Restitution Enforcement/Victim Services Division

The Restitution Enforcement/Victim Services Division provides services that meet the material, emotional and informational needs of crime victims and witnesses. During 2009, these services reached more than 16,000 victims of crime in San Diego County.

Led by Division Chief Kim-Thoa Hoang and Victim Assistance Program Director Cindy Charlebois, the work done by staff in this division allows for faster and more complete recovery from the effects of crime. Services provided by the division include:

As experts on restitution issues, attorneys, paralegals, and the senior probation officer in the division either handled or provided direct assistance to District Attorney staff and victims in more than 6,000 cases affecting more than $50 million in restitution during 2009.

The Victim Assistance Program offers comprehensive services to victims of all types of crimes pursuant to California and federal law. Mandatory and optional services are provided to crime victims even when a suspect is not apprehended or prosecuted. The program seeks to reduce the trauma and insensitivity that victims may experience following the aftermath of a crime.

Victim Assistance Program
Activity CY 2009
Victims Assisted 14,567
Emergency Assists 536
Crisis Interventions 1,801
Resource & Referrals 13,043
Court Escort/Support 1,014
Follow-up/Counseling 2,607
Case Status/Dispositions 6,667
Victim Claims Submitted 1,145
Restitution Claims Unit
Claims Processed 1,787
Bills Processed 4,266
Restitution Paid from State Fund $2,292,880
Restitution Recovery Unit
Restitution Fines $511,134
Restitution Orders to State 170
Total Ordered to State $1,100,304
Restitution Orders to Victims 1,324
Total Ordered to Victims $10,819,862

Notable accomplishments in 2009 include the following:

The Victim Assistance Program partnered with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department as participants in the VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) Program. VINE is a service provided at no cost to the public for the purpose of providing notification when certain changes occur to an inmate’s custody status. User’s of the Program are able to register an email or telephone number in order to be notified when an inmate is released, is pending release or when transferred to a facility in another county or state prison. The VINE system serves as a tangible tool for crime victims and their personal safety and emotional well being. It offers the victims a sense of empowerment.

The Victim Assistance Program has incorporated a facility support dog on staff for crime victims coming to court to testify. Dory the dog is custom trained to support the emotional needs of victims of all ages who testify in child abuse, homicides, elder abuse cases and more. Dory is introduced to the victim and stays with the victim during interviews with law enforcement and while testifying on the witness stand.

The Victim Assistance Program has implemented a 911 Cell Phone Bank on site. These cell phones which have been donated by the community and programmed only to call 911, are distributed to crime victims by victim advocates.

Cynthia Charlebois, the Director of the Victim Assistance Program, was selected by the National Organization of Victim Assistance (NOVA) to sit on NOVA’s National Identity Theft Task Force which addresses critical issues of identity theft crimes. By the assembly of leaders with a variety of backgrounds from law enforcement and victim advocacy, this team helps to spread an educational message to consumers about what they can do to protect themselves from becoming a victim.

Victim Advocate Elizabeth Lee was awarded the prestigious Andrea O’Donnell Award this year. This award is to recognize an outstanding champion for victims of domestic violence. One who acts with honor, kindness, warmth, glowing energy, and dedication to activism that Andrea possessed, and that is embodied in the advocates today.

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