Law Enforcement and Victim Services (LEVS) Branches

• Drugs and Counter Drug Procurement Branch
• Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence and Victim Witness Branch
• Victim Justice and Children's Branch

Law Enforcement and Victim Services (LEVS) --> Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence and Victim Witness Branch
Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence & Victim Witness Branch

Two sections of this Branch focus on assault crimes against women. The Sexual Assault program is the oldest program in the victim services side of the organization beginning in the late 1970’s and helped to establish crisis centers throughout the state. The Domestic Violence Shelters throughout California provide emergency shelter and education of women and their rights to be free of physical and mental abuse and have been responsible for the awakening of a generation of women recognizing their own personal strengths and their ability to overcome abuse and stand up to their offender. Lastly, the Victim/Witness Section supports California’s 58 Victim/Witness Assistance Programs which provide legislatively mandated services to all victims of crime. Founded in the early 1980’s, the first Victim/Witness Centers worked tirelessly to establish the successful Victims Bill of Rights in 1982.

Sexual Assault Section

The Sexual Assault Section houses four programs that include such services as crisis counseling, education and/or training on issues affecting a variety of crime victims, and substantial support of 84 Rape Crisis Centers. These programs are supported State General Funds, State Victim Witness Assistance, federal Victims of Crime Act, and federal Violence Against Women Act funds totaling approximately $15.4 million for FY2008/09

Domestic Violence Section

The Domestic Violence (DV) Section currently provides support for 4 programs and 98 projects statewide. These programs include an array of services for DV victims, focusing on prevention, counseling, and crises intervention as well as education and training. Funds are derived from State General Funds, and Federal Victims of Crime Act, Family Violence Prevention Program, and the Violence Against Women Act funds totaling $17.4 million for FY 2008/09.

Victim Witness Section

The Victim Witness Section funds 58 Victim/Witness Assistance Centers legislatively mandated pursuant to Penal Code §13835 to provide services to meet the needs of both victims and witnesses of crime through the funding of local comprehensive centers for victim and witness assistance. The Victim/Witness Section currently funds 9 programs and 111 grants. Each program fosters a comprehensive approach to serving victims of crime and mandates collaboration by way of Memorandums of Understanding (MOU’s). Current programs include: Victim/Witness Assistance; Elder Abuse Advocacy and Outreach, Special Emphasis, Special Victims, Office of the Attorney General, Victim Notification; McGeorge School of Law, Victims Legal Resource Center; Department of Corrections, Victim Services Communication Program/ Victim Services Enhancement; and Victim Services Training Institute. The diversity of the 111 grants currently funded includes state agencies, district attorney’s, law enforcement, probation, and community-based organizations. These programs total $22,820,016 in state and federal funding.

The Community Crisis Response Initiative was developed and implemented in response to large scale community crisis victimization incidents such as the Oklahoma City bombing, Columbine school shootings and the September 11th incident. This comprehensive plan is designed to improve systemic and community response, enhancement of existing services and the reduction of trauma experienced by victims. Currently, California has over 450 trained community crisis responders in the 58 Victim/Witness Assistance Centers and other allied agencies.

We are proud to be a part of a team that works for such talented and committed grant recipients that tirelessly serve all crime victims in California.