The Newaygo County Sheriff’s Office Victim Service Unit provides Victim Advocates to meet the needs of those who are victims or witnesses to a crime. The Unit is made up of caring and compassionate volunteer citizens who are dedicated to helping victims survive a crisis or a crime against them. Often this traumatic event is a person’s first experience with the criminal justice system. They strive to help victims with dignity, compassion and concern.
An Advocate Can Provide
- Basic Crisis Intervention
- Community Information & Referrals
- Emotional Support
- Attempt to Locate Translators as Needed
- Coordination with Sheriff’s Deputies and Investigators
The Newaygo County Sheriff’s Office is cognizant of the needs of victims of accidents, fires and serious violent crimes, as well as the needs of their families. The Victim Service Unit was established to support those needs. Victim Advocates are volunteers of that organization that aid citizens during critical incidents. Advocates volunteer their time on an “on call” basis to provide services at the actual time of crisis.
This program is intended to aid anyone in crisis by providing basic crisis intervention. The role of the advocate is to provide immediate assistance, help the victim over the initial “shock” during an incident. Advocates help victims who are coping with the reality of what has happened and what may happen in the future. They also provide referral information to people who need additional assistance. The program is not intended to solve the victim’s problems or to provide counseling.
