(1) There is hereby created within the Department of Legal Affairs a Crime Victims’ Services Office, which shall be the organizational unit through which the department exercises its duties and responsibilities pursuant to this chapter.
(2) The Crime Victims’ Services Office is established for the following purposes:
(a) To emphasize the rights and needs of crime victims statewide.
(b) To ensure that the rights of victims are properly publicized and encouraged.
(c) To administer federally funded victim assistance services programs.
(d) To coordinate the flow of information between all agencies and organizations which provide services for victims of crime.
(e) To assist the development and administration of crime victim programs and services.
(f) To seek to identify the victims of crime and inform them of the provisions of this chapter.
(g) To serve as a clearinghouse for information relating to the problems encountered by the victims of crime.
(h) To enlist the assistance of public and voluntary health, education, welfare, and rehabilitation agencies or groups in a concerted effort to aid persons who are victims of crime.
(i) To assist public agencies and local governments to provide assistance for victims of crime.
(j) To act as an advocate for the victims of crime to obtain aid and services from public or private health, education, welfare, or rehabilitation agencies or groups to treat persons who have been victims of crime.
(k) To receive from the state attorney or from the law enforcement agencies involved such investigation and data, including confidential records, as will enable the department to determine if, in fact, a crime was committed or attempted, and the extent, if any, to which the victim or claimant was responsible for his or her own injury or death.
(l) To investigate all claims for awards filed with the department pursuant to this chapter, considering all other available programs providing valid and collectible benefits to the claimant, and to reinvestigate or reopen cases as the department deems appropriate and equitable.
(m) To require the submission of such records as are required and, when necessary, to direct medical examination of the victim or intervenor.
History.—s. 1, ch. 77-452; s. 5, ch. 80-146; s. 3, ch. 85-326; s. 3, ch. 91-23; s. 6, ch. 92-107; s. 1710, ch. 97-102; s. 3, ch. 99-373.
Copyright ©2024 LegalFix. All rights reserved. LegalFix is not a law firm, is not licensed to practice law, and does not provide legal advice, services, or representation. The information on this website is an overview of the legal plans you can purchase—or that may be provided by your employer as an employee benefit or by your credit union or other membership group as a membership benefit.
LegalFix provides its members with easy access to affordable legal services through a network of independent law firms. LegalFix, its corporate entity, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and contractors do not provide legal advice, services, or representation—directly or indirectly.
The articles and information on the site are not legal advice and should not be relied upon—they are for information purposes only. You should become a LegalFix member to get legal services from one of our network law firms.
You should not disclose confidential or potentially incriminating information to LegalFix—you should only communicate such information to your network law firm.
The benefits and legal services described in the LegalFix legal plans are not always available in all states or with all plans. See the legal plan Benefit Overview and the more comprehensive legal plan contract during checkout for coverage details in your state.
Use of this website, the purchase of legal plans, and access to the LegalFix networks of law firms are subject to the LegalFix Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.