Victim Assistance Program
Overview
The Victim Assistance Program is a unit within the Investigations Division of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. The unit responds to victims of violent crime and/or their families, victims in crisis, and family survivors in cases of violent and sudden death. Victim Advocates provide 24 hour, 7 days a week on call assistance. Victim Advocates are non-sworn, civilian employees of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office who are available 365 days a year. These advocates provide outreach and assess the needs of victims, provide information and referrals about resources in the community, education and awareness of victims’ rights. Advocates work for the El Paso County Sheriff's Office and in cooperation with other community service provider agencies.
Eligibility
Victim assistance is available to any person who is a victim of the following crimes and crises occurring within the jurisdiction of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office:
- Sexual Assault
- Domestic Violence
- Assault
- Robbery/Theft
- Homicide
- Suicide
- Burglary
- Child Physical Abuse/Child Sexual Assault
- S.I.D.S. (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
- Stalking
- Manslaughter
- Menacing
- Traffic Fatalities
- Unattended death (Physician not present at the time of death)
Victim Advocacy Services
Services are provided upon need and with the victim’s permission to all persons without discrimination of age, race, gender, or religion. It is the victim’s right to request and utilize these services.
Victim advocates provide information and referrals to appropriate county agencies, working with:
- Fountain Police Dept.
- Manitou Springs Police Dept.
- Colorado Springs Police Dept.
- Colorado State Patrol
- District Attorney Victim/Witness program (4th Judicial District)
- Other community agencies
Crisis Support Team
Several members of the Victim Assistance Program staff, paid and volunteer, also provide services to first responders and their families in times of crisis or immediately after a critical incident. Services are provided internally to members of the EPSO as well as to first responders of other jurisdictions. Trained advocates can also assist with stress management debriefings through the Southern Colorado Crisis Support Team. Information on Crisis Support Teams locally and statewide can be obtained at (719) 576-1200 or Crisis support web-site.
Program Funding
El Paso County Sheriff's Office Victim Assistance Program receives funding from a multitude of sources. Of the three paid staff, only the Program Coordinator’s salary is funded by El Paso County. One full-time victim advocate’s wages are paid for by VOCA (Victim’s of Crime Act) funds, which are fines collected in the form of victim compensation from defendants at the federal level. The other full-time victim advocate’s wages are paid for by VALE (Victim Assistance and Law Enforcement) funds, which are again fines collected from defendants at the state and local levels. The program’s day-to-day operational expenses to include: pagers, cell phones, printing, desk top supplies, training expenses and other program needs, are also covered by VALE funds. Both VOCA and VALE money is collected on state and federal levels out of the pockets of convicted criminals. These funds pay for the direct victim services and training of paid and volunteer staff to benefit the community and the victims that we serve.
Statistical Information
In 2006, the Victim Assistance Program staff, paid and volunteer, assisted 3,982 primary and secondary victims, including 156 on-scene assists, 6,642 victim contacts by telephone, in writing, or in person and a total of 17,512 referrals for counseling, victims’ compensation, safe housing and other community resources.
Volunteers
The Victim Assistance Program is staffed with three civilian employees and seventeen trained and dedicated volunteers. The Victim Assistance Academy is just under a total of eighty hours. Classes are generally held twice a week.
· The victim advocate volunteer must submit an application to the Victim Assistance Program Coordinator, or to HR/Volunteer Coordinator, complete the Volunteer Victim Advocate Training Academy, and commit one year to the program following the academy.
· Applicants must also successfully pass a background check with criminal history, provide personal references and must pass a CVSA (Computerized Voice Stress Analysis).
· Victim advocate volunteers must complete a ride along for a 10 hour shift, with patrol, per year.
· On call status approximately every four weeks, depending on number of volunteers.
· Victim advocate volunteers are law-abiding citizens with good intent and must be at least 18 years of age.
If you are interested in becoming a Victim Advocate volunteer, contact us at (719) 520-7272 or click here for more information on volunteering in other areas within the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
Teddy Bears
The Victim Assistance Program will accept donations of new teddy bears and other new stuffed animals (six to eight inches in height) to be given to child victims and witnesses of physical and sexual abuse. The Exchange Club of Colorado Springs annually donates funds for designated bears to be used by Investigations Division. These stuffed animals are made available to all patrol deputies, detectives and victim advocates.
If you wish to make a donation of a new stuffed animal, contact the Victim Assistance Program Coordinator at (719) 520-7272.