Victim Services
The Victim Services Unit (VSU) is staffed with four full time advocates, one administrative specialist, volunteer victim advocates and the Victim Services Supervisor. VSU works within the Criminal Investigations Division of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. The unit responds to victims’ rights cases that include but are not limited to domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse to ensure that victims’ rights are met. It is the goal of the Victim Services Unit to ensure all victims are treated with fairness, dignity and respect. VSU also responds to other traumatic events such as unattended deaths, suicides, house fires and missing persons. Advocates, both staff and volunteer, provide crisis intervention, support and resources and referrals for individuals and families affected. Some responses include an on scene response and others include phone calls, follow up, appointments and letters. A member of the victim services staff is available 24/7, 365 days a year to offer support and provide information. To contact the Victim Services Unit directly during business hours, please call 303-271-5339 or email [email protected].
If you need immediate assistance from an advocate, please contact our after hours on-call advocate by calling Jeffcom dispatch 303-980-7300.
Meet Our Team
Call us at 303-271-5339
Crime Victim Rights Act (VRA)
The Victim Rights Act (VRA) in Colorado ensures that crime victims are treated with fairness, respect, dignity and that they are free from intimidation, harassment, and abuse. The VRA also helps to ensure that victims are informed of critical stages of the criminal justice process and that they may be present for, and heard, at certain stages as well.
It is the goal of the Victim Services Unit to ensure that victims’ rights are met throughout the critical stages of the law enforcement responsibilities and that victims are treated with fairness, dignity and respect.
To capture all victims’ rights cases and important information regarding victims’ rights we have created a brochure with more information.
If you feel as though your victim rights have not been provided to you, you may choose to file a complaint by visiting the Division of Criminal Justice.
Crime Victim Compensation
The Crime Victim Compensation (CVC) program provides victims of crime with funds to pay for medical care, mental health support, loss of income, residential repairs, cleaning services and burial expenses.
To receive crime victim compensation victims must sustain physical or psychological injury, or suffer residential property damage as a result of the crime. Family members of victims who are killed in the commission of the crime are also eligible.
Eligibility requirements also include:
- Crime occurred in Jefferson or Gilpin County*
- Crime must be reported within 72 hours of its occurrence
- Injury or death wasn’t caused by the victim’s wrong-doing
- Victim must cooperate with law enforcement officials
- Victimization occurred on or after July 1, 1982
Applications must be submitted within one year from the date of the crime and within six months for residential damage claims.
*Residents of Gilpin or Jefferson County are also eligible if a crime occurs in another state or country without a crime victim compensation program.
For more information about this program and to fill out the application online please visit the 1st Judicial District Victim Compensation Program.
Victim Information and Notification (VINE)
Register to receive automated notifications via email, text or phone call regarding custody of an inmate. You can also check custody status of an inmate online at any time.
https://vinelink.vineapps.com/state/CO/ENGLISH
To register online:
- Go to vinelink.com
- Click on Colorado
- Select Search and Register for Offenders
- Choose all facilities or Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
- Enter the last name and at least the first letter of the first name. Click Search.
- Click the magnifying glass next to the name, under Register/Details
- A photo may be available. If you would like to see it, click on “See Photo.”
- Select a notification method (phone, email, text, and/or TTY), click Continue, provide a PIN where required for phone notification, and click Register.
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VRA Cold Case Annual Notification Program
As the victim of a criminal case, pursuant to the Colorado Victim Rights Act (CRS § 24-4.1-302.5 (1) (c)) you have the right to request an annual notification on the status of your case.
Upon request by the victim, the law enforcement agency shall provide the victim in a cold case information concerning any change in the status of the case. In addition, the law enforcement agency shall provide an update at least annually to the victim concerning the status of a cold case involving one or more crimes for which the criminal statute of limitations is longer than three years.
The Sheriff’s Office is committed to solving your case. If new developments or leads occur, an investigator will notify of these changes regardless of your decision to receive annual notifications.
Please note if you fail to notify us of any contact information changes and we are not able to reach you, we may no longer be able to send you annual notifications.
If you would like to talk to a victim advocate about this program please contact our office during business hours at 303-271-5339.
Volunteer Opportunities
Under limited supervision, a Volunteer Victim Advocate will perform specialized counseling work as a call-out advocate assisting, advising, and/or providing crisis intervention and comfort to victims and witnesses of crimes reported to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. Advocates may refer victims and witnesses to supportive agency programs, will serve as liaisons between the victim and/or witness with law enforcement agencies, and provide follow-up assistance to address victims' needs. Work also involves notifying crime victims of their rights under state laws and assisting victims with applications for Crime Victim Compensation.
- You will need to complete the following:
- Please fill out this basic application
- Electronically sign the "Acknowledgement and Consent to Release Information" at the end of this application
- Complete a supplemental questionnaire. The link to complete this questionnaire is at the bottom of this application or you can access it from here by clicking on VVA Supplement Questionnaire.
Applications are processed year around.
- Additional Information:
Upon acceptance to the program, applicants must attend and successfully complete a 40- hour training academy which will be held Tuesday and Thursday nights and all day on two Saturdays for 4 weeks.
Applicants will be required to complete an 8 hour (minimum) ride-along with a Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputy.
- Time Commitment:
After completion of training, the applicant must be able to respond to crisis situations county-wide a minimum of four shifts per month (shifts include Monday - Friday 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. or Saturday and Sundays 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to Monday morning 6:00 a.m.)
Deputy Hugs
Deputy Hugs is the teddy bear that accompanies deputies as well asvictim advocates in their cars. Studies show that teddy bears can play an integral part in helping children, as well as adults, stay calm and ease tension in traumatic and stressful situations. Deputy Hugs is always up for the job and available to offer snuggles and provide comfort to victims of crime or anyone in crisis. A soft touch and something plush is extremely powerful. That action and feeling triggers a sigh of relief that helps lower a person’s blood pressure, release calming endorphins in your body and give a moment of peace for the individual. Often times when a deputy or advocate gives a bear to a victim or witness of a crime this opens the door of communication and builds a positive connection between them and the law enforcement community. Deputy Hugs’ T-shirt reads, “I got HUGS from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office!”
How Can You Help?
The Deputy Hugs program is funded solely by donations from the public. For a donation of $20, you can adopt a Deputy Hugs bear for yourself or a loved one. Not only are you gaining a new friend, your donation will allow us to give a Deputy Hugs to a person in need. Please donate to the Deputy Hugs program, and help our deputies and victim advocates provide a comforting gift to those in need in Jefferson County. Call Victim Services Unit at 303-271-5339 to make a donation or check out our brochure for further details.
Resources
As a part of fulfilling our mission to provide the best services to our community we utilize various resources. Please look at our resource directory for many different resources such as but not limited to window/door replacement, crime scene clean up, crisis hotlines and shelters.
We are currently updating our Resource Directory and will have it available soon.