Victim Services
Every Year…
· 37 million Americans become victims
· $450 billion is lost to personal crime
· $25 billion is spent by the criminal justice system
What is I.O.V.A.?
If you have been a victim, know someone who has been or
are concerned about victim rights, the Iowa Organization for Victim Assistance
(I.O.V.A) is here for you. I.O.V.A. is an organization of crime victims, victim
advocates, concerned citizens and concerned agencies. Established in 1983,
I.O.V.A. works to address victim issues in Iowa.
I.O.V.A. accomplishes this purpose by:
· Advocating for short and long term changes in the
criminal and civil justice system to better meet the needs of victims, survivors
and witnesses.
· Educating professionals to provide more sensitive
services to victims, survivors and witnesses.
· Advocating for the development and continued improvement
of victim services in Iowa.
· Providing forums for crime victims and witnesses to
voice their concerns and grievances.
The Right to Victim Restitution:
~
At sentencing, an offender can be ordered to pay victim restitution. Restitution
means payment of crime related expenses to a victim by an offender.
~ Victims must submit all out-of-pocket expenses to the
county attorney's office and the county attorney shall request that the offender
be ordered to pay restitution.
~ Since 1997, judges are required to order offenders to
pay $150,000 to the estate of a victim killed as a result of a crime. This
amount is to be ordered beyond the restitution ordered to victims for
out-of-pocket expenses.
The Right to a Victim Impact Statement:
At the time of sentencing, a victim or survivor has the right to submit a victim
impact statement to the court. This statement may be presented in person or in
writing.
~ The statement affords victims the opportunity to
publicly state the effects of crime on themselves and their families. This
statement is not offered to determine guilt.
~ A victim may seek the assistance of advocates or
survivors when preparing and presenting the victim impact statement.
Statewide Victim Resources
Iowa Attorney General's Office
Crime Victim Assistance Division
100 Court Avenue, Suite 100
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
(800) 373-5044
https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-crime-victims/victim-services-support-program/
Iowa Coalition Against
Sexual Assault (Iowa CASA)
2603 Bell Avenue #102
Des Moines, Iowa 50321
(515) 244-7424
(800) 284-7821
https://www.iowacasa.org
Iowa Coalition Against
Domestic Violence (ICADV)
2603 Bell Avenue #102
Des Moines, Iowa 50321
(515) 244-8028
(800) 942-0333
www.icadv.org
Iowa Statewide Domestic
Abuse Hotline
(800) 942-0333
Iowa Statewide Sexual
Abuse Hotline
(800) 284-7821
Iowa Department of
Human Services
Child & Dependant Adult Abuse
24-Hour Hotline
(800) 362-2178 |