Governor signs legislation to expand victim compensation program; Victims’ Compensation

Delaware crime victims are eligible to receive state compensation for mental health counseling, costs of attending criminal proceedings, and other expenses through legislation signed into law by Governor Markell during an afternoon ceremony today in Wilmington. House Bill 133 expands the newly revamped Delaware’s Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP), formerly called the Violent Crimes Compensation Board.

Through House Bill 133, innocent victims may request compensation when a “cold case” is
reopened or the offender seeks release through the Board of Parole or appears in court for purposes of
post-conviction relief or appeal of the conviction. Victims are now also eligible to apply for
compensation in the event of a retrial of the offender on the original charges involving the victim,
including penalty hearings, or upon the execution of the offender. Compensation is available for 1
year prior to, or 2 years after, the offender’s release from prison or the date of the retrial, parole
hearing, or other court-related events involving the offender. House Bill 133 was sponsored by
Representatives Dennis P. Williams and Helene M. Keeley and Senate Majority Whip Margaret Rose
Henry.

Today’s signing of House Bill 133 follows the recent enactment of House Bill 253, which
transferred the Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program to the Delaware Department of Justice,
streamlined the compensation process for innocent victims of crime, and provided Delawareans
statewide with local access to victim compensation services. VCAP is funded through penalties paid
by individuals convicted of a criminal act or adjudicated as a delinquent.

“The true costs of crime are not just what is stolen, or broken, or lost. The true costs to the
victim and society can be, and often are, so much greater,” Markell said. “This legislation offers some
additional assistance to help survivors heal.”

A retired Wilmington police officer, Representative Williams also served on the Violent
Crimes Compensation Board and has seen both the immediate and long-term effects crime has on
victims. “Innocent victims often are forced to relive those incidents over and over,” he stated.
“Anything we can do to help them is a step in the right direction. Government taking this action today
is a testament that we can have a positive impact on people’s lives. I’m honored to have been able to
sponsor this bill.”

“Victims of violent crime are affected physically, emotionally and financially,” stated Patricia
Dailey Lewis, Director of the Attorney General’s Family Division. “This legislation will relieve some
of the financial burden from these innocent victims of crime, allow them to freely participate in the
criminal justice process, and aid them in putting their lives back together.”
VCAP Executive Director Barbara Brown and VCAP staff have been holding outreach sessions
with mental health providers, local hospitals and other service providers to expand awareness of
compensation benefits available to victims and to coordinate assistance throughout the community. In
an effort to expand access to victim services, the Department of Justice also announced that, beginning
over the next several weeks, VCAP helpdesks will be staffed at:
• The Department of Justice Dover office, 102 West Water Street, every Monday between 9:00
a.m. and 3:00 p.m., effective immediately
• The Department of Justice Georgetown office, 114 East Market Street, every Monday between
9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., beginning September 14
• The New Castle County Family Court, 500 North King Street, Wilmington, every Friday
between 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., beginning September 4
# # #


Attorney General’s Mortgage Fraud Task Force supports August housing workshops

The Attorney General’s Mortgage Fraud Task Force is supporting two August
workshops sponsored by Delaware non-profit housing agencies. These workshops, in Georgetown and
Newark, are designed to help homeowners who are worried about missing a mortgage payment, are
facing foreclosure, or suspect a foreclosure scam. The FREE workshops are as follows:
Date Time Location Address
Monday, August 17
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. NCALL
1110 S. Bedford Street, Georgetown
Thursday, August 20
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. YWCA
153 E. Chestnut Hill Road, ewark
During these workshops, presented by NCALL Research and YWCA Delaware, counselors
from HUD-certified Delaware housing agencies and a representative from the Attorney General’s
Office will lead informational presentations and be available to meet with individuals one-on-one to
provide details about the Delaware Mortgage Assistance Program (DEMAP), mortgage refinancing
options, foreclosure, and foreclosure rescue scams. Interested homeowners must RSVP for these
events by calling NCALL at (302) 678-9400 or YWCA at (302) 224-4060, ext. 200. A complete list of
Delaware housing events is available online at www.deforeclosurehelp.org.

Last month, foreclosure filings statewide broke another monthly record, totaling 652 in July,
compared with 389 in July 2008. For the first seven months of 2009 foreclosure filings jumped 46%
from last year, to 3,552, versus 2,443 at 7 months in 2008.

Borrowers who have missed mortgage payments and have been named in a foreclosure filing
are reminded that mortgage rescue companies and others who offer to help with mortgage
modifications are prohibited by law from receiving payment in advance of providing the service.
Homeowners facing foreclosure or who suspect foreclosure fraud are encouraged to call the Attorney
General’s Mortgage Hotline at 1-800-220-5424, visit the Attorney General’s website at
www.attorneygeneral.delaware.gov/mortgageforeclosure, or visit the Delaware State Housing
Authority’s Foreclosure Help website at www.deforeclosurehelp.org. These state resources provide
information about government programs, access to FREE HUD-certified housing counseling services,
as well as fraud-prevention and reporting tools.
# # #


Attorney General’s Mortgage Fraud Task Force supports August housing workshops to help homeowners and reduce foreclosure fraud

The Attorney General’s Mortgage Fraud Task Force is supporting two August
workshops sponsored by Delaware non-profit housing agencies. These workshops, in Georgetown and Newark, are designed to help homeowners who are worried about missing a mortgage payment, are facing foreclosure, or suspect a foreclosure scam. The FREE workshops are as follows:

Date Time Location Address
Monday, August 17
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. NCALL
1110 S. Bedford Street, Georgetown
Thursday, August 20
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. YWCA
153 E. Chestnut Hill Road, Newark

During these workshops, presented by NCALL Research and YWCA Delaware, counselors from HUD-certified Delaware housing agencies and a representative from the Attorney General’s ffice will lead informational presentations and be available to meet with individuals one-on-one to provide details about the Delaware Mortgage Assistance Program (DEMAP), mortgage refinancing
options, foreclosure, and foreclosure rescue scams. Interested homeowners must RSVP for these events by calling NCALL at (302) 678-9400 or YWCA at (302) 224-4060, ext. 200. A complete list of Delaware housing events is available online at www.deforeclosurehelp.org.

Last month, foreclosure filings statewide broke another monthly record, totaling 652 in July, compared with 389 in July 2008. For the first seven months of 2009 foreclosure filings jumped 46% from last year, to 3,552, versus 2,443 at 7 months in 2008. orrowers who have missed mortgage payments and have been named in a foreclosure filing are reminded that mortgage rescue companies and others who offer to help with mortgage modifications are prohibited by law from receiving payment in advance of providing the service.

Homeowners facing foreclosure or who suspect foreclosure fraud are encouraged to call the Attorney General’s Mortgage Hotline at 1-800-220-5424, visit the Attorney General’s website at www.attorneygeneral.delaware.gov/mortgageforeclosure, or visit the Delaware State Housing Authority’s Foreclosure Help website at www.deforeclosurehelp.org. These state resources provide information about government programs, access to FREE HUD-certified housing counseling services, as well as fraud-prevention and reporting tools.
# # #


Law enforcement agencies collaborate to better protect Delaware residents

The Delaware Department of Justice and Delaware State Police unveiled Delaware’s enhanced Sex Offender website and announced a newly-expanded registration effort
during a press conference at the Delaware State Police Academy in Dover. The website changes were developed through a collaborative effort among the Attorney General’s office, Delaware State Police, Delaware Child Predator Task Force, Department of Technology and Information, and Delaware Justice Information System.

“Sexual crimes against children and adults devastate families and communities,” stated Richard S. Gebelein, Chief Deputy Attorney General. “Our enhanced registry and the closing of a loophole in the registration requirements give Delawareans more information to protect themselves and their loved ones.”

The agencies worked together to provide the public with new searchable criteria on the State’s Sex Offender Registry website at http://desexoffender.dsp.delaware.gov. These enhancements include:
• Offender vehicle registration search;
• Offender E-mail search;
• A “Real Time” wanted sex offender page; and
• Neighborhood Mapping capability – that provides visual aids to determine proximity to
offenders.

The agencies also announced a new initiative to require sex offenders who were convicted
before the 1994 enactment of Delaware’s sex offender registry law to be placed on the State Sex Offender Registry. Over 900 sex offenders have been identified as potential Delaware residents that will now be required to register as sex offenders. These individuals will be contacted by Delaware State Police to initiate their registration.

“This is a great example of how agencies can work together to enhance public safety and help parents protect their children,” said Governor Jack Markell, who signed SB 185 into law last month. As a result of these enhancements and the enactment of Senate Bill 185 the agencies announced that Delaware is now closer to 100% compliance with the federal “Adam Walsh” Act. The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, enacted in 2006, is designed to align sex offender registry standards nationwide.

Please call Sergeant Walter Newton, Delaware State Police at 302-841-2553 if you have
questions regarding the new searchable features on the Delaware Sex Offender website.
# # #


Revamped Victims’ Compensation Program moves to Attorney General’s Office

The Delaware Attorney General’s Office today applauded Governor Markell for signing House Bill 253. This legislation, signed into law last Friday, transfers the Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program to the Department of Justice, streamlines the compensation process for innocent victims of crime, and provides Delawareans statewide with local access to victim compensation services.

“We welcome the addition of the Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program to the Delaware
Department of Justice,” stated Chief Deputy Attorney General Richard S. Gebelein. “We are working
swiftly to implement this legislation in order to enhance critical statewide support to innocent victims
of crime.”

Governor Jack Markell stated, “Victims of violent crime deserve to be fairly compensated. This
new law increases the state’s efforts to help victims heal and rebuild their lives.”
The Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP), formerly called the Violent Crimes
Compensation Board, is funded through penalties paid by individuals convicted of a criminal act or
adjudicated as a delinquent.
The revamped VCAP is comprised of:
• An Executive Director and other professional staff charged with reviewing and awarding
claims for financial compensation made by innocent victims of crime.
• A newly-established Advisory Council whose members will include representatives from the
Attorney General’s Office, Victim’s Rights Task Force, Domestic Violence Task Force, Sexual
Assault Network of Delaware, the medical profession, the mental health profession, law
enforcement, as well as members of the public from the City of Wilmington, New Castle
County, Kent County, and Sussex County. The Council is charged with serving in an advisory
capacity and developing rules and regulations for the VCAP.
• An Appeals Board, consisting of five members appointed by the Governor and approved by the
Senate, which has the authority to affirm, reverse or modify VCAP compensation decisions and
participate in the awarding emergency assistance.
Through its integration into the Delaware Department of Justice, VCAP information and
services will be available to the public through the Department’s three offices in Wilmington, Dover,
and Georgetown. VCAP services complement the Department’s existing Victim/Witness Services
Program, whose social workers and administrative staff support victims of crime and their families by
providing notification of scheduled events relating to criminal prosecutions, referral services, and
assistance with the criminal justice process.
House Bill 253 was sponsored by Representative John A. Kowalko (Newark South) and
Senator David Sokola (Newark).
# # #