The Office of Victim Services Offers Hope and Assistance for Victims of Violent Crimes

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and it’s also Sexual Assault Awareness Month Day of Action on April 2nd; it is also National Crime Victims' Rights Week April 6-12. In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast Host Nancy Barrow speaks with Rachel McKnight, Program Manager from the Office of Victim Services (OVS), and Marc Pelka, Deputy Director. They explain how OVS assists crime victims with financial expenses, receiving around 2,000 applications annually. They detail the types of crimes, including violent and property crimes, vehicular crimes, and the various expenses covered by OVS, such as medical bills, funeral costs, and lost wages. They also discuss the collaboration and the change of law that allows OVS and CT Paid Leave to work together. With the two agencies working together, it offers income replacement and support for victims of violent crimes and their families, emphasizing the importance of financial aid in the aftermath of crime. To get in touch with OVS visit: jud.ct.gov/crimevictim. or email them at: OVScompensation@jud.ct.gov. or call OVS at: 888-286-7347. For more information or to apply for benefits visit: ctpaidleave.org https://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_US https://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeave https://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/ https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeave https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave