Victim Advocacy

Read:
Breaking Barriers: The Role of
Community-Based and Systems-Based Victim Advocates ✓
Training Module (pp. 1-62)
Shepherds of the Criminal Justice System:
County Program Helps Victims through the Adjudication Process ✓
Full Article (https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/shepherds-of-the-criminal-justice-system/article_ca68cccd-f7df-557b-b77e-a4f28e390ec8.html)
Sexual Assault Survivors Turned Activists ✓
Full Article (https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/a16068/women-sexual-assault-activists/)
Webster defines an “advocate” as a
person “who supports or promotes the interests of a cause or group.”
In victim services, advocates play a critical role in helping
individuals whose lives have been disrupted and forever changed by crime.
Referencing this week’s readings, answer the following questions:
·
Is a systems-based
advocate truly able to “advocate” for victims as defined above?
·
Some community-based
domestic violence organizations and rape crisis centers have been known to
employ survivors. Can you think of any potential risks to having a
survivor work at these agencies in a direct services capacity?

·
When considering
Webster’s definition, is there an advocacy role that would lend itself
particularly well to a survivor? In other words, in what ways might a
survivor be effective in advocating for victims beyond a direct services
role?

·
Discuss systems-based
advocacy, community-based advocacy and survivor-based advocacy as symbiotic.
In other words, how can different advocacy fields complement one another in
promoting and advancing the interests of victims at large?

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