PRESENT: Chair: Ryan. Members: Carsky, Kaplowitz, Mosiello, Swanson, and Wishnie. Staff: Hoch, Vita.

ALSO PRESENT: Joseph Miranda, Deputy Commissioner of Corrections; George Hosey, Chair-CABC; Representatives of the Victims Assistance Services: Karel Amaranth, Director; Richard Steinberg; Thomas Crossman; Karen Coleman.

The meeting was called to order by Mr. Ryan at 9 a.m.

Mr. Ryan brought up Item G, an Act authorizing the County to enter into an IMA with the Town of Greenburgh for prisoner transportation to the Westchester County Jail.

This IMA is similar to others passed by the for costs incurred by transporting prisoners from municipal courts to the County Jail. Reimbursement includes round trip transportation, based on per hour costs of police officers and for the actual and reasonable costs of meals provided to post-arraingnment prisoners.

On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the Act was approved 6-0.

Mrs. Swanson complimented the Department of Corrections staff for being accommodating during the recent jail tour with the Valhalla and Hawthorne Fire Departments.

Deputy Commissioner Miranda said the Correction Department’s Emergency Response Team recently received an award from the Governor.

*For additional information, a tape is on file.

Mr. Miranda also stated that there was an article regarding emergency response teams reported in the Sunday New York Times, Westchester Section, March 28, 1999. Channel 7 Eyewitness News asked for videotapes and may create a segment on the team.

With no further business, Mr. Ryan thanked Mr. Miranda for his attendance and input.

Karal Amaranth, Director of Victims Assistance Services, briefly explained how the Program provides support services for victims of rape, sexual or elder assault throughout the County. The program provides outreach programs to schools and community based businesses and provides prevention seminars for elders in senior citizen homes, a rape crisis hotline, nurse/victim services, and counseling for assaults and homicide victims’ and their families.

With funds provided by the Planning department and the homeless Children’s’ Safety Project, children are taught positive relationships to break the cycle of violence they have experienced. The same program is currently being worked on by Matthew Waxman, from the County Executive’s office and they are currently working on a video which will show how to deter sexual assault and how the program can help those in need.

Last year there were 1,200 new cases reported, 90 children suffered from sexual abuse and other forms of abuse and a number of adult abuse cases were also reported. There were 109 rape victims, 225 assault victims, as well as 210 homicide victims, all, of which, had services provided by the Victims Assistance Services.

VAS has five different offices throughout the County with a staff of 18. The offices have been called upon with 327 cases of victims of domestic violence for a spectrum of services including counseling, lock replacement, shelter and emergency food.

There are individual support group sessions held by trained counselors for persons victimized by rape, incest, or the loss of a loved one due to a homicide.

Ms. Amaranth pointed out that one of the most important initiatives of the program is the sexual assault/nurse examiner program, which provided immediate forensic exams for rape victims. Offices are located in the District Attorney’s office, White Plains, Yonkers, and the Mount Vernon Police Department.

Ms. Amaranth asked the Legislature’s help to reach their constituents and educate them of this program. VAS is willing to go into communities, make presentations and offer their assistance to those in need. VAS seeks support of the Board for fund raising and securing grants in order to keep the organization going and meet the needs of crime victims and continue to provide prevention methods. Support of funding via the Departments of Planning and Probation are greatly appreciated.

The other members of Victims Assistance Services spoke briefly of their specific functions:

Tom Crossman: Provides counseling services for older adult support program. Located in Yonkers, he provides outreach programs, public relation services and offers a broader aspect of counseling for prevention. He visits three different senior centers, explaining to seniors the basics of various scams, how to secure themselves and their possessions. His goal is to educate victims of elder abuse cases. He also deals with cases of self-neglect and intervention with families; i.e. a child with power of attorney, who does not want their parents to spend money and keep it for themselves. Another area is seniors, who ask for assistance for a grandchild who steals from them because they have a substance abuse problem. There are various types of training and education programs needing to be addressed.

Karen Coleman: Heads the Sexual Assault Nurse/Examiner program since 1988, through the efforts of Legislators Wishnie and Stewart-Cousins, the Office of Women, local hospitals, business and medical organizations.

The SANE program has trained registered nurses to go into hospital emergency departments and provide forensic evidence collection immediately after someone is assaulted. The nurses’ role is to provide emotional support during and after an examination, provide health education and make referrals to appropriate services.

Ms. Coleman would like to provide medical services to all local hospitals and educate people of programs available to them. She extended an invitation to all the Legislators to a Breakfast on April 8^th for Law Enforcement Agencies, with District Attorney Pirro being the keynote speaker. On April 22^nd a workshop will be held for a full day of training that is opened for all health care providers, social services agencies.

Richard Steinberg: He provides counseling and group support for families of victims who have died by a homicide or accidents cause by a motorist under the influence. His referrals come through local police agencies, the District Attorney, or various VAS offices. He will contact them to make known the services available to them. He also provides assistance with burials, bills, counseling for family members and other expenses. Funding is available from the State which allows $600 for burial. He would like the opportunity to extend services to siblings of crime victims, who are not dealt with properly and who often "act out" their anger and end up with problems of their own.

Ms. Coleman provided a slide presentation of the various offices and staff members of the Victims Assistance Services.

There was a brief question and answer period. Mr. Ryan suggested that VAS contact the local access cable channel to run their video on the advertisement channel.

Mr. Ryan thanked Ms. Amaranth and her staff for a very informative presentation. VAS will make another presentation to the full Board on April 12^th.

On the motion of Legislator Ryan, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the meeting adjourned at 10 a.m.