Inside Look: Victim Advocacy Unit

In the aftermath of a crime, the victim on the other end can be left feeling alone, violated, angry, scared, and emotionally exhausted. It can be a traumatic experience that we wish nobody in our community would have to experience.

Despite the hardships crime can bring, there is a group of people who have dedicated themselves to helping others during one of the most difficult times in their lives.

The Colorado Springs Police Department’s Victim Advocacy Unit (VAU) is composed staff and 37 volunteers who empower crime victims by providing guidance, support, and education following a crime. Their role seems simple, but their work in the Colorado Springs community is immeasurable. Victim advocates provide a continuum of law enforcement-based victim services, to include:
- Immediate on-scene response, crisis intervention and safety planning
- Information for victims regarding their rights under the Victim Rights Act
- Education and support through the investigative process and the criminal justice system
- Community referrals and assistance in applying for victim compensation benefits

Whenever a crime occurs, an advocate will either contact the victim in person or via phone to provide immediate comfort and support, and stay with them throughout the duration of the case. Whether it’s domestic violence, child abuse or other issues, VAU volunteers are there for you.

Their mission to minimize the impact of crime on victims and their families, as well as to assist in restoring their quality of life, is evident in the sheer number of hours they have spent within the community. So far this year, VAU staff and volunteers have served approximately 9,632 victims and responded to 380 call-outs.

“There is a lot of satisfaction when you get off that phone and know that you have gotten one person a little bit closer to being a survivor, and one step further away from being a victim,” says VAU Volunteer Beverly Justice.

The department is always looking for volunteers with a desire to help others. For more information on the Unity and how to apply as a volunteer, please see: https://coloradosprings.gov/police-department/page/victim-advocacy-unit