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Victim Advocacy in the United States of America

1. Certification Process To Become A Victim Advocate In Virginia State

Educationally, one qualifies to be a victim advocate in Virginia, they must have a bachelor’s degree in sociology, psychology, or criminal justice, a three-five year of experience in human services, and have gone through a comprehensive interview process that examines their abilities to sympathize with victims as well as manage the wide range of emotions that they experience (Taylor-Dunn, 2016). Regarding training requirements, one must undergo a long training process that helps them execute various responsibilities associated with the job. 

2. Functions Of A Victim Advocate In A Criminal Matter Involving An Adult Victim

The functions include: provision of information regarding crime victimization, crime victim’s entitlement, crime protections, crime prevention, and on processes of criminal justice system; provide emotional support to victims of crimes and assist victims in pursuing available recompense; help crime victims prepare comments and statements for courts and boards; intervene on victims of crimes’ behalf with creditors, employer landlord, and others; assist crime victims find secure shelters and find transportation; offer necessary and suitable referral for victims of crime;  and notify crime victims of an inmate’s forthcoming parole release, hearing, or escape (Kirchengast et al., 2019).

3. Victim Advocate’s Roles in a Criminal Matter Involving Adult Victim Vs a Minor Victim

With regard to minors, victim advocates’ roles include: scheduling counselling appointments for children, making suitable referrals for follow-up services, communicating with relevant professionals involved with the case/client whenever there is a need, and providing referrals and  information concerning resources to clients, and assist clients in getting resources when necessary (Taylor-Dunn, 2016). Victim advocates ensure that the rights of children are safeguarded. They also help children navigate the fragmented criminal justice system since the system was designed for adults, thus a frightening, confusing, and frustrating experience to children and their families (Dussich, 2020).

Conversely, the roles of victim rights’ advocates in matters involving adults include provision of any assistance needed to meet an adult’s basic needs, like food, shelter, and contact information of counselling for specialized services, provision of information regarding victimization, educating adults about crime prevention, guiding victims concerning their entitlements as they traverse the legal system, providing emotional support, helping victims file recompense applications, helping  victims with submitting comments to parole and court boards, intervening with landlords, creditors, employers on the victim’s behalf, notifying adult victims of inmates’ escape or release, and contributing information regarding justice system (Dussich, 2020).

4. Role of a Victim Advocate Vs Role of a Member of the Victim Services Agency Associated With the Prosecutor’s Office

The roles of victim advocate and those of members of the victim services agency associated with prosecutor’s office are different. Victim advocates provide information regarding the various alternatives available to them and support their clients make decisions (Chakraborty & Chakrabarti, 2020). However, advocates do not tell victims what they should do. Advocates are also dedicated to upholding the highest attainable confidentiality levels in their communications with their victims. Nevertheless, the confidentiality levels that the advocates can attain or observe rely upon an advocate’s education, position, licensure, and the laws governing a state (Kirchengast et al., 2019). Conversely, an advocate who is a member of victim services agency linked to the prosecutor’s office may be obligated to share all information linked to an investigation with their officers (Dussich, 2020). An advocate at a local violence program may have the option of keeping most victims’ self-assurances private. Nonetheless, all advocates are obligated to report some kinds of information to the prosecutor’s office.

5. Role of a Victim Advocate in Restorative Justice

Victim advocates provide services to crime victims as they recuperate from a crime and proceed via the criminal justice process. Advocates of victims’ rights in restorative justice assert and lobby for crime victims to have a fundamental role in justice administration by: providing legal representation to crime victims so that the victims are not re-victimized as a result of the justice system rejecting the victims; meeting victims’ psychological and physical needs; and giving victims a chance to reintegrate successfully into society as rehabilitated people (Chakraborty & Chakrabarti, 2020).