Serving victims, building trust, restoring hope

Building trust – Few experiences can undermine a person’s trust quite like becoming a victim of crime. Being victimized can lead to a loss of trust in other people, our justice system, or themselves. Advocates and prosecutors work to rebuild that trust by listening to victims and helping them understand a criminal justice process that they are likely a part of for the first time.
Restoring hope – Victim advocates are committed to restoring hope in a criminal justice system that frequently seems biased toward offenders. Many times victims feel like an afterthought, like they have no rights and that no one understands what they are going through.  With advocates providing many services, including court accompaniment, explanation of court procedures and necessary referrals, victims can participate in and better understand their role in the system. When victims can hope again, they can truly become survivors, not merely victims.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week will be observed April 10-16 across the nation. Please join us on Sunday, April 10 from 1-4 p.m. on the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville for our second annual Crime Victims’ Rights Week Community Day, a family-friendly afternoon of activities and community resource booths. For more information about the event, or the rights of crime victims, please contact the Fluvanna Victim/Witness Assistance Program at 434-591-1985.