Criminal Justice Institute - Quarterly Email-newsletter

SUPPORTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which began in 1981 to help connect victims to safety planning and domestic violence programs. Part of ICJI’s mission is to support victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, whether it’s indirectly through a grant opportunity or directly through financial reimbursement. As the administrator of Indiana’s Victims Compensation Program, ICJI works to assist victims, or their dependents, with certain costs incurred as a direct result of a violent crime. Those costs include assistance for medical expenses, funeral expenses, lost wages, loss of support or outpatient mental health counseling, to name a few. Although certain eligibility requirements must be met to qualify, the program continues to be an important support mechanism for victims year-round.

KEEPING STUDENTS SAFE BY IMPROVING SCHOOL BUS STOP SAFETY

All year long, ICJI’s Traffic Safety Division is working hard to prevent injuries and fatalities on Indiana roadways. Sometimes that means hosting an educational, interactive class for young drivers while at other times it’s partnering with local law enforcement to crack down on impaired driving during Labor Day weekend. One example that recently wrapped up is the Stop Arm Violation Enforcement (SAVE) program, which was developed by CJI and launched by Governor Eric Holcomb last year. The goal of the program is to provide safe transportation routes for students going to and from school in Indiana. Grants are awarded to law enforcement agencies for the purpose of conducting high visibility patrols, specifically designed to target stop arm violations. To increase the effectiveness of the patrols, law enforcement officers partner with school transportation officials and bus drivers to identify areas where the highest number of violations occur.

 

SHORING UP INDIANA’S LOCAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNCILS

Through the Behavioral Health Division, ICJI works in partnership with state and local agencies to reduce the incidence and prevalence of substance abuse and addiction among children and adults in Indiana. Working toward this goal, the division recently unveiled a new Comprehensive Community Plan and Policy and Procedures Manual to support Indiana’s 92 Local Coordinating Councils, or LCCs. These councils are countywide citizen bodies that plan, monitor and evaluate comprehensive local alcohol and drug abuse plans by identifying community drug problems, collaborate community strategies and monitor anti-drug activities at the local level. They are responsible for carrying out substance abuse initiatives in their communities, and while every county is organized differently, they remain the first line of defense against combating drug abuse at the local level. Ultimately, both the manual and the new community plan will improve the overall effectiveness of Indiana’s LCCs, as they continue to combat substance abuse at the local level.

DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER

ICJI recently concluded its annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign, which included more than 200 participating Indiana law enforcement agencies this year. Click the video below to watch some of the advertising that was placed by the agency during the mobilization.

WEBINAR: Strengthening your VOCA Skills Training (WebEx)
Audience: Current VOCA subgrantees
When: September 23, 2020, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Are you a current VOCA subgrantee and want to improve your skills? Attend this training hosted by ICJI’s Victim Services Division.

Join the meeting
Access code: 172 392 5742
Meeting password: ICJI2020VOCA

Preparing for OVW's Special Condition on Workplace-Related Sexual Misconduct and Domestic/Dating Violence
Audience: Office on Violence Against Women grant recipients
When: September 24, 2020, 2:00 p.m. (ET)

A new special condition was just announced by Office on Violence Against Women requiring all recipients of OVW grants to have a policy that addresses workplace-related incidents of sexual misconduct, including stalking, domestic violence, and dating violence.  The National Resource Center: Workplaces Respond to Domestic and Sexual Violence has developed a toolkit to help grantees develop these policies, as well as a webinar that will be held on September 24. Information about the new special condition can be found here.

Webinar Registration

WEBINAR: VOCA New Subgrantee Training (Microsoft Teams)
Audience: NEW VOCA subgrantees
When: September 25, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. to noon

For new VOCA subgrantees, ICJI is hosting a training to help you, not only better understand the program, but also what’s required.

Join the meeting

TRAINING: At-Scene Traffic Crash/Traffic Homicide Investigation (80 hours)
Audience: Law enforcement and private traffic crash investigators, claims adjusters, engineers, attorneys, safety officers, military investigative personnel, animators and graphic designers
When: October 26, 2020 – November 6, 2020, 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Where: 19317 Westmore Ln, Westfield, IN 46074

First week check-in October 25, check out October 30
Second week check-in November 1, check out November 6

As the first in a series of three courses, this course will arm you with the necessary skills to conduct a thorough traffic crash investigation and properly document your findings for courtroom presentation. We will show you the proper procedures for measuring, scale diagramming, and photographing in order to record physical evidence and essential facts available only at the crash scene. You will learn the fundamentals of mathematics, physics and engineering as they pertain to crash investigations and the proper mathematical equations to apply for the type of crash being investigated. Finally, you will learn to analyze the information to determine what happened before, during, and after the collision. IPTM’s At-Scene Traffic Crash/Traffic Homicide Investigation will prepare you for a variety of advanced and specialty courses in traffic crash investigations. Course, hotel room and state rate per diem are paid for through a grant by ICJI in conjunction with Purdue University.

Registration forms are due by October 10.

Send completed registration forms to IACAI board member Tim Spencer at tspencer@stjoepros.org. There are 30 seats at a first come first serve basis for Indiana law enforcement officers. There will be a waiting list for any cancellations. Any questions contact IACAI board member Bob Wilcox at rwilcox1609@gmail.com or 260-416-8872.