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Public Policy Update
 

The National Center for Victims of Crime e-mails a Public Policy Update to our members every two weeks.  We also post excerpts here on our Web site, as a service to crime victims and policymakers nationwide.

November 19, 2009

National Center for Victims of Crime
News and Policy Update

Contents:

1. Federal Update:
a.
Laurie Robinson confirmed as Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Justice Programs.
b. Senate approves CJS appropriations bill.
c. Senate Judiciary Committee approves Human Rights Enforcement Act of 2009.
d. House passes Cruise Vessel Safety legislation.

2. State Update:
Wisconsin governor signs bills to protect children.

3. New Resources:
a.
Evaluation finds that Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative significantly improves student safety.
b. Study links childhood physical abuse to arthritis.


Now available online: Materials from the National Training Conference on Responding to Crime Victims with Disabilities. Copies of handouts and presentations from workshops at this recent training conference are now available for download from the National Center's Web site. Topics include "Working with Victims of Crime Experiencing Mental Illness or Psychiatric Disabilities," "Recognizing the Forensic Needs of Survivors with Disabilities," and "The ABC of Autism: Abuse, Behavior, and Communication." Visit www.ncvc.org/ncvc/main.aspx?dbID=DB_RespondingtoCrimeVictimswithDisabilities168.
 

1. Federal Update:

a.
Laurie Robinson confirmed as Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Justice Programs.

On November 5, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Laurie Robinson for Assistant Attorney General (AAG). Ms. Robinson was sworn in as AAG in the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs (OJP) on Monday, November 9. OJP provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims, and has five component bureaus: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; and the Office for Victims of Crime. Ms. Robinson previously served as the AAG of OJP from 1993 to February 2000.

b. Senate approves CJS appropriations bill.

On November 5, the full Senate passed the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations bill for FY 2010. The bill would set the VOCA cap for 2010 at $705 million. Programs authorized under the Violence Against Women Act would largely be funded at FY 2009 levels. A few programs would receive increases under the Senate bill: STOP funding would increase from $169.7 million to $180 million; funding for civil legal assistance for victims would increase from $37 million to $45 million; and funding for the Sexual Assault Services Program would increase from $11 million to $15 million. The bill will now proceed to conference to reconcile differences with the House version.

c. Senate Judiciary Committee approves Human Rights Enforcement Act of 2009.

On November 6, the Senate Judiciary Committee gave its approval to the Human Rights Enforcement Act of 2009. S. 1472, introduced by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tom Coburn (R-OK), would establish a section within the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice to enforce human rights laws. Under S. 1472, the Criminal Division will be authorized to take appropriate legal action against individuals suspected of violating human rights laws related to genocide, torture, war crimes, or the use or recruitment of child soldiers. The bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration. d. House passes Cruise Vessel Safety legislation. On November 17, the House of Representatives approved the Cruise Vessel Safety and Security Act. The cruise vessel bill would require ships to meet certain safety requirements, report certain crimes and incidents, maintain equipment and materials to perform forensic sexual assault exams, and ensure that at least one crewmember is certified in crime scene investigation. The bill would also authorize the U.S. Coast Guard personnel to act as public safety officers in securing and collecting evidence of crime on cruise ships. In addition to this action, the House had previously incorporated the cruise legislation into the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act, which was passed by the House last month. Read the floor statements of Representatives Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Joseph LoBiondo (R-NJ), Doris Matsui (D-CA), John Shadegg (R-AZ), Laura Richardson (D-CA), Ted Poe (R-TX), James Oberstar (D-MN), Mark Souder (R-IN), and Harry Mitchell (D-AZ) as printed in the Congressional Record, starting at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2009_record&page=H13023&position=all. Statements are found on pages H13023 - H13026.

2. State Update: Wisconsin governor signs bills to protect children.

On November 13, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle signed two bills to protect children. One bill strengthens the requirements for publicly sharing information relating to child abuse or neglect. The Department of Children and Families is now required to publicly release information in certain cases, including where a child has died or been placed in serious or critical condition as a result of suspected abuse or neglect, or in cases that involve aggravating circumstances such as significant violence, multiple victims, the use or inappropriate or cruel restraints, or exposure of a child to a dangerous situation. The law also requires disclosure of cases in which a child who has been placed outside the home under court order has committed suicide. Previous law permitted, but did not require, the public release of such information.

The second bill increases the scope of criminal acts that permanently bar individuals from becoming childcare providers. Such criminal acts include crimes against children, most felonies, and lying on a background check. It would also require childcare providers to undergo a criminal background check every three months.

The remaining portion of the News and Policy Update is available only to National Center members.   

To learn more about membership in the National Center for Victims of Crime, visit
www.ncvc.org/membership.
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