NE Valley Times

The audit of Victim Services was part of the City Council-approved fiscal year 2022/23 Audit Plan. The main goal was to evaluate the operations related to resources, notifications, referrals, and advocacy assistance provided by Victim Services. During the planning phase, the focus shifted specifically to reviewing the victim notification process due to state laws protecting advocate-victim communication and certain system limitations.

The audit revealed that advocates generally informed victims about their legal rights and court proceedings when requested. However, some exceptions were identified where missing information could delay these notifications. An analysis of victim services cases and a review of 24 selected cases (14 chosen judgmentally and 10 randomly) showed that missing victim forms or other crucial information might hinder timely notifications from the department.

Out of the 24 cases reviewed, eight experienced delays in initial notifications, with files lacking pre-conviction rights forms from Police. Requiring victim signatures on these forms could further delay invoking rights. Incorrect or outdated contact information affected approximately 20% of cases. In one instance, several court proceeding notifications were not sent after a victim invoked their rights. Enhancing data captured by the information system could facilitate quality review and reporting.

Moreover, implementing system controls and automation may improve data reliability and privacy while providing opportunities to streamline the notification process.