Spartanburg Public Safety DepartmentVictim Assistance Program
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The Spartanburg Public Safety Department (SPSD) Victim Assistance Program was
established in 1996 with the assistance of a State Victim Assistance Program (SVA-P)
Grant from the SC Department of Public Safety. A fulltime Law
Enforcement Victim Advocate (LEVA) was employed on November 25, 1996 to serve
victims of violent crime. The LEVA works out of the Criminal Investigative
Division and is assigned cases on a regular basis.
Currently, the
LEVA is working to assist victims daily, Monday through Friday from 8:OOAM until
5:OOPM. Also, a LEVA is on call after business hours and may be
called in to assist victims as necessary. In 1999 the LEVA served 417 victims
of crime. Assistance is available to victims at the location of
the crime, during the investigation and throughout the Criminal Justice System
in a variety of ways such as:
On April 12,
1999 the Victim Assistance Program sponsored a Victim Rights Week "Day of
Prayer'' for crime victims and their families. The "Day of Prayer"
was a collaborative effort within the Spartanburg Community for citizens, law
enforcement, and service providers to come together to show support and
encouragement for victims of crime. Approximately 200 persons attended the
event that featured special guest Rita Allison, from the SC House of
Representatives, Brian Marion, from the South Carolina Victim Assistance
Network, and local ministers who offered prayer and support to victims, as well
as special music from a victim/survivor. Mr. Ken Walker, a
victim/survivor from a carjacking/kidnapping was a featured guest who spoke
about the horror of his victimization and how his faith in God brought him
safely through the incident.
A number of
volunteers provided funding and volunteer hours to assist the LEVA in providing
toys and clothing for victims in the Spartanburg area during the 1999 Christmas
season. The "Shop With a Cop Program" was a tremendous success.
Through the generosity of volunteers, more than 75 children and elderly victims
were helped.
It is the prime goal of the SPSD Victim
Advocate to extend to all victims their specific legal rights and to provide
services that will effectively assist them in returning to a pre-crisis level of
functioning. SOUTH CAROLINAState Office of Victim AssistanceEdgar Brown Building, Room 4011205 Pendleton StreetColumbia, Sc 29201Phone (803)734-1900Fax (803)734-1708Business hours victim line: 1(800)220-5370
An office of
Governor Jim Hodges
Mia McLeod
Butler, Director
IMPORTANT TELEPHONE
NUMBERS FOR VICTIMS
SPARTANBURG PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT
LAW ENFORCEMENT
VICTIM ADVOCATE
(864) 596.2067
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
VICTIM ADVOCATE
(864) 596.2855
Spartanburg Public Safety Department
Safe Homes / Rape Crisis Coalition
Courts
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