Resources

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Office of the Governor and The Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, is pleased to provide the LAVNS (Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System) service to the victims of crime in Lafayette Parish.

Recognizing the needs of the individuals we serve, this service will provide a free and anonymous telephone service that provides victims of crime two important features: Information and Notification.

LAVNS will monitor the custody status of offenders in parish jails, state prisons and current court cases.

LAVNS provides a LIVE Operator to callers 24 hours a day 7 days a week by calling (866-528-6748)(866-LAVNS-4-U). LAVNS phone information is available in English, Spanish, French and Vietnamese.

LAVNS also provides access via a public website www.vinelink.com for probationer custody status.

Registration

Crime Victims and concerned citizens may register themselves for notification by calling the above noted LAVNS toll-free number (866-528-6748) or via the LAVNS Public Website Access link above.

In order to register, callers will need to provide LAVNS with the following information:

• A telephone number, including area code, where you can be reached for notification
• A 4-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN)

In July of 1982, the State of Louisiana established the Crime Victim Reparations Program, which provides financial compensation to victims of certain crimes. You may be eligible to apply for victim compensation if you:

• Believe you are a victim of a violent crime.
• Are the victim’s legal representative (his/her attorney or the person responsible for the expenses).
• Are the victim’s dependent.

A claim may be filed regardless of whether the offender is known, has been arrested, and/or has been found guilty. However, the crime must:

• Involve the use of force or threat of use of force AND
• Result in personal injury, death, or catastrophic property loss AND
• Result in expenses that are allowed by the statute (Act 250 of 1982, LA R.S. 46:1801-1822) and are not reimbursable from any other source.

Eligible victims may apply for financial assistance with medical, funeral, mental health, childcare, crime scene evidence expenses, lost wages, loss of support, and catastrophic property loss (as a result of arson).

If you think you are eligible to apply for victim compensation, you must apply through the Sheriff’s Office in the parish where the crime was committed.

For more information on the Crime Victims Reparations Program, you may contact either the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office at (337) 232-9211 or the Crime Victims Reparations Board, at:

(225) 925-4437 or 1-888-6-VICTIM

The Victim Services Program also includes a Violence Against Women Program and an Elderly Crime Victim Assistance Program. These programs allow the Sheriff’s Office to focus its attention and efforts on these specific groups of victims, both of which have special needs and concerns.

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office’s Elderly Crime Victim Assistance Program focuses its efforts on elderly victims of crimes. Our main goal is providing services that meet the physical and/or emotional needs of elderly crime victims in order to return them to their normal lifestyle as soon as possible following an incident.

Eligibility for Services

To be considered eligible for assistance as an Elderly Crime Victim, victims must be 60 years of age or older and be a victim of one or more of the following crimes:

• Assault
• Survivors of Homicide Victims
• Battered Spouses of Significant Others
• Robbery/Theft
• Arson
• Rape
• DWI (Driving While Intoxicated)
• Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation
• Frauds, Scams and Cons
• Any crime involving the use of force or the threat of force which resulted in physical and/or emotional trauma
• Other Violent Crimes

Crime Victim Reparations Program

Victims of violent crimes may be eligible to apply for financial compensation for medical, funeral and counseling expenses, as well as for lost wages and loss of support through the Crime Victims Reparations Program. For information about the Crime Victims Reparations Program, please contact the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office at (337) 236-5614 or the Crime Victims Reparations Board at (225) 925-4437 or 1-888-684-2846.

Services Provided

Services offered by the Elderly Crime Victim Assistance Program include (but are not limited to):

• Providing personal advocacy on behalf of victims.
• Making referrals to local agencies for medical, financial, and/or emotional assistance.
• Providing information on various scams and frauds that specifically target the elderly.
• Operating a computerized telephone program that will automatically call subscribers to verify their well being at a prearranged time.

How to Receive Services

Additional information about the Elderly Crime Victim Assistance Program may be obtained by contacting the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office at:

316 W. Main Street
P.O. Drawer 3508
Lafayette, LA 70502
(337) 232-9211

Additional Service Agencies

Under Louisiana legislation (R.S. 46:1844), victims of certain crimes (or the attempt of those crimes) are granted specific rights during all phases in the criminal justice system. To learn what rights you may have as a victim of a crime in Louisiana, go to www.legis.state.la.us or contact one or more of the following:

During the Investigation:

Victim Assistance at the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office:
Amy Daigle
337-456-6596

The law enforcement agency having custody of those accused or convicted of offenses listed in Louisiana R.S. 46:1842(9) shall notify properly registered victims of an accused person’s or a defendant’s arrest, release on recognizance, posting of bond, release pending charges being filed, release due to charges being rejected by the District Attorney’s Office, escape, or re-apprehension.

During the Prosecution:

Victim Assistance at the District Attorney’s Office (15th Judicial District):
Kim Bettevy
337-262-8642

Properly registered victims shall be provided reasonable notice of judicial proceedings relating to their case. Upon conviction, the victim registration form shall be included in the paperwork sent to the Department of Public Safety & Corrections, the law enforcement agency having custody of the defendant, or the division of Probation & Parole.

If the offender is incarcerated with the Department of Public Safety & Corrections:

Victim Assistance with Department of Corrections:
Gail Guerin
(225) 342-1056

The Crime Victims Services Bureau (CVSB) was established in 1993 as a single point of contact for victim registration and information about victim issues and related legal, policy, and program matters. Victims and other persons directly affected by the criminal actions of an individual under the Department’s authority are encouraged to register with the CVSB in order to be notified of the following events:

• Initial housing location and projected release dates
• Court ruling affecting length of sentence
• Scheduled hearing before the Parole or the Pardon Board
• Escape from institutional custody and apprehension
• Assignment to work release
• Furlough
• Placement on a Risk Review docket
• Release from prison by any means, including death

To register, victims may download and mail the Department’s Victim/Witness Notification Request Form or call the CVSB’s toll-free number: 888-342-6110.

The law enables victims of adjudicated juveniles to register when the offender is placed in secure institutional care. For information about that possibility, victims should contact the Office of Juvenile Justice at 225-287-7900.

Other assistance available through the Crime Victims Services Bureau:

• Current photograph of offender (may be requested by registered victims within three months of an offender’s earliest projected release date)
• Access to information included in the offender’s post sentence report (limited to direct victims or a formally designated other person, who has completed the official Louisiana Victim Notice & Registration Form promulgated by the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement)
• Help in halting unsolicited communications from offenders**
• Names and telephone numbers for institutional contact persons, who can answer victims’ questions about a particular institution

Offenders assigned to state correctional facilities are forbidden by policy and by rule from initiating contact with their direct victims or victims’ family members. A 2008 law prohibits offenders sentenced for crimes of violence, as defined in La. R.S. 14:2(B), and their families from communicating with the victim of their offense or any of the victim’s immediate family members. Violation of law carries the possibility of fine and imprisonment. Anyone needing to report a violation may contact the Crime Victims Services Bureau.

If the offender applies for parole or a pardon:

Parole Board and the Pardon Board hearings are public, and victims/survivors have the right to attend and testify.

Law requires that written notice of both parole and pardon hearings must be mailed to victims no less than thirty days prior to the hearing date. If victims do not receive adequate notice, they may ask that the hearing be rescheduled.

Law also provides that victims may testify before the Parole Board and the Pardon Board by telephone from the office of the local district attorney. Arrangements need to be made in advance. Victims may contact the appropriate board or their district attorney’s office about this matter.

Both Parole and Pardon Board dockets and docket outcomes are posted on the Department’s website.

District Offices: