Being a victim of crime can leave you feeling emotionally overwhelmed, and attempting to make sense out of the criminal process may seem impossible. Our main purpose is to help alleviate the trauma of victims and witnesses by addressing their concerns and to decrease anxiety often affiliated with the system by giving compassionate guidance throughout the court process.
Positive steps are taken to protect the rights and dignity of the victim and witnesses. Some of the areas in which the specialist can impact victims and witnesses are: empowering victims of crime and witnesses through educating them on the process; being available to explain procedures, terminology, and court dates; accompany victims and witnesses in court; preparing for trial and sentencing hearings; assisting with preparation of victim impact statements; assisting questions on restitution; helping crime victims with crime victim compensation applications, and making appropriate referrals for counseling and other supporting agencies.
If you have been victimized and are interested in counseling services, please read more about our counseling services available through New Horizons.