Weld County Victim's Advocates in DV Cases

In Weld, Morgan and Logan County Court cases where there is a ‘victim’, a victim’s advocate may be involved. These victim’s advocates mostly focus on Domestic Violence, Sex Assault and Child Abuse cases, and work closely with the district attorneys, police departments and sheriff’s offices. While they are supposed to be advocates for the victim, victim’s advocates usually end up being advocates for the prosecution.

What Do Victim’s Advocates Do?

We have come in contact with good victim’s advocates; people who truly have the victim’s best interest at heart. Conversely, we have dealt with many who are not looking at the facts, but are just out to get the most severe convictions possible. Specifically in Greeley Domestic Violence cases, restoring a family tends not to be their goal, even if that is what would be best for everyone involved. Instead, we have heard of victim’s advocates using threats to push their bias. For example, the alleged victim in a DV case may be told by her advocate she will lose custody of her children if she does not divorce her husband, the alleged offender.

Victim’s Advocates: A Go-Between 

As the voice of the victim, a victim’s advocate is supposed to put the victim’s best interest first. However, they intervene in court processes and sometimes end up affecting the defense’s ability to prepare for trial. Instead of allowing the victim to have their say or be interviewed by the defense attorneys, alleged victims are hidden from the defense and quickly ushered out of the room after court proceedings. This does not follow fair judicial process, but is permitted because the advocate claims it is for the protection of the victim. It is really for the benefit of the prosecution’s case.