Victim
Advocate Program
The Victim Advocate Program began in 1998 through a grant
from the Florida Attorney General's Office, Victims of Crime
Act (VOCA). The program involves a full-time coordinator
and six volunteers. It was formed to meet the needs of citizens
of New Smyrna Beach who become victims of crime, and to
survivors of those who have lost their lives due to a violent
act. The volunteers also assist victims of disasters, accidents
and social issues.
The
Advocates are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond
to the scene, hospital, or police station if they are needed
immediately. They provide crisis intervention, transportation
to domestic violence shelters or the Rape Crisis Center,
or to make death notifications. If an Advocate's services
are not needed on an immediate basis, they do follow up
work on appropriate daily police reports.
Specific services provided by the Victim's Advocate Program
include:
Aid in
utilizing service agencies for assistance with emergency
needs, such as food, clothing, shelter, transportation,
etc;
Assistance
in filling out and filing paper work for injunctions for
protection, victim impact statements and victim compensation
claim forms;
Emotional
support during medical, criminal justice procedures and
law enforcement procedures or matters;
Criminal
court orientation, support and advocacy through the judicial
process until disposition of the case, and beyond, if needed;
Assistance
with property returns;
Transportation
to court interviews, depositions, court hearings, trials
and sentencing;
Notification
of death and injury due to homicides, accidents, etc.; and
Act as
a liaison between the victim, the judicial system, law enforcement
and social service agencies.
