Benefits to Victims.

To best serve victims of crime, BCS Victim Coordinators provide direct contact with victims to include follow-up on case reports, obtaining victim statements, and providing input to crime victims regarding the benefits of pursuing prosecution through the judicial process. BCS Victim Coordinators work in conjunction with investigating officers to help preserve the integrity of a criminal case without compromising the voice and concerns of the victims.

In addition to providing victims of crime with information on available support services, the Victim Coordinator educates and assists victims of crime through criminal proceedings in municipal, district, and superior courts. The criminal justice process can be confusing and difficult for victims to navigate without assistance. Victim Coordinators help victims through the process and provide updates as they occur.

Victims of domestic violence need to feel safe and heard. When a loved one exhibits violent behavior, it can be a terrifying shock. BCS Victim Coordinators understand that exposure to violence-related incidents may have short- and long-term effects on a victim's physical and mental health after experiencing trauma or law enforcement intervention. Many are caught in abusive relationships and feel as though they have no way to escape their situation. BCS Victim Coordinators are there to listen and help victims as they walk through the process, assisting in seeking out the services that best reflect the victims' needs.

The Victim Coordinator will help assess victims' immediate needs, provide information and referrals to community resources, help develop a personalized safety plan (specifically in domestic violence cases) and provide crime victims with information regarding filing for and obtaining protective orders.

Benefits to Law Enforcement.

BCS Victim Coordinators serve as a point of contact for victims unfamiliar with the criminal justice system and field case-related questions that would often be directed to patrol, supervisors, or detectives. BCS Victim Coordinators are experienced in assisting law enforcement in case follow-ups such as obtaining additional statements from victims, obtaining additional photographs of victim injuries, and researching any prior history of criminal activity between victims and the suspect. This information is documented with the law enforcement agency per policy. With BCS Victim Coordinators assisting with victim and case follow-up, it saves the law enforcement agency valuable time that officers can spend in the community and time that the prosecuting attorney needs to spend on follow-up.

Commonly, law enforcement agencies are concentrated on a call-based response, with limited availability for timely follow-up with victims of crimes once a case has been forwarded for charging or prosecutorial review. BCS Victim Coordinators fill that role, relieving the need for a patrol officer or detective to meet with victims for multiple follow-ups in both pre-charging and post-charging cases. Additionally, BCS Victim Coordinators provide appropriate and up-to-date resource referrals saving valuable patrol or investigative personnel hours.

Unlike community-based victim advocates, who are not subject to mandatory reporting of domestic violence crimes and are not required to share information with law enforcement or the prosecution; BCS Victim Coordinators are system based coordinators who work within the law enforcement agency and are subject to mandatory reporting of criminal activity.

As the liaison between the law enforcement agency, the prosecutor's office, and victims of violence related crimes within the community, BCS Victim Coordinators help meet the need for a victim-centered response and follow-up.

[1] “Enhancing Law Enforcement Response to Victims: A 21st Century Strategy” International Association of Chiefs of Police.2004  page.12 / www.theiacp.org.

Benefits to Prosecution.

The office of the prosecuting attorney relies on law enforcement agencies for investigation of alleged criminal acts. The prosecutor is responsible for investigating suspected illegal activity further when questions arise following the charging of criminal cases. BCS institutionalizes teamwork and communication between victims, law enforcement agencies, and prosecutors.

Prosecutors need a great deal of information to build a case but, based on caseloads, may lack person-to-person contact with domestic violence victims. BCS Victim Coordinators can help bridge this gap by providing communication and quality documentation to assist the prosecution in moving forward with the case.

Frequently, a lack of communication with victims makes the defense attorney's job easier and the prosecutor's job harder. Having a consistent line of communication between the prosecutor and the victim increases the prosecution's effectiveness by keeping the victim engaged and encouraged to be an active part of the process. Such engagement also increases the likelihood that the victim with contact law enforcement in the future when they need help.

Prosecutors also benefit from the close relationship with BCS Victim Coordinators by receiving up-to-date, in-depth information about the victim, their concerns, and continued communication.

The Victim Coordinator can also communicate information to the prosecutor that reflects the concerns for the victim's safety from a law enforcement standpoint and provide historical, non-crimnal calls for service, such as verbal calls, for the prosecutor to review as evidence of a pattern of disruptive behavior.