Responding to Original Victims in Wrongful Conviction Cases

Through the OVC FY 2017 Action Partnerships for National Membership, Professional Affiliation, and Community Service Organizations: Post-Conviction Services to Victims of Crime solicitation, OVC will support grantees who are developing and delivering training and resources that address the crime victims' needs and gaps in services during the post-conviction period. Grantees will seek to remedy these gaps through online or in person training, technical assistance, conferences, regional forums, and/or video resources.

The Healing Justice Project will focus on assisting victims in cases of post-conviction exonerations and/or wrongful conviction, which cause extensive trauma to original victims, who may receive little or no post-conviction information or assistance and may in fact be mistreated due to misperceptions about the role a victim may play in in a wrongful conviction. The Healing Justice Project will fill this gap by developing and disseminating evidence-informed resources for victim service providers, allied professionals, and others in a position to respond to the needs of original victims in these cases. Deliverables include the development of model policies and practices for providing information, services, and support; peer-to-peer outreach videos; and public awareness materials. The Healing Justice Project will partner with the National Center for Victims of Crime, Video Action, and an advisory committee of original victims, key stakeholders, and subject matter experts. In year one, the project intends to convene a three day meeting of the advisory body and the original victims in Washington, D.C.

CA/NCF