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| Victim Services |
The Victim Advocate Program began in 2005 through a grant from the Florida Attorney General's Office, Victims of Crime
Act (VOCA). The program involves a full-time coordinator and volunteers. It was formed to meet the needs of
citizens of Edgewater 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.
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