Mesa Police Department Center Against Family
Violence
Victim Services Unit
The Mesa Police Department is committed to the provision of
quality services to victims/survivors/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
CAFV; 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
480-644-4025 or the Victim Services Administrator at
480-644-3232.
You may
download the
Volunteer Application Packet
(PDF/22 pages) or
request the packet be mailed to you.
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