The Kentucky State Police is alerting the public about a program to help domestic violence victims in recognition of October’s National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
KSP Victim Advocacy and Support Justice Program Administrator Danielle Perkins says one in four women and one in seven men will be a victim of domestic violence, which doesn’t discriminate between socio-economic status, race, or location. She adds in response to the high number of crime and domestic violence victims, KSP has employed sixteen victim advocates to provide support services and resources to crime victims across the Commonwealth.
Perkins states the program, called Victim Advocate Support Services (VASS), launched in the fall of 2019 to administer care to crime victims, as well as those involved in traumatic events, and connect them with immediate resources, such as mental health services, crisis intervention, or legal support. These skilled professionals also serve as liaisons between law enforcement and the victim, simultaneously helping victims navigate the system while allowing detectives to focus more on the details of the case. Providing these services in the first hours following a crime is not only vital to healing, it can also help victims secure available compensation funds for out-of-pocket expenses.
Perkins notes one advocate is assigned to each of KSP’s 16 posts throughout the state and to date the KSP Victim Advocates have assisted 1,058 individuals since November of 2019.
If you, or someone you know, needs assistance through the VASS program, please contact your local post and request to speak to the victim advocate. To find your nearest post you can click here.
