Victim Advocates are valuable assets to law enforcement agencies in Orange County. They are tasked with responding and providing services to 12 law enforcement agencies including the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Victim Advocates are trained to support families and provide them with assistance during a crisis and assist them in understanding the complexities of the investigative and judicial process.
Victim Advocates provide emotional support to victims, families and friends to help them cope with the trauma of victimization. A Victim Advocate is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to crime scenes to assist victims and/or their families. Victim Advocates provide brief crisis counseling, emotional support, referrals, and ensure that the victim or next of kin has a support system in place after the Victim Advocate leaves the crime scene. Victim Advocates also assist loved ones with contacting funeral homes, family and friends, employers, and schools.