Victim Services Unit

In Broomfield, activities recognized victims of crime and those who serve them during National Crime Victim’s Rights Week. Baskets of ribbons were and continue to be available in the Broomfield Police Department.  Anyone is encouraged to come to the Police Department, pick up a ribbon, write the name of their loved one who was a victim or anyone they know who had been victimized and tie the ribbon to the tree planted in memory of victims outside the Police Department.

The Broomfield Police Department is a community oriented police department that supports the Victim Services Unit and offers a wide range of services to prevent crime and resolve problems. The program assists citizens that reside in the City and County of Broomfield.

The Broomfield Police Department Victim Services Unit began in 1987. The goal of the Victim Services Unit is to provide crisis intervention, support, advocacy, resources, referrals, and follow-up assistance to victims and co-victims of crime 24-hours a day. The coordinator, full-time victim advocate, and volunteer victim advocates provide immediate assistance to victims of crime.  If the need arises, additional advocates are available for back-up coverage. Victim advocates are required by departmental policy to respond to the designated location within 30 minutes of contact.

Victims experience many problems that the Broomfield Victim Services Unit addresses through assistance and advocacy. Victims need to access resources, receive emotional support, receive information about their crime (such as officer and case information), and receive information on financial assistance, including restitution and compensation. Victims are guaranteed these basic rights through the Victim Rights Amendment, and the Broomfield Victim Services Unit assists in providing these rights. The Broomfield Victim Services Unit fills an important void by assisting victims immediately after the crime, assuring that the victim is treated with respect and dignity, and assisting the victim with the first steps of regaining physical and emotional well-being.

Crime victims have certain rights. If you are a victim of one of the crimes listed below, your rights are guaranteed by the Colorado Constitution:

• Any crime which includes an act of domestic violence
• Assault - 1st, 2nd, 3rd degree; vehicular; on the elderly or disabled
• Careless driving resulting in death
• Child abuse
• Crimes against at-risk adults or juveniles
• Criminally - negligent homicide and vehicular homicide
• Ethnic intimidation/Biased Motivated Crimes as defined by C.R.S. 18-9-121
• Harassment by stalking
• Hit and run resulting in death
• Incest - aggravated incest
• Indecent exposure
• Kidnapping - 1st and 2nd degree
• Manslaughter
• Menacing
• Murder - 1st and 2nd degree
• Retaliation against a victim or witness
• Robbery - aggravated, aggravated of a controlled substance, of the elderly or disabled
• Sexual Assault; unlawful sexual contact; sexual assault on a child; on a child by one in a position of trust; on a client by a psychotherapist
• Sexual exploitation of children
• Tampering with a witness or victim
• Intimidation or aggravated intimidation of a victim or witness
• Any attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation of these crimes
• Violation of a criminal protection order under Section 18-1-1001, C.R.S., against a person charged with committing sexual assault, on a child, on a child by one in a position of trust, or on a client by a psychotherapist.

Even if you weren’t the direct victim, remember that people who care about victims often become co-victims emotionally.  Find people who can support and listen to you, and ask for help when you need it.  Victim Services (303-438-6429 or 303-438-6471) can be a helpful resource for you also.

The initial shock following a crime, sudden death, or other trauma is a harsh and painful reality for everyone involved. Some normal reactions are:

It is possible to experience a normal life after a crime or tragedy. As most people work through their feelings about the event, they begin to accept that they did the best they could under the circumstances, and have renewed energy to focus on their lives again.

Victims and witnesses of the crimes listed have a right to:

• Be treated with fairness, respect and dignity, and to be free from intimidation, harassment or abuse.
• Be informed about what steps can be taken for protection against intimidation and harm.
• Be kept informed about various phases of their case, including investigation, filing of charges, prosecution, trial, and sentencing.
• Be present and provide information and input -- written or in person -- into the criminal justice process, especially at key points such as bond hearings, plea-bargaining, bond reduction or modification, sentencing and parole release hearings.
• Restitution as a condition of sentencing, or another civil remedy.
• The quick return of their property used for evidence when it is no longer needed.
• Notification from officials about arrest, release of defendants, time and location of legal proceedings, time and location of trials, continuances or delays in trial proceedings, sentencing and parole hearings.
• Be informed about eligibility for victim compensation, when applicable, and the right to be helped in completing application forms in a timely manner, when applicable.
• Employer intercession. (A person cannot be fired or displaced from a job for participating in an investigation or court process.)
• Information about victim assistance and other community resources.
• A quick and fair resolution.
• At the discretion of the District Attorney, to view all or a portion of the pre-sentence report of the probation department.
• Be informed of the results of any HIV testing that is ordered and performed.
• The court shall make efforts to accommodate the victim upon the return of a jury verdict.

New Victim Advocate recruitment begins each February and training is held every April to ensure that adequate volunteer staffing is maintained.  Applicants are screened through background investigation and an interview process.  Monthly advocate training is provided regularly by the Broomfield Victim Services Unit to ensure that information is disseminated to victim advocates, and to provide them with comprehensive victim services training.