Victim Services
The Mesa Police Department is committed to the provision of quality
services to victims, survivors and witnesses of criminal events, in addition
to persons involved in non-criminal crisis circumstances. The department
recognizes that many people may require assistance with addressing needs of
exercising constitutional/statutory rights, establishing personal safety,
securing access to services, establishing a support system, and ensuring
continuity of services between departments/agencies. Through the provision
of this assistance, the Mesa Police Department is dedicated to treating all
persons contacted with fairness, compassion, respect and dignity.
The Mesa Police Department Victim Services Unit is comprised
of three components:
- Victim Notification -- personnel are
responsible for contacting victims of misdemeanor arrests to
provide information regarding the arrest, Initial Appearance
Court, releases, release conditions and the transfer of
defendants to county jail facilities. Victim Notification
personnel also provide victims with contact numbers for the
appropriate prosecutorial agency according to the
disposition of their cases.
- Victim Assistance Program -- volunteers
in this program are responsible for the provision of 24 hour
on-scene crisis response at the request of sworn personnel.
All volunteers receive 30-40 hours of training on crisis
intervention topics, in addition to on-going monthly
training. Following on-scene crisis response, volunteers
routinely refer victims/survivors/witnesses to appropriate
advocates in an effort to ensure continuity of services.
- Victim Services -- personnel are
responsible for providing services to victims of multiple
crimes inclusive of survivors of homicide, aggravated
assault, robbery, child abuse, sexual assault, domestic
violence, burglary, assaults, threats, and harassment.
Service provision occurs through: 1) pairing of victim
advocates with detectives for field contact with victims; 2)
in-person contact with victims brought to the Center Against
Family Violence; and 3) phone contact with victims of
non-critical cases. Service provision includes crisis
intervention, education regarding Victims' Rights and the
criminal justice process, assistance with Victim
Compensation applications, assistance with Orders of
Protection, referrals to community resources, and transfer
of advocacy to prosecutorial agencies.
The positive contributions of all personnel in each component
of the Victim Service Unit have provided an environment that
fosters communication between internal departments, agencies in
the criminal justice system, and representatives of community
services agencies. This environment, in turn, allows for
beneficial outcomes for those that are served.
If you would like more information about becoming a
Victim Assistance Program volunteer, a
Center Against Family Violence Assistant volunteer or
participating in an
internship with the Victim Services Unit, please contact the
Victim Services Coordinator at 480-644-2036.
You may
download the Volunteer Application Packet (PDF/22 pages) or
request the packet be
mailed to you.
LITERATURE