Being a victim of a crime can be a frightening experience. When a citizen experiences a traumatic event or an unexpected crisis, often they do not know where to turn for assistance in dealing with their special circumstance. To help victims of crime, sudden death and crisis, the Arvada Police Department employs a Victim services Unit. The primary objective of the Victim Advocate program is to offer nonjudgmental, readily available support, information and referrals to families and to witnesses.

Comprised of three full time staff and several volunteers, a Victim Advocate from the Arvada Police Department is available to respond to crime scenes and crisis incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The following list of services is frequently provided to victims of crime and people in need of assistance.

• Immediate and/or On-Scene Assistance
• Crisis intervention
• Emergency Assistance
• Information/Referrals
• Restraining Orders
• Liaison between Law Enforcement and Court Procedures
• Small Monetary Assistance
• Transportation Services
• Food and housing Vouchers
• Telephones/Cellular Phones
• Compensation Applications
• Education to the community on victim issues and crime victims

Volunteer Victim Advocates
A robust volunteer program provides an invaluable service to the Arvada Police Department and the citizens of Arvada. All volunteers agree to a thorough background investigation, a polygraph and a mandatory 40-hour training prior to responding to crisis calls. The volunteer program increases the quality of service to the citizens of Arvada and decreases the likelihood of attrition within the unit. Currently, the Volunteer Victim Advocates are responsible for assisting full-time personnel with the rigorous on-call schedule. Volunteers rotate through a monthly on-call schedule. If you are interested in becoming a Volunteer Victim Advocate please call 720-898-6740 or see our webpages under Community Partnerships.

Should you find yourself involved with a trauma or crisis and are working with an Arvada Police Officer, an Advocate can be called to your location at your request.

Reference Material
The Victim Services Unit has reference material and information available, some of which may be accessed online. Otherwise, please contact the Victim Services Unit at 720-898-6740 and an advocate will be happy to assist you.

Victim Compensation
In some types of crimes, you may be eligible for victim compensation benefits. If you are an innocent victim of a violent crime, you may qualify for compensation.