September 08, 2017
September Meeting Minutes
• Introductions
• Updates/events
• Speaker: Dennis Mitchell from NYS Crime Victims Board, Matt Urban Center
o The NYS Office of Victim Services (OVS) funds their program. No taxpayer dollars
o Eligibility criteria
 18 years old and under or 60 years old and over
• If victim is between those guidelines, they must be injured or have a disability to qualify for their services
• Parents can fill out a claim form for their children but the children have to be listed on the police report in order to qualify for OVS
 Police report must be completed
 Innocent victim of a crime
• OVS reaches out to the police detective to determine innocence
o The Matt Urban Center’s program serves victims of crime in zip codes 14212, 14211, 14215, and 14206
 Matt Urban Center’s program reviews the reports in C District and sends information about their program to the victims of crime
 The Buffalo Northwest Community Center serves North and West Communities and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office serves all inner city and suburbs
 Each program is assigned to zip codes to avoid duplication of services
o They have 4 full time advocates and 1 part time advocate
o Assistance provided by the Matt Urban Center’s program
 Assistance with local police
 Assistance will filling out a claim form for OVS either online or on paper
• Advocates can make home and hospital visits
 Assistance and escort to criminal court proceedings
 Assistance with drafting a victim impact statement
 Supportive counseling
 Follow-up
 Referrals to community programs and services
o Compensation benefits if claim is approved by OVS
 Compensation for medical and counseling expenses
 Compensation for essential lost property (essential is very specifically defined)
 Lost wages or other support
 Burial and related expenses
 Occupational and vocational rehabilitation
o A victim technically has 1 year to file a claim but can file after that time period if they can show good reason for being late. For example, they didn’t know about the service
o Seeing a rise in contractor scams, phone scams, and romance scams targeting men
•Update on proposed legislation
o Is there an interest to reinvigorate the legislation committee in the Council? Let Sarah Duval or Kathy Kanaley know if you are interested
o There is currently no crime for “elder abuse†in NYS
• Next meeting is Tuesday October 3, 2017 at 9 am at 100 James E. Casey Drive
