San Francisco, CA – Today, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced new community-based victim services to better serve victims and survivors of crime in community-based settings. The District Attorney’s Office Victim Services Division is embedding a trained Victim Advocate at the offices of the Central City SRO Collaborative and La Voz Latina in the Tenderloin at 472 Ellis Street and at the Samoan Community Development Center in Visitacion Valley at 2055 Sunnydale Avenue. The victim advocates will deliver services and provide new ways for victims and survivors of crime in the neighborhood to engage with the office. The Victim Services Division will embed Victim Advocates in additional communities over time in neighborhoods to be determined based on need.
“Victim Advocates are essential members of my team who work tirelessly, behind the scenes, with victims of crime to help them heal and recover from violent crimes,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “Embedding advocates within trusted community partners will create a valuable new way for victims of crime to connect with my office to access services and resources.”
Victim Advocates work closely with victims of crime, regardless of whether a suspect has been identified or police report has been filed, to alleviate the impact of trauma, navigate the criminal justice system, and rebuild their lives. Advocates provide case updates to victims and offer in-court support including assistance with developing victim impact statements. Advocates provide information and guidance to apply to the California Victim Compensation Board, education on victim’s rights known as Marsy’s Law, and referrals to community resources within San Francisco and the greater Bay Area.
“I would like thank District Attorney Jenkins and her staff for hearing our voices and taking action,” said Greggory Johnson, Central City SRO Collaborative Special Projects Organizer. “La Voz Latina and the Central City SRO Collaborative requested community-based services for victims here in the Tenderloin and have provided office space for an advocate to meet with victims of crimes in comfort and privacy. Thanks to District Attorney Jenkins we will now have an advocate onsite to meet with and address the concerns of victims every Friday. This would not have been possible were it not for the willingness of District Attorney Jenkins and her staff to work with the community and its leaders to address the concerns of the Tenderloin.”
“Having the Tenderloin community access to Victim Services from the District Attorney’s Office is a light of hope and justice for all the people who have suffered in silence for many years,” said Gloria del Mar Lemus, La Voz Latina Program Manager. “Mental Health starts where people can debrief their pain and receive support. Having access to Victim Services staff is the beginning of the Tenderloin restoration plan.”
“The Samoan Community Development Center (SCDC) under the Leadership of Dr. Patsy Tito is thrilled to partner with the District Attorney’s office and host a Victim Advocate at SCDC to serve the Visitacion Valley and Sunnydale Neighborhoods, said Tino Felise, Director of Programs, Samoan Community Development Center. “This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to support and uplift our community members during times of tragedy and adversity.”
The Victim Services Division (VSD) is an essential part of the SFDA’s mission to promote justice and safety. Victims of crime deserve access to resources, opportunities to heal, and solutions to individual needs alongside the pursuit of justice in the courtroom. Members of the VSD team speak Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, and several other languages. In 2023, the VSD provided services to 9,630 victims of violent crime, a 6.7% increase from 2022 when 9,023 victims were served.
VSD strategically partners with community-based organizations by working in coordination to provide a delivery of service to improve the lives of victims of violent crime. VSD in conjunction with community stakeholders offer a range of services to victims with the goal of helping them rebuild their lives following traumatic events. These services include but are not limited to mental health counseling, continued legal support (e.g. civil matters, restraining orders), and linkage to additional services for continued case management.
By forming partnerships with stakeholders throughout the community, the VSD can broaden its programming to help victims of crime navigate the justice system and rebuild their lives after experiencing trauma.
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