As a formally educated professional who provides helpful information and critical emotional support, a crime victim advocate ensures a victim of a crime receives the resources needed to recover from the aftermath of a negative life-altering event. The specific professional responsibilities of a victim advocate depend on the job description, as well as the organization that employs the victim advocate.
What Services Does a Victim Advocate Provide?
The most important service a crime victim advocate offers a client is emergency relief and intervention right after a crime happens. Crime victims tend to be the most vulnerable in the hours and days after a crime is committed. Successful victim advocates quickly analyze what a victim needs in the immediate aftermath of a crime, and then the advocate implements strategies to provide the support the crime victim needs to cope with several emotional issues.
The National Center for Victims of Crime list several services that are provided by crime victim advocates:
- Provide constant emotional support
- Assist with compensation applications
- Refer victims to the proper legal resources
- Suggest where to search for job opportunities
- Find short-term shelter and transportation
- Act as an intermediary with creditors, landlords, and employers
- Offer Advice on how to handle the judicial process
- Let victims know about the release of the perpetrator of the crime
- Educate the community about how to prevent crime
Helping Victims Cope
Most crime victims do not know where to turn to for help. A crime victim advocate helps victims cope with the emotional distress by referring them to resources that provide immediate tools for handling the emotional distress that is triggered by a crime. Although victim advocates suggest different options to clients, they do not tell victims how to handle their unique circumstances.
Part of the coping mechanism developed by victims is knowing the entire process is conducted confidentially. The level of confidentiality depends on the laws of the state where the crime occurred, as well as the educational resources made available from both public and private resources. Crime victim advocates must know when the time is right to contact law enforcement concerning any information given by a crime victim.
How to Contact a Crime Victim Advocate
You can contact a crime victim advocate by reaching out to one of several different components of the American criminal justice system. Where a crime victim goes for support depends on the jurisdiction where the crime was committed.
Here are the primary sources for crime victim advocates:
- Law enforcement agency
- State or local court system
- Parole agency
- Prison system
- Prosecutor’s office
- State victim resource agency
Professional Training for a Crime Victim Advocate
A majority of crime victim advocates earn a degree in criminal justice as the educational foundation for their careers. Many local law enforcement agencies run a training program specifically designed to help aspiring victim advocates thrive on the job. Training typically lasts for at least a year, and it requires participants to pass a comprehensive background check. A growing number of crime victim advocates receive some form of education in psychology, especially the psychology of victimization. District attorney offices also provide professional resources for crime victim advocates.
Where to Turn for Help
With the leadership of former criminal prosecutor Michael L. Fell, our team of victim rights specialists guides clients in the aftermath of a crime. We protect the rights of our clients, as well as ensure that their voices are heard in the criminal justice system. Contact us today by call 949-585-9055 or by submitting our online Contact form.
