Like agencies across the state, Gallatin County’s victim services spent more than a year bracing for the increased number of people they were expecting to help after a state constitutional amendment broadened the definition of crime victims.
As part of the preparation for Marsy’s Law, a constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2016 that mandated how law enforcement, prosecutors and victim advocates must protect crime victims, Gallatin County Attorney Marty Lambert sought approval from county commissioners for additional manpower for victim services and his office to help with the increased workload they saw coming.
Last summer, the law was thrown out by the Montana Supreme Court, so some of those additional positions were not approved. But Victim Services continues to serve an ever-increasing number of primary and secondary victims of violent crime in Gallatin County and still saw a need for more help.
So local officials approved to go ahead and create a new administrative assistant position who helps advocates and staff for Victim Services, Haven and the Guardian Ad Litem programs, which share an office in the Law and Justice Center. The position is jointly paid for by both the city of Bozeman and Gallatin County.
“Victim Services needed administrative support regardless, and I think they heard that,” said Stacy Wesen, director of Gallatin County’s Victim Services program. “It’s been a really, really big benefit to our program.”
Dani Clark took over the position in December. Just some of her duties include handling phone calls, starting case files and inputting data to keep track of victims.
“I’m just background, hidden support for whatever (advocates) need,” Clark said.
And aside from those administrative duties, Clark, who has a sociology degree from Montana State University, said she loves getting to have a personal touch with the people the office serves.
“I like to make a difference,” Clark said.
Wesen said Clark’s work frees up time for the office’s five advocates to continue their important work with victims.
“She’s above and beyond what we would have hoped for with this position,” Wesen said. “She’s been a really good part of our team.”
Notably, Clark is also helping implement a new computer, called Justice Web, which allows victims 24-hour, secure access to their criminal cases online and track what’s going on, including getting alerts to upcoming court hearings or seeing public documents.
Wesen cautioned that program is still in trial stages as they are just getting it going, and emphasized that advocates will continue to work with victims in whatever way is best for them.
“That’s going to be a place where people can connect with us in the future,” Wesen said.
Gallatin County Attorney Marty Lambert, whose office oversees victim services, said from a fiscal standpoint, the administrative position will help with data collection to see how much time advocates are spending on Bozeman Municipal Court cases versus Justice and District Court cases. That will be helpful when determining how to divvy up funding responsibilities for the office between the city and the county.
Lambert also said Clark can help with the implementation of Justice Web.
“It’s the digital age...It’ll help enormously,” Lambert said. “I’m very appreciative to have Dani there. You’ve got to have someone that looks after the gathering of information regarding a crime victim so we can take advantage of that software.”
And, echoing Wesen, Lambert said Clark is instrumental in freeing up time for advocates to spend time with those they serve, “which is so important for crime victims, homicide survivors and the like.”
“The face-to-face time they spend, it’s invaluable,” he said.
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