About the Victim Advocate Program
The Victim Advocate may be the first person to respond to the victim. During this critical time victims may experience a wide range of feelings and emotions. As an advocate, we can assist in many ways.
- Provide emotional and moral support.
- Identify and inform victims of their rights under the law.
- Conduct on the scene crisis intervention.
- Act as a liaison between victim, police officers, investigators, and community-based agencies.
- Arrange for professional counseling and support groups.
- Provide information and referral.
- Assist victims with applications for the victim’s compensation fund through the San Joaquin County Victim Witness Program to help with medical expenses, lost wages, counseling expenses and funeral expenses.
- Help prepare victims for court and provide court advocacy and accompaniment.
- Provide information regarding current status of case.
Who is a Victim
A victim is a person who suffers direct or threatened physical, emotional or financial harm as a result of an act by someone else, which is a crime.
The Victim Advocate is on call twenty-four hours, seven days a week. 209.403.0250.
The Victim and Witness Bill of Rights
- The right to treatment with dignity and compassion
- The right to protection from intimidation and harm
- The right to knowledge of the criminal justice system
- The right to reparation
- The right to preservation of property and employment
- The right to due process in criminal court proceedings, including a Victim Impact Statement
