Important Local Help Lines

Pickens County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse -- 898-5800
Rape Crisis Council -- 898-5575
R unaway House -- 1-800-621-4000
24-Hour Crisis Line (Mental Health) -- 878-6830

Victims Rights:

The primary objective of the Victim Services Division of the Clemson Police Department is to provide an optimum of victim assistance to the Clemson community. This program provides an advocate to respond, develop, and deliver programs and support to victims, family members, and witnesses of crime and death. The program insures victims, family members, and witnesses of violent crime and crisis-related injuries assistance, support and protection.

Victim/Witness Bill of Rights

Victims and Witnesses of Crime have the RIGHT to:

• be treated with dignity and compassion
  
• protection from intimidation and harm
  
• be informed concerning the criminal justice process and an opportunity to submit a Victim Impact Statement
  
• compensation (if eligible) and/or restitution
  
• preservation of property and employment
  
• due process in criminal court proceedings
  
• special attention for special witnesses (young, elderly, handicapped)

Crisis Response Team

While law enforcement based victim advocates have long been familiar with individual crisis intervention, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 have compelled the Clemson Police Department to focus the Victims Services Coordinator's (VSC) training in the specialized area of community crisis response and intervention. In May of this year, Clemson Police Department's VSC, Meri Barrioz attended a Crisis Response Team (CRT) training which was hosted by the South Carolina Baptist Convention and taught by Cheryl Guidry Tyisda, the Director of Victim Services with the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) out of Washington, DC and Rev. Paul Hamilton, NOVA Instructor, Orangeburg, SC.

Ms. Barrioz completed the CRT training and became eligible for credentialing through NOVA and in August attended NOVA annual conference. Ms. Barrioz passed the qualification testing and is now a Certified NOVA Crisis Responder, one of four individuals in the state. She is now a part of the national NOVA team and subject to being called to serve and represent this department as a trained and invited professional.

NOVA is a private, non-profit organization of victim and witness programs with practitioners, criminal justice agencies and professionals; researchers, former victims and survivors; and other committed to the recognition of victim rights and services. On August 20, 1986, the first NOVA Crisis Team was developed in Edmond, Oklahoma, where a postal worker killed 14 co-workers and himself. NOVA responded within 24 hours with a team of seven experienced crisis interveners. It was that response that was the genesis of NOVA's existing National Crisis Response Team. NOVA has responded to over 100 communities since 1986 including Oklahoma City; the 1995 Oklahoma bombing; the 1999 Littleton, Colorado High School shooting, and; the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 to Metropolitan Washington, DC, Somerset, Pennsylvania, and Metropolitan New York City.

The benefit this community gains is an advocate with invaluable knowledge and skills that relate to providing community-wide victim's assistance should Clemson suffer a major critical incident. Governor Frank Keating of Oklahoma wrote in 2000, "In our view, NOVA should be a central element in every state's planning for manmade or natural disaster". Ms. Barrioz's training and credentialing brings Clemson one step closer to our goal of being fully prepared no matter what challenge faces our community.

Mandatory Information for Innocent Victims of Crime

As a victim of crime, you have certain rights. For more information about this law, contact your victim advocate at Clemson Police Department (864) 624-2012, at Pickens County Solicitor's Office (864) 898-5915, or call the Governor's Office, Division of Victim's Assistance at (803) 734-1900.

If you are a victim of a violent crime, you may be entitled to payment of medical expenses, lost wages, and other related expenses.

Applications for compensation are available at all law enforcement agencies and hospitals, or write:
Director
Governor's Office, Division of Victim Assistance
1205 Pendleton Street
Edgar A. Brown Bldg, Room 401
Columbia, SC 29201

RAPE CRISIS

The Rape Crisis Council of Pickens County provides direct assistance and support for sexual assault victims/their families/significant others 24 hours, 7 days a week .

This agency covers all of Pickens County, which also includes the Clemson University campus. All four of the full-time employees of the Rape Crisis Center are certified comprehensive crime victim intervention specialists, which means each have had more than 10 years experience with crime victims and crisis intervention. All services and programs are completed confidential and free of charge .

The Rape Crisis Center is contacted by local law enforcement or the hospital when a rape occurs. Advocates respond directly to the victim and offer immediate support and offer options for reporting procedures and counseling services.

All victims are encouraged to seek medical assistance to treat possible injuries and to collect forensic evidence. If the assault has occurred within the past 72 hours victims are taken to Palmetto Baptist Medical Center in Easley for a Sexual Assault Evidence Examination. At that time, expertly trained nurses (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) provide this examination, while the Rape Crisis advocate provides support. Depending on the wishes of the victim, the Rape Crisis advocate then accompanies the victim to any and all subsequent meetings with law enforcement, court officials, and arranges therapy sessions if necessary.

The Rape Crisis Council also offers a variety of other programs such as:
Self-Defense Classes, Rape Awareness Week at Clemson University, Sexual Assault Prevention programs at all local high schools, public speaking, community health fairs, and support groups as needed.

If you, or someone you know has been the victim of sexual assault, confidential and complimentary help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Contact the Rape Crisis Council at:

404 Johnson Street
Pickens, SC 29671
Phone: 864-868-7599
Pager: 800-302-9719
Email: rcc1@infionline.net,

Relationship Violence