State Office of Victim Assistance (SOVA)

SOVA MAIN PAGE

Victims' Compensation Fund

Victims' Rights

Victims' Laws

Payment & Reimbursement Guide

Victim Service Coordinating Council

Judicial Circuit Solicitors

SOVA Auditing Section

 

 

• Auditing Legislation - Proviso 89.61 (PDF)

---

 

• FY 2011-2012 Year End Report (PDF)
• FY 2010-2011 Update and Statistical Report (PDF)
• FY 2010-2011 Year End Report (PDF)

---

• Public Awareness Announcement Memo (PDF)
  

---

 

• Approved Guidelines (PDF)

---

 

• Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

---

Non-Compliant Budget Submission Proviso 89.61
Proviso 89.61 states, “Any local entity or non-profit organization that receives funding from revenue generated from crime victim funds is required to submit their budget for the expenditure of these funds to the State Office of Victim Assistance within thirty days of the budget’s approval by the governing body of the entity or non-profit organization. Failure to comply with this provision shall cause the State Office of Victim Assistance to initiate a programmatic review and a financial audit of the entity’s or non-profit organization's expenditures of victim assistance funds. Additionally, the State Office of Victim Assistance will place the name of the non-compliant entity or non-profit organization on their website where it shall remain until such time as they are in compliance with the terms of this Proviso”.

The following entities have been identified as being in non-compliance per Proviso 89.61. Therefore, the name of the agency has been placed on the SOVA website. Their name will remain on the website until such time in which they comply with the proviso.

• FY 11 – 12 – Click here to view
• FY 12 – 13 – Click here to view

---

SOVA Audits

Click here for a list of all SOVA Audits/Programmatic Reviews and 90 Day Follow-ups.

---

Pre-requested Audit Documents

Should the State Office of Victim Assistance perform a Programmatic Review of your victim funds, the following documents will be requested prior to the site visit (Note: SOVA reserves the right to request any additional information as deemed necessary for
completing this Programmatic Review.):

• Agency Overview and Agency Website
  
• Victim Assistance FFA Expenditure Reports
  
• Copy of Financial Statements
  
• How many expense files are located in the office?
  
• Copies of last 5 SOVA budget submissions
  
• List of all local governing entities and non-profit organizations receiving FFA funds
  
• Victim Staff Hired Report
  
• Victim Advocate Job Description
  
• Volunteer Victim Advocate Job Description
  
• Copy of victim assistance operational policies and procedures
  
• Copy of victim/witness assistance publication
  
• List of Training/Conferences/Certifications available for victim advocate and/or volunteer advocates
  
• Copy of prior audits
• Are you currently being investigated or has there been any previous investigations
  conducted by SLED in your area? If so, please explain.

Please return all of the above documents at least five business days prior to the auditor’s on-site visit.

---

Auditing Technical Assistance

 

Explain Provisio 89.61

• Provide a copy and explain approved guidelines for fines, fees & assessment fund
  
• Provide a copy of sample budget
  
• Provide and explain various SOVA documents that aid in the accountability of FFA funds
  

Provide information on the tracking case management system used within “Court Administration Office”

---

Technical Support Documents

 

PLEASE NOTE: This section is updated periodically.

• SOVA Auditing Tool Kit
• Act 141 Victim Witness Staff Report
• Victim Advocate Percentage Calculator - Sample
• Victim Advocate Percentage Calculator - Blank
• Victim Advocate Time and Activity Report
  
• Act 141 Victim Assistance Expense Report
• Victim Advocate Procedural Manual (PDF)
  

---

SAMPLE Budget

Sample Budget (PDF)

---

SAMPLE Contract

Please read the following instructions carefully before using any of the documents in this section.

It is not a requirement that the Counties/Municipalities use the SAMPLE CONTRACT provided on the State Office of Victim Assistance (SOVA) website. However, counties providing services need to ensure that monthly, quarterly, and yearly statistical reports are provided to each municipality that has entered a contract and are receiving services through the county. You can find an example of a statistical report at www.sova.gov (Auditing Tab). This will assist and aid with accountability.

• Contract Instructions (PDF)
• Sample Contract (DOC)
  (It is recommended that all contracts are reviewed and signed annually)
• Sample Crime Statistics Report (XLS)
  
• Donating Victim Fines, Fees, and Assessment Funds (Memo)
  
• Donating Funds Form (PDF)
  

---

Related Links

 

• ACT 141 (http://www.scvan.org/article15section14.html)
  
  
• South Carolina State Treasurer's Office (Court Fines) http://www.treasurer.sc.gov/divisions/Pages/CourtFines.aspx
  
  
• South Carolina Auditor's Office http://osa.sc.gov/Pages/default.aspx
  
  
• South Carolina Court of Administration http://www.judicial.state.sc.us/
  
  
• South Carolina Court Administration Annual County Treasurer’s Memorandum http://www.sccourts.org/whatsnew/displayWhatsNew.cfm?indexId=819
  
  
• South Carolina Municipal Finance Officers, Clerks and Treasurer’s Association http://www.masc.sc/programs/knowledge/affiliates/Pages/Finance-Officers-Clerks-Treasurers.aspx
  
  
• South Carolina Association of Counties http://www.sccounties.org/default.aspx
  
  
• Municipal Association of South Carolina http://www.masc.sc/Pages/Default.aspx
  
  
• South Carolina Attorney General’s Office http://www.scag.gov/
  
  
• South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) http://www.sled.sc.gov/
  
  
• South Carolina Police Chief’s Association http://www.scpolicechiefs.org/
  
  
• South Carolina Sheriff’s Association http://sheriffsc.org/Home.html
  
  
• South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA) http://www.sccadvasa.org/
  
  

[return to top]