Help Victims of Crime and Volunteer as a Victim Advocate.

Not all heroes wear capes. Be a local hero and help victims of crime in your community.

The Westminster Police Department is seeking applicants for Volunteer Victim Advocates. This position responds to victims of crime and personal tragedy to provide crisis intervention, support, and important information. You will be dispatched to respond to crime scenes, the police department, or hospitals to provide direct services after Law Enforcement Officers have secured the scene. You will receive advocacy training and shadow a veteran advocate before working on your own. Advocates act in an on-call capacity nights and weekends, and each advocate works three 12-hour shifts. A monthly meeting for ongoing training is required. If needed, you may assist staff with weekday crime response.

Some of the benefits include:

• Receive specialized training through our highly acclaimed Victim Advocate Academy.
• Receive full funding to apply and receive your certification through the Colorado Advocate Certification Program (CACP).
• The satisfaction of knowing you are helping some of the most vulnerable in society.
• Every shift is different, as your responsibilities change from case to case, and each victim will have gone through a different experience, which requires varied levels of support.
• Fill hours for college credit for degrees in psychology, forensic psychology, social work, sociology, or criminal justice.

This is a great volunteer opportunity to collaborate with Law Enforcement and for those with an interest in Criminal Justice and a desire to give back to the community.

About you:

• Fluency in Spanish or Hmong preferred, not required.
• Volunteers must be empathetic and non-judgmental.
• Must be able to work well with members of the community and law enforcement officers, and possess strong interpersonal skills.
• Must have reliable transportation, a good driving record, proof of current automobile insurance, and have a cell phone available where you can be reached.
• Must be willing to complete a required 40-hour training, submit to a background investigation, and undergo a voice stress analyzer examination.
• Must have the ability to handle confidential material professionally.
• Any drug use (including marijuana in various forms) within the last three years will be grounds for elimination.
• You must be able to stand for long periods of time, respond to scenes indoors and outdoors, and respond to crime scenes within 30 minutes or less.
• Due to the nature of this work and exposure to intense emotional circumstances, a qualified volunteer will be 21 years of age or older.

Times Needed:

• Advocates act in an on-call capacity on nights and weekends
• Each advocate works 3 12-hour shifts a month
• Each advocate attends a monthly meeting for ongoing training

Watch our video to learn more: Volunteer Westminster Video