Victim Services

CrimeVictimRightsTree
The Broomfield Police Department is a community oriented police department that supports the Victim Services Unit and offers a wide range of services to help prevent crime and resolve problems. The Victim Services Unit was established as part of the Broomfield Police Department in 1987. Its purpose is to assist victims, witnesses, and their families who are in crisis after a crime or a traumatic event.
As part of the Victim Services Unit, victim advocates can assist crime victims and witnesses by providing support as they transition through their criminal justice process as well as helping them understand their rights as crime victims, and suggest the appropriate community referrals and resources.

If you have been the victim of a crime and received assistance from the Victim Services Unit, please complete this victim services survey to provide feedback. Your response is highly appreciated and will help us to improve our ability to serve victims of crime. We value your input.

Volunteer Victim Advocate Openings

APPLY AT:                Broomfield Police Department
                               7 DesCombes Drive
                               Broomfield, CO  80020
                               303-438-6429

VICTIM SERVICES COORDINATOR: 

                                Maureen Testa
                                303-438-6429
                                Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.

Description of Duties

Provide on-scene crisis intervention and assistance for crime victims and witnesses. Duties include providing on-scene crisis intervention and assistance for crime victims, witnesses, and persons affected by trauma. Duties include providing services such as emotional support during a criminal incident or traumatic event, follow-up support to victims, advising crime victims of their constitutional rights, and providing referrals to victim specific counseling or other necessary resources.

Time Required

The length of commitment to this position is a minimum of one year. Advocates must be available to be on-call a minimum of four 12-hour shifts per month or two 24-hours shift per month and must be able to attend one evening advocate meeting per month.

Qualifications

This position requires a caring, articulate, sensitive individual with the ability to maintain good rapport with victims, patrol officers, outside agencies, and the public. The applicant must be willing to attend a specialized 40-hour Victim Advocate training after being accepted as a volunteer, be on-call a minimum of four 12-hour shifts per month to respond to victims during a crime or critical incident, and attend monthly evening advocate meetings. A valid driver’s license is required and the applicant must be willing to submit to a background investigation and be at least 21 years of age.

Training

The advocate will receive all necessary training about the criminal justice system, right of crime victim, crisis intervention, victimization, and grief and loss. The spring 2018 Victim Advocate Training begins April 2, 2019 and ends April 20, 2019. The training will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Application deadline is March 1, 2019.

After a crime, victims and witnesses often feel alone, isolated, helpless, and unable to reach out for assistance. A victim advocate can help victims and witnesses by providing:

Crisis Intervention & Follow-Up



Advocates can assist in sorting through the confusing feelings victims may experience immediately following a crime or traumatic event, as well as later on. Advocates can help a victim manage one part of the problem at a time and regain control.



Resources and Referrals



Advocates use community resources, as well as the victim's own resources, to help build a network of support. Many resources are available in the community, including, but not limited to: financial assistance, victim compensation funds; counseling; legal resources; medical resources; transportation; household assistance; child care; assistance in dealing with creditors, employers, and landlords; services for victims with special needs; and translation services.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of a crime and need assistance, please call the Victim Services Unit.

ICE Victim Notification Program



The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), is committed to protecting the public and ensuring that the rights of victims are carefully observed. HSI administers the Victim Notification Program, which allows eligible victims and witnesses to obtain reliable and timely information regarding a criminal alien's release from custody. Victims and witnesses are required to register with HSI in order to receive notification of a criminal alien's release. Please visit http://www.ice.gov/victim-notification/ for more information.

You may also call the Broomfield Police Department Victim Services Unit at 303.438.6429 or 303.438.6471 for additional information.

Colorado Adult Sexual Assault Reporting Options

In Colorado, survivors of adult sexual assault have three reporting options. Please note that these reporting options do not apply for minors (C.R.S. 19-3-304) and at-risk elders (C.R.S. 18-6.5-108) due to other mandatory reporting obligations.  For individuals who do not fall under these two statutes, the three distinct reporting options survivors have at the time of receiving medical care are detailed below:

Law Enforcement Report
When a victim chooses to obtain a medical forensic exam and chooses to participate in the criminal justice system at that time.

Medical Report
A victim chooses to obtain a medical forensic exam but at that time chooses to not participate in the criminal justice system.  Evidence and information to law enforcement is released with victim identifying information.  A medical reporting victim can choose to have evidence tested.

Anonymous Report

A victim chooses to obtain a medical forensic exam but at that time chooses to not participate in the criminal justice system.  Evidence and information to law enforcement is released without victim identifying information.  An anonymous reporting victim is consenting to evidence storage only.

To report a sexual assault, please contact the Broomfield Police Communications Center at 303.438.6400.