Trainers:

• Suzanne Elwell, Director of Crime Victim Justice Unit, Office of Justice Programs
• Danielle Kitto, Claims Manager, Crime Victims Reparations Board, Office of Justice Programs

Financial Assistance for Victims of Crime

This workshop will provide information about financial assistance available to crime victims from the Crime Victims Reparations Board.  It will outline the eligibility requirements for the program as defined in Minnesota statutes and rules, as well as the appeal rights available to applicants who are dissatisfied with the Board’s actions on their claim.  The presenter will discuss the benefits available to crime victims, the rate limits and caps on the benefits, and the process for applying, emphasizing the key role that advocacy and legal service providers play in informing victims about reparations and assisting them in the application process.

Objectives

1)      Gain an understanding of the eligibility requirements victims must meet to receive benefits from the Board.
2)      Learn who should apply for benefits, what benefits are available, and the limits and caps to the benefits.
3)      Understand how to connect victims to the reparations program and how to provide assistance with completing the application.

Crime Victim Rights in Minnesota

This workshop will review basic crime victim rights in Minnesota, outlining the primary categories of victim rights found under Minnesota statutes and identifying the responsibilities of criminal justice professionals in upholding those rights. The presenter will discuss how representation of a crime victim by a civil attorney can impact the provision of crime victim rights and explain steps attorneys can take to ensure that the victim is fully able to participate in the prosecution process.

Objectives

Participants will:
1)      Gain an understanding of the scope of victim rights in Minnesota and the obligations of criminal justice professionals to uphold those rights under the crime victim rights statutory scheme.
2)      Learn about the most common complaints from crime victims about statutory rights violations and treatment by criminal justice professionals.
3)      Understand the challenges with the provision of crime victim rights with represented victims and identify the key role that civil attorneys play in ensuring that crime victim rights are upheld throughout a criminal prosecution.

3.00 hours of Standard MN CLE credit will be applied for.

For more information and to register, click the following link:  http://www.mnlegalservices.org/upcoming-trainings/crime-victim-training-reparations-rights-and-resources.