I recently received this email from my "contact us" page: Comments: Places to go for help would be a great resource for victims. It is very difficult to keep moving, buy surveillance cameras, etc without some financial assistance -- It is just so frustrating...   Thank you       That got me to thinking that I often refer people to my department's Victim Advocate office, but I don't know the full extent of the services they provide. So, I went to the Victim Advocate office and sat down with a couple of the gals and asked them to give me a rundown of the services they provide. I think they were surprised that one of the detectives pulled their head out of their a-- long enough to come talk to them. Usually we just joke with them as coworkers do, or contact them about a specific case. This was the first time that I had ever sat down and said educate me. It was very enlightening, I didn't know the extent of what they can do. I won't lie, they told me so much that I hit overload and couldn't remember all the info, but I retained enough to give me a greater respect for them.    Here is my response to that reader:     I went to the office of my department's Victim Advocates and asked them about what kind of services are out there. The gal I spoke with has been an advocate for about nine years and is the most "veteran" that we have. She said that a lot of the money they have access to is Federal money but that it is controlled on a state level. She said this is true nationwide. This means that in order to access those funds, you have to apply for it through your state. She said the best way to get started is to contact your local police or Court system and ask to speak to an advocate.    Here are some of the services available in our state and she said most states are the - same: 1. The state will pay for medical bills accrued by victims of violent crime. 2. Emergency housing. 3. Extended housing (up to 18 months) to help battered women get a fresh start. 4. Money to relocate, to get away from an abuser. One time only, If she goes back to her abuser there will be no future assistance in relocating. 5. Prescription drugs. 6. Reimbursement for lost wages (this one surprised me). 7. Assistance in getting a Protective Order. 8. Transportation to and from court, and the advocate stays with the victim to discourage harassment while at court. 9. Assistance in accessing State welfare assistance.      These are just some of the services they provide. Understand that a person can't just pick and choose what services they want. You would need to talk to a Victim Advocate and explain your situation, then accept their guidance on what services are available in your state, and which ones would help you most.    I asked how I could help out-of-state persons get in touch with an advocate service. She suggested that you contact an organization called National Organization for Victims Assistance. The website is trynova.org. There are other national organizations on the web but she suggested you start here.    She said that this national organization is set up to provide referrals to service throughout the USA. I suggest you contact them by email, they have a "contact us" link on their website. Tell them what city and state you're in and ask them to refer you to an Advocate service in your area.       In addition to services, I've always found that advocates are great listeners, and are full of ideas to help people. I don't think people become Advocates because they want to become rich and famous (that ain't gonna happen). They get into it because they are genuinely nice people who want to help others. They don't just want to help others, they put themselves in a position where they can affect peoples lives. You don't just walk in one day and say I want to be an advocate, you have to go through the training and really devote yourself to helping others. I have always had the utmost respect for the advocates I associate with. After writing the information above, I sent an email to the trynova.org website asking them to look at what I had written and make suggestions. I was very surprised to receive a response the very next day from the Executive Director: Thanks for your email and for making the connection. Your website is helpful and I'm glad it is available. Having working with LE in the past myself, I'm glad for your expertise to be brought to bear on the important issues. Regarding the information you provide, you've done a nice job giving some context for victim assistance. If I were offering suggestions, I might simplify it a bit for the sake of victims, to help them get the big picture as quickly as possible. For one, in the context of your site, I might call it "crime victim advocacy or assistance" because it is only in the context of criminal victimization that resources are available. I know it is assumed, but we get lots of calls from people needing charitable assistance thinking that we are going to write them a check to pay their rent. Secondly, I might recommend a more general description of how crime victims might be eligible for assistance from a victim advocate and also crime victim compensation. Because the laws vary so much between jurisdictions, listing the possible compensation items might create expectations that will not be met for some victims. For instance, medical reimbursement is common but some times limited to a comparatively small amount. While your list is an accurate one, you might create more general categories for possible compensation. You will find that the states themselves sometimes won't list the possibilities, though some do. Property loss is never covered as such. Third, to help victims 'fish' for themselves, if they will Google, "Victim Assistance (state)" and look for the link for state victim assistance, many times through their State Attorney General's office, they will find phone numbers to request a victim advocate in their area and also information on crime victim compensation. Hope that is helpful. Maybe more than you want to know! Kind regards, Dr. Will Marling Executive Director    I wrote back:    Dr. Marling,    Thank you for your quick response.    This is just what I was looking for. I had received just the raw information of services available and drew up the list based solely on their availability. If I understand what you're saying, your experience in this field has taught you that it's better to give general services information, then get the crime victim in contact with an advocate who can assess their specific needs and access those services that will benefit them the most.    I had put the services out like groceries on a shelf which makes it look like a victim can pick and choose whatever they want, when in fact they need to tell their needs to the grocer and have him pick out what's best and most available to fit their specific needs.    I really appreciate you taking the time to help me. The local advocate that I had spoken with was very confident in recommending your organization. The fact that you responded to me so readily tells me that her faith is well placed.    Thanks again.    I feel that this page is still inadequate to give you an idea of what advocates do, it is really just the tip of the iceberg. If any reader is a victim advocate, I would really love your input in providing more information. If you have ideas, would you please send them to me on the "contact us" page of this website?