Crime Victims Rights Week 2015

‘Engaging Communities. Empowering Victims’

Emmet County Prosecutor Linderman promotes awareness National Crime Victims’ Rights Week April 19-25, 2015

Each year, the Emmet County Prosecutor’s Office staff and its Victim Witness Advocate work behind the scenes to help those who bear the burden of crimes: the victims.

In the past year alone, that meant assisting over 500 victims with court appearances and events, referrals to supporting agencies and correspondences that are often the result of criminal actions.  The Prosecuting Attorney renders services that range from referrals for counseling services to assistance in the collection of restitution for victims, as well as serving as their advocate through the judicial process.

“The crimes affecting these local victims ranged in severity from simple larceny to homicide,” said Jim Linderman, Emmet County Prosecutor. “It’s important for the public to know that there are support services and a team in place to assist those who have experienced crime and its aftermath.”

Each year, the Emmet County Prosecutor joins with the National Center for Victims of Crime to recognize National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which is April 19-25, 2015.

The theme of this year’s Crime Victims’ Rights Week is “Engaging Communities. Empowering Victims.”

“Millions of crime victims are helped each year and for them, it means that they are not alone to face the physical, mental and financial devastation of crime,” Linderman said.

Before VOCA was passed in 1984, the world was a different place for crime victims, their families and communities. Local service providers who could meet victims’ needs for support, counseling or shelter were few. The criminal justice system often failed to recognize the victims’ need to be included in the justice process, and crime victim compensation programs were not consistently available.

As stated by Joye E. Frost, Director of the Office for Victims of Crime: “In order for victims to become survivors, we must first listen and learn in an effort to better understand what they need and how we can best serve them.  By working with community leaders and organizations, we can leverage existing community resources to understand the needs of underserved victims and the impact of victimization.  Engaging the entire community will enable to us to reach more victims and expand their options for services.”

“Victims should be given the information and assistance they need to make informed decisions about their own lives as they recover from crime.  An important element in promoting victim empowerment is providing an atmosphere where victims are believed and supported by their community.  In such an atmosphere, victims feel safer and are more apt to share that they have been victimized and reach out for assistance.”

 “We will continue on a local level to support victims of crime in whatever ways that we can, because as a community it is the right thing to do,” said Linderman.

The National Center for Victims of Crime partners with the U.S. Department of Justice to raise the public’s awareness about the impact of crime on victims during National Crime Victims’ Rights Awareness Week. For more information about crime victims’ rights and witness assistance, visit the Emmet County Web site and the Prosecutor’s pages, at www.emmetcounty.org/prosecutor/.   An online directory of service providers for victims of crime is also available on the site.

The Emmet County Prosecutor’s Office works closely with the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan, Inc., in providing victims’ services.  Services, support, advocacy and counseling are provided to some survivors of crime at no cost. The WRC’s 24-Hour Crisis and Information Line:  (231) 347-0082 or (800) 275-1995 for long distance callers.

 

Local, state and national resources for victims of crime

Local:

Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan – www.wrcnm.org

Community Health Center of Northern Michigan – www.emmetcoa.org

Northern Community Mediation – www.northernmediation.org

Hidden Brook Counseling Services – www.hiddenbrookcounseling.net

Harbor Hall – www.harborhall.com

Northern Michigan University Counseling & Consultation Services – www.nmu.edu/counselingandconsultation

Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians – www.ltbbodawa-nsn.gov/HS/VictimServices
Great Start for Kids – http://www.greatstartforkids.com

Salvation Army – www.sapetoskey.org

YMCA – www.ymcanm.org

Nehemiah Project – www.nehemiahhomelessshelter.org

Legal Services of Northern Michigan – www.lsnm.org

Brother Dan’s Food Pantry – http://brotherdans.org

Manna Food Project – www.mannafoodproject.org

 

State:

Michigan State Police – www.michigan.gov/msp

Michigan Department of Corrections – www.michigan.gov/corrections
Michigan Department of Corrections Inmate Information – http://mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2/otis2.html

Michigan Crime Victim Notification Network – www.vinelink.com

Child & Adult Protective Services – www.michigan.gov/dhs

Equality Michigan – www.equalitymi.org

 

National:

Mothers Against Drunk Driving – www.madd.org

The National Center for Victims of Crime – www.ncvc.org

Polaris Project – www.polarisproject.org

Salvation Army – www.salvationarmyusa.org

Red Cross – www.redcross.org

Common Ground – http://commongroundhelps.org

More national toll-free numbers and resources available in the PDF below …

Toll-Free Help for Crime Victims

Emmet County, Michigan
200 Division Street, Petoskey MI 49770
(231) 348-1700 | Contact Us