By Allison Attles Bowen
Director of Victim Services in Tarrant County
The role of a victim service professional is a crucial component of our justice system. Often, we are considered a shoulder to cry on or a hand to hold. While these things may occur, they are not our purpose—it’s just what happens. Our true purpose is to stand with victims, guide them through the complex journey toward justice, and ensure their rights are protected.
The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure mandates in Arts. 56A.201 and 56A.203 that every law enforcement agency and criminal prosecutor’s office appoint a designated victim service professional. In local police departments, that person is known as a crime victim liaison (CVL), while at prosecutor offices, they are victim assistance coordinators (VAC). The unique contributions of both roles are vital in ensuring victims are afforded their rights.
CVLs, as the front line of victim services, respond to crime scenes with officers to provide immediate support to victims, assessing urgent needs, safety planning, arranging shelter, accompanying victims to emergency rooms, and, most importantly, ensuring victims are aware of their rights. CVLs build initial trust in the criminal justice system and prepare victims for what comes next. They lay the groundwork for ongoing victim cooperation. CVLs share valuable information with VACs, such as family dynamics. They let us know all sorts of important information: who is the point of contact, whether there is a family conflict, if the parents have a good relationship, whether the victim and family members understand their rights, whether a crime victims compensation application started, whether other services are needed, if there an ongoing relationship with the defendant, if the victim likely to cooperate, and much more.
Conversely, VACs step in once officers conclude their investigations and transfer the cases to the prosecutor office. VACs are ready to illuminate the criminal justice process to victims, address safety concerns, collaborate with prosecutors, accompany victims to court, advocate for victim participation, and coordinate with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Office of the Attorney General. VACs act as intermediaries between prosecutors and victims. They play a unique role in ensuring that the voices of the victims are heard whether during meetings before a grand jury or trial, by helping victims write impact statements, or by assisting them in delivering a statement in court. VACs have a unique understanding of the criminal justice system, enabling them to support and advocate for victims differently from CVLs or other community advocates. At the same time, VACs can communicate and explain unfavorable outcomes to victims effectively. Prosecutors and investigators trust VACs as reliable sources of information.
In accordance with Art. 56A.204 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, CVLs and VACs are required to work together. Specifically, CVLs are mandated to seek guidance from VACs to perform the duties imposed upon them. Fostering relationships with the different entities involved fulfills a legal requirement and builds trust with victims, ensuring ongoing support throughout their journey to justice. It is also important to recognize that the roles of CVLs and VACs extend beyond victim support. They play a significant part in augmenting the efforts of officers, investigators, and prosecutors. Their roles underscore the collaborative nature of their work and highlight the shared responsibility in supporting victims.
County collaboration
In Tarrant County, I am proud to share the collaborative efforts of VACs and CVLs. Our collaboration, appropriately titled Tarrant County Victim Service Professionals (TCVSP), is a testament to the strength of our community and its commitment to victim support. It began in 2021 and has flourished under the direction of Criminal District Attorney Phil Sorrells.
In past years, those of us in victim services observed a lack of communication between CVLs and VACs in Tarrant County, leading to duplicate services or referrals and the potential for re-victimizing individuals when assessing their needs. To address this issue, we looked for an efficient way to improve communication. Tarrant County, with over two million residents and 43 law enforcement agencies (LEAs), is one of the largest jurisdictions in Texas, so we knew this wouldn’t be an easy task. We used an internal database of email addresses for LEAs to send email invitations to CVLs for a “meet and greet.” The response was positive, and several attended. At the meeting, we discussed some of our concerns, and we agreed to meet quarterly.
Since working together, we have seen a significant improvement in services. We now feel more comfortable contacting each other to discuss case outcomes, pending cases, or questions about operating procedures. Now, every quarter, 20–25 TCVSPs come together to discuss challenges, share community resources, and learn from prosecutors and other experts in the victim services field. The agenda for each meeting is influenced by suggestions from our members and any pressing issues affecting victims in the community. Throughout the years, we have delved into topics such as:
• explaining protective orders and bond conditions to victims
• working with victims who have intellectual and developmental disabilities
• sexual assaults on children, the elderly, and the disabled
• victims’ rights post-conviction and during the appeals process
• legislative changes that impact crime victims’ rights
• advanced training for CVLs
Most, if not all, of our previous problems have been resolved since we started meeting and working together. We are more at ease reaching out to each other to discuss case outcomes, talk about pending cases, or ask questions about operating procedures. In fact, the success of our partnership led to the formation of a committee for National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This committee includes TCVSPs from across Tarrant County to plan an event that honors victims and raises awareness about victim rights.
We’ve also seen our collaboration lead to greater support of each other. For instance, VACs have access to prosecutors and can gain insights into case outcomes. However, this is not always true for CVLs, especially in larger counties, but of course CVLs are often interested in how a case resolves, both to support their professional well-being and satisfy their own curiosity. Without this information, CVLs may wonder whether they could have done more to encourage victim cooperation. Answering these questions can help expand CVLs’ professional knowledge in the justice system, which can then be shared with victims.
Hosting your own victim services meetings
Creating a platform for open communication around shared goals is essential to building successful partnerships, particularly related to victim support. Platforms can take various forms, such as meet-ups at conferences, workshops, luncheons, and both in-person and virtual meetings.
When planning in-person meetings, consider the location and time. Our county is quite large, and some people must drive 30–40 minutes to attend, so we chose the DA’s office as our designated meeting spot as it is centrally located.
Serving breakfast, lunch, or snacks can be an added incentive to increase participation. At our meeting, the Chief of Staff, Jason Peters, wheels in a popcorn machine and makes hot popcorn with various toppings, providing an added incentive to attend. My favorite is the ranch topping (if you have yet to try ranch-favored popcorn, I recommend you do). The aroma of fresh popcorn is enough to attract anyone.
Regardless of the format, victim service professionals will use their platform to find solutions, share ideas and community resources, and support each other. Collectively they make a significant difference in the lives of victims.
If you would like more information, wish to discuss partnering with victim services professionals in your county, or want recommendations for other popcorn toppings, please don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected].