CITY OF GARLAND, 
      TX
Mayor James B. 
      Ratliff 

      
Victim's Assistance - 
      Crisis Counselors Program
The Victim Assistance - 
      Crisis Counselors program was initiated in October, 1993, as part of a 
      general community policing effort developed within the agency. The Victim 
      Assistance Program (VAP) is attached to the Criminal Investigation 
      Division, Personal Violence Unit of the police department. The unit is 
      supervised by a sworn police lieutenant and staffed by three training 
      civilian personnel. The VAP focuses on addressing the needs of violent 
      crime victims, complainants, witnesses and their families. More 
      specifically, the VAP's duties include but are not necessarily limited to 
      the following:
            
                
              
                 
                
               
                
    
      
  • Respond to calls for 
        service involving assault, aggravated assault, sexual assault, or family 
        violence so as to provide assistance to victims; 
      
  • Foster a relationship 
        between the police and the victim while at the scene in order to 
        expedite any possible investigation; 
      
  • Provide short term 
        counseling, arrange for emergency shelter, and provide information on 
        protective orders and family violence; 
      
  • Assess the needs of 
        victims and refer the individual and/or family to the appropriate 
        agency; 
      
  • Provide follow-up case 
        management via home visits, telephone contacts and letters; 
      
  • Provide advocacy and 
        liaison services between crime victims and the District Attorney's 
        Office, Department of Human Resources and various other local, state and 
        federal agencies; 
      
  • Assist families of 
        fatality victims and suicide victims; 
      
  • Maintain statistical 
        data on offenses responded to, referrals made, repeat offenders, etc.; 
        
      
  • Conduct family awareness 
        seminars; and 
      
  • Assist and provide 
        counseling services to agency personnel and their families in crisis. 
                    
    • 
    

    
The VAP accomplishes its 
      mission by directly interfacing with various divisions within the police 
      agency and with other local, state and federal law enforcement entities 
      and social programs.           
                 
     

    
The VAP has an approximate 
      annual budget of $150,834 in local and federal funding, which supports the 
      work of three civilian employees supervised by one sworn police 
      lieutenant.              
                
     

    
CONTACT: Cmdr. Brian H. McDuffie, Criminal 
      Investigation Division, City of Garland, P.O. Box 469002, Garland, TX 
      75046-9002, Telephone - (214) 205-2000.       
                

    
 

      
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