Victim Witness Advocate

Victim Witness Advocates are primarily responsible for providing information, support, and advocacy services to victims, witnesses and their families throughout the criminal justice process. The primary goal of the Victim Witness Bureau is to reduce the level of secondary injury associated with the aftermath of crime and to aid in the prosecution of criminal cases by ensuring that crime victims and witnesses are provided with the entitlements and services mandated by the Massachusetts Victim Bill of Rights (M.G.L. c. 258B), and those additional services provided as a policy of the MDAO Victim Witness Service Bureau within the office of the Middlesex District Attorney.

Primary Responsibilities

·         Orient and explain to victims, witnesses, and family members the court process and their rights throughout each stage of that process

·         Court accompaniment for victims, witnesses and family members

·         Crisis intervention for victims, witnesses, and family members who are in need as a result of their victimization, including safety planning

·         Provide written and verbal notification to victims and witnesses regarding arrests, arraignments, pre-trial conferences, motions, hearings, grand jury appearances, trials, defaults, dispositions, restitution hearings, sentencing and appellate proceedings

·         Ongoing assessment and evaluation of victim needs and assistance with referrals for case specific services such as: shelter, mental health counseling (e.g. domestic violence, sexual assault, trauma recovery, homicide bereavement), peer support groups, emergency financial assistance, protection, and relocation

·         Provide formal and informal education and training to criminal justice and community agencies regarding victim rights and victim witness services

·         Participate/ facilitate in community round tables and community outreach with collaborative agencies