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The Victim/Witness Advocate provides crisis intervention and supportive measures to victims and witnesses of crime. The primary focus is on the victim's emotional, physical and financial needs. These needs are addressed by: acting as a liaison for victims with law enforcement, State Attorney’s Office, courts etc., providing assistance with crimes compensation, transportation, counseling, shelter, injunctions for protection, 911 cell phones, and community referrals. related topics. Community presentations on crime victimization issues and services available are routinely made. The majority of cases handled by Advocates involve sexual abuse, domestic violence, child abuse, homicide, or other serious injury. We average 80-90 call outs a year and are on-call 123 hours a week. We participate in weekly staffings on child abuse cases at the Children’s Advocacy Center and work to improve services for our most vulnerable citizens. We are members of the Community Task Force Against Rape and Domestic Violence (LEARN) and members provide a dating violence prevention program for middle & high school students. . In 2001 we began a domestic violence warrant procedure to allow more offenders to be arrested and held accountable. Arrest is a known deterrent and victim safety is our primary concern. We now have a Domestic Violence Detective to assist with these important cases. We host free quarterly Domestic Violence Educational Workshops at the Police Department and collaborate with Advocates from the Domestic Violence Shelter and Sheriff’s Office. This team approach is essential in improving services for victims. The workshops provide information on injunctions for protection, warning signs of abusers, safety plans, emergency cell phones and advocates on hand to educate, answer questions and address concerns. Safety workshops on elderly issues are presented several times a year in our community room. We discuss abuse, fraud, scams and preventions tips. Alzheimer's information is also given along with our memory impaired program “Assisting the Memory Impaired” which helps identify people easier in cases where wandering may be an issue. Seniors Vs Crime is a program to assist citizens with civil disputes. Citizens can call 873-6377 for assistance. Signs to look for in a battering personality
Feel free to contact our office for further
assistance. |
