Americas The Victim Advocates - 1131 Words

Americas Victim Advocates Victim advocates and handlers have been around for many years and are entrusted with the responsibility and power to ensure the safety, security, and comfort of American victims. It is true that most people can relate to victims and help them to an extent. However, a Victim Advocate s sole purpose is to serve those in need which makes them the backbone of most departments. It can also be said that victim advocates are an underrated part of law enforcement because while most people idolize detectives and their seemingly glamorous lifestyle against criminals, the men and women that call themselves Victim Advocates protect and serve those in need on an unmatchable level. First, it is important to understand what†¦show more content†¦Along with these responsibilities there are many other requirements to become an advocate of this magnitude. Most professional victim advocates have an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in psychology, criminal justice, social work, or education and some organizations require a master’s degree of some type. Unlike other careers, coursework is frequently coupled with intense practical training in social work. This is done because Victim Advocates must hone their listening skills and the teamwork-oriented methods of problem-solving to work effectively with their clients. Advocates generally work with individuals who are emotionally fragile and, as a result, the victims advocate must possess empathy, the ability to listen, and a desire to help others. This position came to be for many different reasons and is a close cousin to the witness protection program. The