Crime Victim Advocate

In 1981, the Marion County District Attorney established the Victim Assistance Division. Over the years, our program has grown in it's mission and contributions to the community. We are proud to work closely with more than fifty volunteers in providing services to victims of violent crimes in Marion County. Our commitment to victims is embodied in our program mission to involve crime victims and the community in a healing process that lessens the impact of crime. We fulfill this mission by: Providing direct victim services Advocating for victim rights Offering volunteer opportunities Providing education and promote public awareness Promoting professional and agency communication Although the Victim Assistance Division is specifically charged with providing services to victims, every District Attorney staff member is committed to treating victims with dignity and respect. As an office, we believe that victims have a right to fair treatment. We have implemented procedures to advise victims of their rights and to keep victims apprised of the status of the case in which they were victimized. We are committed to interagency collaboration that will directly benefit crime victims. Members of the VAD staff participate in such groups as the Domestic Violence Council, the Homicide/Assault Response Team (HART), the Multidisciplinary Child Abuse and Fatality Review Team, the Attorney General's Sexual Assault Task Force and the Attorney General's Victims' Rights Task Force. We are committed to promoting a broader understanding of the victimization experience. Staff members conduct numerous public presentations and training sessions for diverse audiences throughout the state. We believe that through a concerted effort to publicly address the victimization experience, we can make a positive impact on the way victims are treated by the justice and social service systems, as well as by the community at large. Although much has been accomplished on behalf of victims, we recognize that there is still a lot of work to do. In everything we do, we renew our pledge to keep victim's concerns at the top of the agenda for the justice system.