What Is a
Victim Advocate?
What Is It?
Victim advocates are professionals
trained to support victims of crime. Advocates offer victims information,
emotional support, and help finding resources and filling out paperwork.
Sometimes, advocates go to court with victims. Advocates may also contact
organizations, such as criminal justice or social service agencies, to get help
or information for victims. Some advocates staff crisis hotlines, run support
groups, or provide in-person counseling. Victim advocates may also be called
victim service providers, victim/witness coordinators, or victim/witness
specialists.
Roles and Training
Advocates' responsibilities vary
depending on their job description and where they work Typically, the role of an
advocate may include:
·
Providing information on
victimization;
·
Providing information on crime
prevention;
·
Providing information on victims'
legal rights and protections;
·
Providing information on the
criminal justice process;
·
Providing emotional support to
victims;
·
Helping
victims with safety planning;
·
Helping
victims with victim compensation applications;
·
Helping
victims submit comments to courts and parole boards;
·
Intervening with creditors,
landlords, and employers on behalf of victims;
·
Helping
victims find shelter and transportation;
·
Providing referrals for other
services for victims;
·
Crisis
intervention;
·
Helping
to arrange funerals; and
·
Notifying victims of inmates'
release or escape.
Advocates work in many different
locations. Some serve in the criminal justice system (in police stations,
prosecutor's offices, courts, probation or parole departments, or prisons). They
may also be part of private nonprofit organizations such as sexual assault
crisis centers or domestic violence programs. Some advocates are paid staff, and
others are volunteers.
Many advocates have academic
degrees that prepare them to work with victims. They may have studied social
work, criminal justice, education, or psychology. Advocates often receive
significant additional training on the specific knowledge and skills they need
on the job.
How Advocates Work with
Victims
Advocates offer victims information
about the different options available to them and support victims'
decision-making. Advocates do not tell victims what to do.
Advocates are committed to
maintaining the highest possible levels of confidentiality in their
communications with victims. However, the level of confidentiality they can
observe depends on their position, education, licensure, and the laws in each
state. An advocate in a police department may have to share any information
related to an investigation with officers. Yet an advocate at a domestic
violence program may be able to keep most victims' confidences private. However,
all advocates must report certain types of information to the authorities. For
example, they have to report any type of threat to a person (such as clients
threatening to hurt themselves or someone else), and they have to report the
abuse or neglect of children. It is important for victims to ask about
confidentiality rules before they begin working with an advocate.
If You Are a
Victim
It may be difficult for you to
reach out for help. But you may find that victim advocates can offer you
information, support, and access to helpful services you might not know about.
Victims are often relieved to know that agencies in their community want to make
sure they are safe and have the help they need to recover from the impact of the
crime.
Resources
If you would like help finding a
victim advocate, call the National Crime Victim Helpline (1-800-FYI-CALL). Helpline advocates can
help you identify your options and refer you to resources in your area. Helpline
services are free and confidential.
National Crime Victim Helpline
1-800-FYI-CALL
(1-800-394-2255)
1-800-211-7996
TTY
8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. ET
weekdays
Or visit: Help for Crime Victims: www.ncvc.org/victimassistance
All rights reserved.
Copyright
© 2008 by the
National
Center
for Victims of
Crime. This information may be freely distributed, provided that it is
distributed free of charge, reprinted in its entirety, and includes this
copyright notice.