CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield County Commissioners unanimously approved, 3-0, two state grant applications for the Victim Witness program at Tuesday’s regular board meeting.
The Rights and Services Act (RASA) and Victims of Juvenile Offenders (VOJO) grants were approved in the amount of $81,068 and $9,396, respectively after their presentation by Victim Witness Director Margie Rosselli. She said the RASA grant is a two-year application for 2013-14 and the VOJO grant is a six-month application for July 1 through Dec. 31.
Under the RASA grant, she said the Victim Witness staff services crime victims by offenders of all ages as outlined in the Crime Victim Act. These services include notifying victims of case events from the preliminary hearing date through the sentencing date of the offender.
She said the grant covers any post-sentencing services if motions or appeals arise in cases. Additionally, she said it allows victims to be accompanied to all court events and to be informed of their right to submit either a written or oral Victim Impact Statement for the court to consider in the case deposition. She said restitution information is provided to the court by the Victim Witness staff on behalf of the victims for inclusion in the offender’s sentencing.
Rosselli said the VOJO grant adds funding for the Victim Witness staff to provide services to victims of juvenile offenders as outlined in The Juvenile Act. She said the services are similar to those provided with the RASA funding, such as case notification and accompaniment to all court events. She said it also assists with the formation and delivery of Victim Impact Statements and restitution assessment and presentation to the court.
“No county dollars fund the Victim Witness program,” said Rosselli. Commissioner Joan Robinson-McMillen said the commissioners were approving the grant applications with the stipulation the Victim Witness program live within the grant funding provided to it.
Bill Bacharach of Clearfield also presented the commissioners with a Wounded Warrior Flag, which will be flown at the Clearfield County Courthouse.
He said the local Wounded Warrior program helps service members of the past, present and future that have or will return home from Afghanistan and Iraq. He said the flag was purchased with private funds and it’s an ongoing project to honor these service members.
“It’s going to remind everyone of the ultimate sacrifice made by these individuals,” said Commissioner Mark B. McCracken. “It will be a very fitting symbol for everyone in our community to look up upon.”
Veterans Affairs Director Betina Nicklas concurred.
“The flag is going to be a reminder that they’re not forgotten,” she said.
The Clearfield American Legion John Lewis Shade Post #6 is still collecting aluminum tabs. Anyone who wishes to donate aluminum tabs can drop them off at the Clearfield American Legion located at 210 South Second St., Bacharach said.
