4/23/2006 4:00:00 AM Standing up for others Advocates protect victims' rights, guide them through the system
Susan Peterson, a Yavapai County felony case victimsą advocate, stands outside the county courthouse where she spends a lot of time helping victims of felony cases navigate their way through the court system.
Courier/Les Stukenberg
By MIRSADA BURIC
The Daily Courier
PRESCOTT When Susan Peterson became a victim witness volunteer advocate in 1987, "The criminal justice system didn't know what to make of us," she said.
"They would see us in court as if we would somehow impinge on defendants' rights," Peterson said. "We were a grassroots effort."
Such views didn't discourage Peterson from pursuing a career in this field, and she became one of three employees of Victim Services a division of the Yavapai County Attorney's Office in 1990. Since then, she has advocated for the rights of hundreds of crime victims and helped them understand and navigate through the complicated criminal justice system.
"I got hooked by this kind of work," Peterson said. "It is very rewarding in a sense that (the victims) become stronger at the end if not satisfied with the process. You are dealing with the people who are facing the most difficult life challenges."
Over the past 15 years, Victim Services has grown, and today it counts 18 staff members and 15 volunteers.
Volunteer Coordinator Marie Martinez said that volunteers are an intricate part of the program. They receive 15 hours of victims' rights and criminal justice system training as well as crisis intervention education before they are ready to deal with the clients, she said.
"They go to court on behalf or with the victim to make sure that their rights are met and they provide them with moral support," said Martinez, who's been a victim of crime herself.
Julio Marroquin, Victim Services Division chief, said that volunteers work nights and weekends, and they serve the population in outlying areas of Yavapai County, which require a lot of travel time.
"We make sure that we have volunteers in all justice courts," Marroquin said.
Although federal and state money support some aspects of this program, Marroquin said, money received from Yavapai County covers 50 percent of the budget paying expenses associated with salaries and benefits.
He said in 2005, the program helped 3,708 victims and collected nearly $765,000 in restitution.
In addition, it provided Victim Compensation assistance to 88 victims for either lost wages, counseling or medical or funeral expenses.
"We are a provider of the last resort" for those services, Marroquin said, adding that the compensations tallied $100,000.
Marroquin said the most important aspect of the Victim Services program is that "We are here to directly address the needs of the victims."
For more information about the Victim Services Division volunteer/intern program call 771-3485.
