Victim Service Unit

Victim Service Unit: You will never have to grieve alone

Providing comfort and direction, Victim Services Teams are in place to help families cope with the loss of a loved one, and provide solutions to those in time of need. Victim Services Teams are trained by the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association and directed by the local sheriff’s office.

Victim Services advocates are caring, compassionate volunteers who are recruited from within the Antrim County/Community. Representing a broad cross-section of the population, they often have experienced their own personal tragedy and want to help others. The Michigan Sheriffs’ Association conducts a 20-hour training session which covers subjects such as: The five stages of grief, effective communication techniques, and law enforcement protocols.

Advocates are also provided with other state and local resources.

Services offered

• Liaison with family & friends
• Supply information about funeral arrangements
• Counseling services for adults and children
• Assisting with local resources

When requested by Central Dispatch, a team of two Advocates arrives on the scene to provide comfort and assistance to those struggling to cope with the loss of a loved one or the aftermath.

Advocates make it possible for law enforcement and rescue units to do their job knowing that a family has someone there to address their needs and concern until their own support system is in place.

Advocates assist by notifying family and friends when requested, supplying information about funeral arrangements. counseling services for adults and children, and local resources available to help in the coming weeks.

The Michigan Sheriffs’ Association brought the Victim Services Unit program to the state in 1988. Regarded as model for the rest of the nation, it received the Presidential Citation for Private Sector Initiatives in 1989.

The duties of each Victims Services Unit vary slightly, but are defined to meet the needs of each individual county. In Antrim County the primary goal of our Victim Services Unit is to provide short term comfort and compassionate assistance to loved ones and their families: to help both the survivor and the law enforcement officers during the initial stages of life changing events when tragic news is experienced or delivered.

Contact Us : Jeri Brown
Victim Services Unit Coordinator
(231) 350-3113
Email:  VictimServices