Texas Department of Criminal Justice Victim Services Division Annual Report: 2011 Page: 4
This report is part of the collection entitled: Texas State Publications and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
m'U 4vai'v cavvd' IvUtcry
The mission
of the Victim
Services
Division is
to provide
a central
mechanism
for crime
victims to
participate in
the criminal
justice system.
The Victim Services Section was estab-
lished in the Parole Division of the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) in
1993. The creation of the Victim Services
Section was a result of crime victims re-
questing services, the foresight of staff
and the passage of crime victims' rights
by the Texas Legislature.
The initial responsibility of the section
was to notify crime victims, whose offend-
ers were incarcerated within the TDCJ
Correctional Institutions Division, of theoffender's status. The number and types
of notifications, some of which are legis-
latively mandated, have grown through-
out the years to over 8o notifications for
crime victims, surviving family members,
witnesses who testified at trial and con-
cerned citizens. In addition to the written
notification services, a toll-free hotline
and automated telephone services are
also provided by the VSD.
The Victim Offender Mediation/Dialogue
(VOM/D) program was formed within
the section in 1993 after a crime victim
requested this service. In 2001, the 77th
Legislature passed legislation providing
victims of violent crime the opportunity
to request a meeting with offender(s)
through this program.
The Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse
(TxCVC) was transferred from the Office
of the Governor to the Victim Services
Section in 1996. The TxCVC serves as a
central source of information for crime
victims, victim advocates and criminal jus-
tice professionals and is tasked by legisla-
tive mandates regarding the Victim Im-
pact Statement (VIS) and other services.
In November 1997, the Victim Services
Section was elevated to division status, al-
lowing the new division to more efficiently
provide services.
The Victim Impact Panel Program (VIPP)
was established within the VSD in 1999 to
provide victims of crime the opportunity
to share details of their victimization with
criminal justice professionals, students
and offenders while also heightening vic-
tim sensitivity and awareness.Since the section's establishment, VSD
staff has provided trainings on victim is-
sues. In 2004, the training section was
reorganized and renamed the Victim Sup-
port and Community Education (VSCE)
program. The program's role was en-
hanced by providing prison tours and as-
sisting crime victims and support persons
during the execution process.
In 2009, the Special Projects position was
established to increase awareness, evalu-
ate and enhance the VSD's services and
programs through research and collabo-
ration with internal and external entities.
This position also serves as a point of con-
tact for criminal justice professionals and
victim advocates, and provides direct sup-
port and services to crime victims.
As of August 31, 2011, the VSD consists
of 30 full-time employees and began the
process of reorganizing the division. This
reorganization will allow the VSD to con-
tinue to provide services that provide
crime victims with an opportunity to ex-
ercise their constitutional and statutory
rights.
The VSD continues to support the mission
of the TDCJ to provide public safety, pro-
mote positive change in offender behav-
ior, reintegrate offenders into society, and
assist victims of crime.TDCJ VSD A nvu' tbeport
4
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This report can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Report.
Texas. Victim Services Division. Texas Department of Criminal Justice Victim Services Division Annual Report: 2011, report, 2011~; Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth624578/m1/4/?q=%222010-09-01%2F2011-08-31%22: accessed June 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.