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Show Victim group formed By TOM HARALDSEN FARMINGTON - A cooperative effort of three Davis County agencies has led to the formation of a group designed to help victims of violent crimes overcome their traumas. THE DAVIS County Sheriffs Victim Response Unit has been created through the efforts of the Sheriffs office, the county attorney's office and the Second District Court in Farmington. It is being coordinated by Deputy Gayle Smith and Captain Bob Peters of the county sheriffs office. Though such victim's groups are now new, the program in Davis County is somewhat unique in that it is "one of very few in the country handled through a law enforcement agency," Deputy Smith stated. THE NEW program "gives victims immediate im-mediate offers of help at the crime scene," she explained. "The officer reporting re-porting the crime will contact our unit, and we'll provide an advocate to contact the victim right away." Victims will receive help from "advocates," "advo-cates," volunteers who have completed a nine-week training course designed to help them assist those affected by crime. Deputy Smith is quick to point out that "the advocates are not to serve as investigators, investi-gators, prosecutors or psychologists. What they can do is guide the victim to where assistance in those and others areas is available." INITIALLY, the program will help victims vic-tims of serious crimes such as rape, aggrcvatcd assault, aggravated arson, homicide, suicide, death notification and death due to an automobile accident. De- puty Smith said less violent crimes such coy Bu as burglary and robbery may be added to -T the unit's services at a later date if pos- "rixiher sible. -illie. One important service the unit will pro- vide is legal guidance, to a degree. "We ' -ear' will help the victims through the criminal ' justice process. We'll walk them through .!!' the county attorney's office, let them see A" the courtroom before the trial begins, even help keep them away from possible . harassment from the perpetrator in- j."-volved," j."-volved," Deputy Smith added. 'THE1 SHE SAID the unit has a long list of ; ". agencies, both governmental and private, (( who can provide physical, emotional and f00 mental assistance to crime victims. Each -.y advocate will be trained in knowledge of i.Jima, those areas, and thus pass that informa- ' dioa tion along to the victims they work with. :;ieagu, "This service should be particularly ':as helpful in dealing with sex crimes against ':mi children." she said. "We'll be sitting with Pit pro each child victim from the beginning. e even including the taping of their first in- -4 tcrview, so we can build a trust and rap- port with those children." - ((men DAVIS COUNTY got involved in vie- :ars tim's rights when Deputy Smith was vt, appointed to the Governor's Task Force , on Victim's Rights' last year. With the . (r support of the three agencies, this new l.-f1; unit was created to take that work a step closer to home. yj,' Both Deputy Smith and Captain Peters are already busy, having been inundated with calls from those asking questions or seeking help. She said anyone interested in volunteering or needing information should call the unit at 451-3525. J |