Victim Services
The Victim Services Unit resides within the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy to promote services and policies that provide victims of crime: the right to be safe in their homes and in their communities; the right to have increased access to services; the right to possess the requisite tools to become self-sufficient in the aftermath of criminal activity; and the indispensable right to receive restitution. The unit is a centralized State level resource for crime victims which is comprised of the Criminal Injuries Compensation, the Sexual Assault Reimbursement Unit, and subject matter experts to address policy change to improve victim services across the State.
Victims’ Rights and Resources
The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy works with federal, State, and local stakeholders to increase the safety, self-sufficiency, and awareness of resources for victims of crime to foster its vision for a safer Maryland. This includes leveraging resources across State and local agencies to comprehensively address underserved populations.
Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board operates under § 11-801 of the Criminal Procedure Article as a remedial body designed to provide aid and assistance to victims of crime in Maryland. The board’s statutory authority shall be construed in all circumstances to remedy the harm to the victim and in favor of eligibility for the victim or claimant.
Sexual Assault Reimbursement Unit
The Sexual Assault Reimbursement Unit operates under the Code of Maryland Regulations 10.12.02, Rape and Sexual Offenses – Physician and Hospital Charges, to provide reimbursement for the physical examination, collection of evidence, and emergency treatment of individuals for injuries resulting from alleged rape, sexual assault, or child sexual assault. The unit aims to prevent individuals and their families from re-victimization by easing the reimbursement process associated with medical-forensic claims processing.
Human Trafficking
The Victim Services Unit coordinates human trafficking efforts across the State by: coordinating State agency policies and protocols to combat human trafficking; developing and delivering training to State and local law enforcement and government personnel; establishing and implementing data collection to capture the nature and scope of human trafficking in Maryland; and coordinating with resources and organizations in these efforts, including the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force.
Maryland State Board of Victim Services
The mission of the Maryland State Board of Victim Services is to ensure that all crime victims in the State of Maryland receive justice and are treated with dignity and compassion through comprehensive victim services. The Victim Services Unit collaborates with the board and other stakeholders in the victim services community to increase knowledge of victims’ rights in the community, and further support victims’ rights and accessibility to available services. The unit also coordinates with stakeholders to conduct outreach campaigns for victims’ rights through the expanded use of social media, public service announcements, and other public platforms to promote availability of services and awareness of issues impacting victims of crime.
Governor’s Family Violence Council
Executive Order 01.01.2012.05 established the Governor’s Family Violence Council to provide the Governor with timely and accurate information on family violence and recommendations to reduce and eliminate behaviors. The Victim Services Unit partners with the council and key stakeholders in the community to further the strategic efforts that support victims’ rights and increase availability of services. In doing this, and based on the identified needs of crime victims, the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy allocates funds to provide a positive impact that can be measured for success.
Sexual Assault Kit Tracking System
The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy partners with the Maryland Sexual Assault Evidence Policy and Funding Committee (SAEK Committee) and the Department of Information Technology (DoIT) to implement and maintain a tracking system, as required by the federal Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) grant program and § 11–926.1 of the Criminal Procedure Article.