The Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is working to complete a needs assessment and gap analysis regarding crime victim services.

Your agency was sent a survey in January to provide input in this needs assessment. Since the survey was disseminated and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, OJP and ACET have decided to conduct virtual focus groups with individuals who have experienced crime to ensure their voices are a part of the needs assessment and gap analysis.

We are asking for your help to share this opportunity with individuals who may be interested in participating in a virtual focus group with us. We realize this may be a sensitive topic, and we want to assure you that everything participants say will be kept confidential, with measures in place to ensure this.

Participants will receive necessary technology equipment, including headphones, a webcam, and/or a phone card if they need to call-in.

Participants will also receive a $25 gift card for their participation. A $20 stipend towards childcare is also available, if needed.

We invite people from diverse populations in terms of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, language, immigration status, and geographic location to participate. Black, Indigenous, and people of color are strongly encouraged to participate.

If there are individuals that you think would be willing to participate in one of the virtual focus groups taking place this fall and winter, please feel free to share the attached flyers and narrative advertisements. Materials are also available in Hmong, Somali, and Spanish.

Here is the link to the form for potential applicants to fill out if they are interested in participating: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/3ba6bba19b144d54a8542efa65f852a6.

We would really appreciate any effort in making sure that results of the focus groups will help to fill gaps in crime victim services and better serve those who have experienced crime in Minnesota.

Focus Group Flyers:

English | Spanish | Hmong | Somali

Focus Group Narrative Advertisements