This week the Springfield Police Department welcomed two new in-house victim advocates.
The Victim Center employs one advocate and Harmony House employs the other, but both are housed at SPD and will work directly with police personnel to serve victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
The primary responsibilities of the victim advocates will be to provide personal advocacy and support services to all primary and secondary victims who have reported a crime or are considering reporting a crime to law enforcement.
The primary responsibilities of the victim advocates will be to provide personal advocacy and support services to all primary and secondary victims who have reported a crime or are considering reporting a crime to law enforcement.
They will attend case review discussions and law enforcement interviews, support victims when filing police reports, provide information to victims about the criminal justice process, and other related law enforcement advocacy. Some other functions will include assisting victims with obtaining resources such as counseling, legal services, law enforcement, and emergency shelter, housing, and financing.
“Despite everything happening in our community with COVID-19, we are still working to best serve the citizens of Springfield,” said Police Chief Paul Williams. “I am pleased and excited to welcome the victim advocates. They will be an important resource and source of tremendous support for victims.”
The new additions both have experience with providing advocacy services to victims and working with the legal system. In their new roles at SPD, the victim advocates will be proactively reaching out to victims of violent crime to offer guidance.
The new victim advocates were made possible from a grant through the Office of Violence Against Women awarded to the City of Springfield in 2019.
“Despite everything happening in our community with COVID-19, we are still working to best serve the citizens of Springfield,” said Police Chief Paul Williams. “I am pleased and excited to welcome the victim advocates. They will be an important resource and source of tremendous support for victims.”
The new additions both have experience with providing advocacy services to victims and working with the legal system. In their new roles at SPD, the victim advocates will be proactively reaching out to victims of violent crime to offer guidance.
The new victim advocates were made possible from a grant through the Office of Violence Against Women awarded to the City of Springfield in 2019.
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