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Feds Give Locals $238K to Create App for Crime Victims

The app, to be developed by University of Dayton, Ohio, will allow users to quickly connect with local law enforcement, medical services and other organizations that can provide support to a victim after a crime.

Family Services of Dayton is teaming up with the University of Dayton Research Institute to create a mobile application that will allow local victims of crime to access support resources with the touch of a finger.

The app, to be developed by UDRI’s Software Systems group, will allow users to quickly connect with local law enforcement, medical services, counselors, financial resources, and other organizations that can provide support to a victim after a crime.

The project is funded by a $238,000 Vision 21 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. Vision 21 is a federal initiative to reform crime victim services in America.

Jason Erret, senior software engineer in UDRI’s Software Systems group, said the Department of Justice was looking for a system that could better address the needs of victims from a local perspective.

The app will initially be marketed toward victims of crime in the Miami Valley, but Family Services and UDRI hope to extend the service to all of southwest Ohio and, eventually, to the nation.

“Knowledge is one of the most powerful assets to victims of crime,” said Bonnie Parish, executive director of Family Services. “This project will allow us to provide additional means to support people who are feeling vulnerable and need assistance but don’t know where to find it.”

Parish said that while the app is meant for all victims of crime, it will specifically target victims of violent crime — “those that cross our path here at Family Services.”

She stressed that victim safety and privacy will drive the development of the technology.

“This project will provide victims with complete and confidential access to the variety of services available to them after a crime so they can begin making steps toward recovery and claiming their lives,” she said.

The application will be made available to both Android and iPhone users in August of 2015.

©2014 the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio)