Advocacy | Victim Services Center

What is Advocacy?
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Advocacy Services
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Systems Advocacy Services

Justice and Healing

"Victim Services Center is a terrific support system and I would not have made it through without you."
- from a victim of crime

Advocacy is the process of actively supporting, and/or acting on behalf of oneself, another person, or a cause. Advocacy can be any action to assure the best possible services for or intervention in the service system on behalf of an individual or group. At VSC, our advocates are available to act as a liaison within the system and to provide support, encouragement, information and assistance to victims of crime and their significant others.

Inform victim/survivor's of their rights (Victim Bill of Rights - Act 111 of 1998)
Crisis Intervention
In-person advocacy and support during Criminal Justice Proceedings
Hospital, court and police accompaniments
Assistance with Victim Impact Statements
Assistance with Crime Victims Compensation Forms
Assistance with Crime Victim Notification Program
Information and referrals to appropriate community resources

The VSC advocate is committed to ensuring that:

The victim/survivor is treated with dignity, compassion and respect during the course of the criminal proceeding;
The victim/survivor has full knowledge of their rights as a victim of crime in Pennsylvania;
The victim/survivor is fully informed during each step of the process; and
The victim/survivors permission is sought prior to any action taken.

VSC has a strict policy of confidentiality.
State law requires us to protect information shared by sexual assault survivors.

VSC provides training, outreach and technical assistance to agencies on issues surrounding victimization for the purpose of effecting policy and/or procedural changes and in order to improve responses to the needs of those who have been impacted by crime. Some of those agencies are:

Montgomery County Police Departments
Montgomery County District Attorney's Office
The County of Montgomery
Juvenile Justice System
Office of Children and Youth
Social Service Agencies
Health Care System
Education System
Community Groups

For more information about advocacy services, please contact (888) 521-0983.