Victim Assistance Volunteers
We would like to invite you to join an exciting dedicated group of community members who serve Douglas County in an essential way. We will provide the training you need and help you to decide if this is the right volunteer opportunity for you.
The Victim Assistance Program is a unit within the Investigation Division of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. The program responds to victims of crime, family survivors in cases of sudden or violent death, and delivers many of the death notifications in the County in cooperation with the Coroner’s Office. Deputies contact the Victim Assistance Unit in many situations when a victim needs caretaking, information, or referrals.
Crisis Intervention
A Victim Advocate is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to assist victims of crime and their families. Victims of specific crimes have rights to request and utilize these services. If immediate assistance is not needed, Victim Advocates are in the office on regular workdays. The Advocates provide short-term crisis intervention to victims. These advocates include full-time staff as well as dedicated community volunteers that are trained in addressing the needs of those touched by crime and crisis in our community.
We Provide:
- Emergency assistance to victims immediately following a crime
- Services for special needs of all victims, including child victims, seniors, and non-English speaking victims
- Referrals to other supporting agencies and private service providers
- Information about Victim Compensation
- Case status information and transition to the court system
- Help in getting the property back to victims
- Protection and education of victim rights
- Information and assistance with the VINE notification system
Can I join the program?
Volunteer staff members work directly with Sheriff’s deputies and investigators as well as other law enforcement agencies in Douglas County. This position requires reliability, integrity, discretion, and commitment. Because we are looking for a select and elite group of volunteers, the following criteria must be met:
- Be at least 21 years old
- Reside in Douglas County
- Complete application process, which includes an integrity interview, criminal history investigation, and polygraph examination
- Attend 40 hours of initial training
- Attend one evening meeting every month
- Be on call three shifts a month
- Have reliable transportation
- Make a one-year commitment
- Be able to cope with emotional and stressful situations