Justice League

THE MISSION OF OHIO CRIME VICTIM JUSTICE CENTER (OCVJC), IS TO ENSURE THAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY RIGHTS OF OHIO CRIME VICTIMS ARE PROTECTED AND ENFORCED IN STATE AND FEDERAL JURISDICTIONS IN ALL 88 OHIO COUNTIES. TO FULFILL THIS MISSION, OCVJC PROVIDES FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND ADVOCACY TO OHIO CRIME VICTIMS; VICTIMS' RIGHTS TRAINING TO JUSTICE SYSTEM OFFICIALS, ALLIED PROFESSIONALS, AND THE PUBLIC; TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ADVOCATES AND OTHER ALLIED PROFESSIONALS; AND PROMOTES PUBLIC AWARENESS OF VICTIMS' RIGHTS.

VOCA-OHIO CRIME VICTIM JUSTICE CENTER (OCVJC), PROVIDED FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND ADVOCACY TO CRIME VICTIMS DURING THE 2021 CALENDAR YEAR. REPRESENTATION AND ADVOCACY INCLUDED SECURING JUSTICE AND DUE PROCESS FOR VICTIMS THROUGHOUT THE CRIMINAL AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS IN A MANNER NO LESS VIGOROUS THAN THE RIGHTS AFFORDED TO THE ACCUSED. PROTECTING CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY: ENSURING THAT VICTIMS ARE TREATED WITH FAIRNESS AND RESPECT AND BY ENSURING THE VICTIM'S SAFETY, DIGNITY AND PRIVACY; ENSURING VICTIMS' RIGHTS TO REASONABLE AND TIMELY NOTICE OF ALL PUBLIC PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OR DELINQUENT ACT AGAINST THEM; ENSURING VICTIMS' RIGHTS TO BE PRESENT AT ALL SUCH PROCEEDINGS; ENSURING VICTIMS' RIGHTS TO CONFER WITH THE ATTORNEY FOR THE GOVERNMENT; ENSURING VICTIMS' RIGHTS TO PROCEEDINGS FREE FROM UNREASONABLE DELAY; ENSURING VICTIMS' RIGHTS TO BE HEARD IN ANY PUBLIC PROCEEDING INVOLVING RELEASE, PLEA, SENTENCING, DISPOSITION, OR PAROLE, OR IN ANY PUBLIC PROCEEDING IN WHICH A RIGHT OF THE VICTIM IS IMPLICATED; ENSURING THAT VICTIMS HAVE REASONABLE PROTECTION FROM THE ACCUSED OR ANY PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE ACCUSED; ENSURING THAT VICTIMS RECEIVE REASONABLE NOTICE OF ANY RELEASE OR ESCAPE OF THE ACCUSED, EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 10 OF ARTICLE I OF THIS CONSTITUTION; ENSURING VICTIMS' RIGHTS TO REFUSE AN INTERVIEW, DEPOSITION, OR OTHER DISCOVERY REQUEST MADE BY THE ACCUSED OR ANY PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE ACCUSED; ENSURING FULL AND TIMELY RESTITUTION FROM THE PERSON WHO COMMITTED THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OR DELINQUENT ACT AGAINST THEM. THE SUCCESSFUL LITIGATION TO PROTECT AND ENFORCE VICTIMS' RIGHTS NOT ONLY PROVIDES MUCH NEEDED ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OCVJC SERVES, BUT ESTABLISHES COMPELLING AND SUBSTANTIVE CASE LAW THAT HAS A PROFOUND EFFECT ON THE ENFORCEMENT OF CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS LAWS. OCVJC PROVIDED VICTIMS RIGHTS TRAINING TO HOSPITAL PERSONNEL, ADVOCATES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROSECUTORS, COURTS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS, RAPE CRISIS CENTERS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND SCHOOLS. OCVJC INCENTIVIZED ATTORNEY, JUDGE, AND SOCIAL WORKER PARTICIPATION BY OFFERING THESE PROGRAMS FREE OF CHARGE AND PROVIDING CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION CREDIT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS.

NCVLI/LAWO GRANT-THROUGH ITS NCVLI GRANT PROGRAM (INCLUDING ITS SUB-GRANT TO LEGAL AID OF WESTERN OHIO), OHIO CRIME VICTIM JUSTICE CENTER (OCVJC), PROVIDED FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND ADVOCACY TO CRIME VICTIMS DURING THE 2021 CALENDAR YEAR UNDER THE NCVLI RISE OVC GRANT. REPRESENTATION AND ADVOCACY INCLUDED SECURING JUSTICE AND DUE PROCESS FOR VICTIMS THROUGHOUT THE CRIMINAL AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS IN A MANNER NO LESS VIGOROUS THAN THE RIGHTS AFFORDED TO THE ACCUSED. PROTECTING CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY: ENSURING THAT VICTIMS ARE TREATED WITH FAIRNESS AND RESPECT AND BY ENSURING THE VICTIM'S SAFETY, DIGNITY AND PRIVACY; ENSURING VICTIMS' RIGHTS TO REASONABLE AND TIMELY NOTICE OF ALL PUBLIC PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OR DELINQUENT ACT AGAINST THEM; ENSURING VICTIMS' RIGHTS TO BE PRESENT AT ALL SUCH PROCEEDINGS; ENSURING VICTIMS' RIGHTS TO CONFER WITH THE ATTORNEY FOR THE GOVERNMENT; ENSURING VICTIMS' RIGHTS TO PROCEEDINGS FREE FROM UNREASONABLE DELAY; ENSURING VICTIMS' RIGHTS TO BE HEARD IN ANY PUBLIC PROCEEDING INVOLVING RELEASE, PLEA, SENTENCING, DISPOSITION, OR PAROLE, OR IN ANY PUBLIC PROCEEDING IN WHICH A RIGHT OF THE VICTIM IS IMPLICATED; ENSURING THAT VICTIMS HAVE REASONABLE PROTECTION FROM THE ACCUSED OR ANY PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE ACCUSED; ENSURING THAT VICTIMS RECEIVE REASONABLE NOTICE OF ANY RELEASE OR ESCAPE OF THE ACCUSED, EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 10 OF ARTICLE I OF THIS CONSTITUTION; ENSURING VICTIMS' RIGHTS TO REFUSE AN INTERVIEW, DEPOSITION, OR OTHER DISCOVERY REQUEST MADE BY THE ACCUSED OR ANY PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE ACCUSED; ENSURING FULL AND TIMELY RESTITUTION FROM THE PERSON WHO COMMITTED THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OR DELINQUENT ACT AGAINST THEM. THE SUCCESSFUL LITIGATION TO PROTECT AND ENFORCE VICTIMS' RIGHTS NOT ONLY PROVIDES MUCH NEEDED ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OCVJC SERVES, BUT ESTABLISHES COMPELLING AND SUBSTANTIVE CASE LAW THAT HAS A PROFOUND EFFECT ON THE ENFORCEMENT OF CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS LAWS.

JAG/COVID-19 CASE BACKLOG GRANT-THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC CAUSED MANY COURTS TO CLOSE DURING 2020. THE NEED FOR SERVICES SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED WHEN COURTS REOPENED DUE TO AN INFLUX OF NEW CASES AND BACKLOG OF OLD CASES CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC. OHIO CRIME VICTIM JUSTICE CENTER PROVIDED NO COST LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND ADVOCACY TO OHIO STATE AND FEDERAL CRIME VICTIMS TO SECURE JUSTICE AND DUE PROCESS FOR CRIME VICTIMS THROUGHOUT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS. PROTECTING CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY: ENSURING THAT VICTIMS ARE TREATED WITH FAIRNESS AND RESPECT AND BY ENSURING THE VICTIM'S SAFETY, DIGNITY AND PRIVACY; ENSURING VICTIMS' RIGHTS TO REASONABLE AND TIMELY NOTICE OF ALL PUBLIC PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OR DELINQUENT ACT AGAINST THEM; ENSURING VICTIMS' RIGHTS TO BE PRESENT AT ALL SUCH PROCEEDINGS; ENSURING VICTIMS' RIGHTS TO CONFER WITH THE ATTORNEY FOR THE GOVERNMENT; ENSURING VICTIMS' RIGHTS TO PROCEEDINGS FREE FROM UNREASONABLE DELAY; ENSURING VICTIMS' RIGHTS TO BE HEARD IN ANY PUBLIC PROCEEDING INVOLVING RELEASE, PLEA, SENTENCING, DISPOSITION, OR PAROLE, OR IN ANY PUBLIC PROCEEDING IN WHICH A RIGHT OF THE VICTIM IS IMPLICATED; ENSURING THAT VICTIMS HAVE REASONABLE PROTECTION FROM THE ACCUSED OR ANY PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE ACCUSED; ENSURING THAT VICTIMS RECEIVE REASONABLE NOTICE OF ANY RELEASE OR ESCAPE OF THE ACCUSED, EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 10 OF ARTICLE I OF THIS CONSTITUTION; ENSURING VICTIMS' RIGHTS TO FULL AND TIMELY RESTITUTION. THE SUCCESSFUL LITIGATION TO PROTECT AND ENFORCE VICTIMS' RIGHTS NOT ONLY PROVIDES MUCH NEEDED ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIM/SURVIVORS THAT OCVJC SERVES, BUT ESTABLISHED COMPELLING AND SUBSTANTIVE CASE LAW THAT HAS A PROFOUND EFFECT ON THE ENFORCEMENT OF CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS LAWS.

OTHER EXPENSES--TO ESTABLISH FORMAL AND INFORMAL RELATIONSHIPS OR COLLABORATIONS WITH ALL ORGANIZATIONS OR AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO CRIME VICTIMS OR REFER CRIME VICTIMS TO SERVICES. THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES INCLUDE: HOSPITALS, ADVOCATES, SOCIAL WORKERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, PROSECUTOR'S OFFICES, COURTS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS, RAPE CRISIS CENTERS, VARIOUS COMMUNITY GROUPS AND SCHOOLS, AND OTHER GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO REFER CRIME VICTIMS OR SERVICES.