Victims and survivors of violent crimes come from every ethnic, social, religious, and economic sector of our population. Due to the nature of the victimization process, victims of violent crimes are reluctant to seek assistance, particularity those in domestic violence situations. The cloak of silence is the criminal’s “best friend” as violent crimes are often unreported and potential witnesses unwilling to step forward. There is a pressing need to put an end to this veil of silence and dramatically modify the attitude towards violence from the victim’s perspective.

The Victim Advocate Services Program provides support to victims of domestic violence, all violent crimes and families of homicide victims. Specialized assistance is available to victims and survivors immediately at the crime scene, throughout the investigative process and during the criminal justice process.

• Assistance with filing Victim Compensation forms for burial expenses, medical bills, disability due to the incident, grief counseling, loss of wages, loss of support to dependent survivors, property loss for adults over 60 years or who are disabled.
• Crisis intervention and Emotional support to all victims and families of homicide victims.
• Relocation referrals to the Coordinated Victim Assistance Center (CVAC) safe space for victims of domestic violence.
• Referrals to domestic violence shelters, grief counseling, support groups for parents of murdered children, and other agencies that provide mental health and other empowerment counseling.
• Assist victims in understanding the criminal justice process and their rights.
• Assist victims with information on obtaining an injunction for protection against domestic violence or intimate partner violence.
• Provide follow-up to all victims regarding their case investigation.
• Provide on-scene crisis intervention and support, when requested.
• Provide U-visa assistance to cooperating victims who are not citizens.
• Provide assistance for Victim / Witness Protection, after approval from the Criminal Investigative Commanders.
• Provide training on services offered, as well as attend community meetings.
• Provide community empowerment and training on topics such as human trafficking, domestic violence, safety awareness, teen dating violence and more.

The Victim Advocate Services Program has become an integral element of the comprehensive services provided to the residents and visitors of the City of Miami. The program complements the efforts of the Miami Police Department in reducing crime and enhancing the quality of life in the community by providing immediate assistance to all victims of violent crimes, including domestic violence and families of homicide victims.

The State of Florida Statutes provide guidelines for the fair treatment of victims in the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems. It authorizes a direct-support organization to assist victims of adult and juvenile crime.

The Victim Advocate Services Unit is here to support you. Call us at 305-603-6290.