Victim Advocacy Program

Wheeling Police Department
  Victim Advocacy Program
2115 Chapline Street | Wheeling, WV 26003
Phone: (304) 234-3600
Office Hours: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

 MISSION STATEMENT:

To positively impact the quality of life for all crime victims and assists victims/survivors and families by providing crisis intervention, advocacy, and access to resources that reduce the impact of trauma on individuals and their families. The mission of the Victim Advocate Program is to:

• Provide information and practical support to all crime victims and survivors.
• Promote safety, healing, integrity, and rights for victims and survivors.
• Ensure a voice for victims and survivors through the implementation of victim-centered policies and practices.
• Increase collaboration and communication between community agencies, organizations, and groups that serve victims and survivors in order to develop a comprehensive and seamless response to victim/survivor needs.

OUR SERVICES:

Victims of crime respond to trauma in different ways and have different needs. The Victim Coordinator and the Victim Specialist are here to offer support to crime victims by providing the following services:

• Liaison between law enforcement and crime victims 
• Criminal justice support 
• Accompaniment to court proceedings and/or medical examinations, as needed
• Informing victims of their rights 
• Information and referrals to local social service providers 
• Assistance in filing for Crime Victims’ Compensation 
• Other services as needed 

COMMUNITY RESOURCES:

VICTIMS RIGHTS AND NEEDS:

In recognition of the rights and needs of victims or witnesses to a crime, the West Virginia Legislature enacted the “Victim Protection Act of 1984” which states the following:
“to enhance and protect the necessary role of crime victims and witnesses in the criminal justice process and to ensure that the state and local governments do all that is possible within the limits of available resources to assist victims and witnesses of crime without infringing the continual rights of the defendant” W.V.a.61-11A-1(b). Enacted in October 2004, The Crime Victims’ Rights Act authorizes program efforts to:

• Help victims assert and encourage enforcement of victims’ rights
• Promote compliance with victims’ rights laws
• Fund grant programs and other activities to implement provisions
• Provides an enforcement mechanism for rights delineated in the Act

There are certain fundamental rights for crime victims. These include the following:

• Right to be treated with dignity and respect
• Right of notification
• Right to be present
• Right to be heard
• Right to be reasonable protection from intimidation and harm
• Right to restitution
• Right to information and referral
• Right to apply for compensation
• Right to speedy proceedings