3. a. The Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance shall oversee and coordinate in the Department of Law and Public Safety all matters related to violence intervention and prevention and victim assistance and services performed by or on behalf of the Attorney General, including, but not limited to:

(1) directly providing, within the limits of resources made available for this purpose, victim and violence intervention and prevention services and coordinating the delivery of the services provided through the various divisions in the Department of Law and Public Safety;

(2) reviewing and overseeing the department’s provision of services to victims of crime, human trafficking, and violence and services to communities for the prevention of violence;

(3) monitoring and administering the department’s violence intervention and prevention programs, initiatives, and services intended to reduce the cycle of violence and advocating to advance the objectives of these measures;

(4) developing and implementing measures and strategies to better address the needs of underserved victim populations;

(5) assisting, supporting, consulting on and participating in the development and implementation of initiatives, projects, and strategies to address issues related to violence reduction and victim support, including, but not limited to, the development of a State infrastructure for victim assistance and violence intervention and prevention services, formation of a Statewide strategy for the growth and standardization of services, and directing efforts to enhance community engagement and program accountability;

(6) serving as a resource center and facilitator to provide technical assistance and training with respect to victim assistance and violence intervention and prevention services for the purpose of improving access to available services, promoting awareness of available resources and models of services, expanding the scope and availability of these services, and developing new preventative strategies;

(7) building partnerships between, coordinating with, and supporting initiatives to improve public health and safety involving law enforcement entities and victim assistance and violence intervention and prevention service providers;

(8) developing intergovernmental partnerships and engaging in outreach and collaboration efforts with other State, county, and local government agencies on policy and programmatic issues, reforms, and initiatives related to violence intervention, and victim assistance;

(9) safeguarding victims’ rights and ensuring appropriate consideration of victims’ rights and interests in the performance of public safety, law enforcement, and prosecutorial functions by other divisions in the department;

(10) performing, arranging for, or coordinating community support and assistance programs and services in the aftermath of crimes involving multiple victims such as mass shootings, school shootings, or acts of terrorism; providing assistance to other governmental entities in their response to these crimes; and serving as a repository of resources to assist communities in preparing for these events;

(11) developing grant applications and applying for available grant funding for violence intervention and victim assistance projects and programs on behalf of the department;

(12) receiving and processing, or monitoring the receipt and processing of, applications from State and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations for violence intervention and prevention and victim service or assistance project grants that may be made available from or through the department, including, but not limited to, the promulgation of standards and procedures related to the solicitation, qualification, and award of grants; and

(13) performing other functions as the Attorney General may prescribe.

b. In carrying out its responsibilities, the division shall take steps as it deems appropriate in furtherance of the following objectives:

(1) to promote a trauma-informed approach in the provision of victim and violence intervention and prevention services by the department, other State agencies, and local and county governments providing these services;

(2) to provide and coordinate the provision of services to victims of crime and violence at the State, county, and local levels in order to ameliorate the impact of crime and violence and to prevent future violence;

(3) to promote access to and deployment of services to vulnerable and less accessible victim populations, including, but not limited to, promoting policies that recognize that an individual’s status as a prior offender should not be grounds for denial of services that could prevent future violence;

(4) to serve as a point of contact and engagement for community members, stakeholders, crime survivors, former clients, and justice-involved persons to offer input, local knowledge, and collaborative viewpoints for the purpose of improving services and influencing policymaking;

(5) to support and advocate for policies that promote the hiring and recruitment of culturally competent individuals in the field of victim assistance and violence intervention and prevention services;

(6) to promote policies and practices that encourage the use of peer support, such as credible messengers, individuals with lived experience, and trauma survivors in the provision of services;

(7) to identify best practices and evidence-based interventions in the provision of victim and violence intervention and prevention services and promote these measures within the department, other State agencies, and local county governments that provide these services through methods including, but not limited to, training and reporting; and

(8) to provide or direct resources and assistance to communities and victims to address and ameliorate the impact of hate crimes or acts of violence which are motivated by or evince a discriminatory intent.

L.2023, c.167, s.3.