The Rocky Road to Helping Victims of Crime
Who We Are
The Rocky and District Victim Services Unit is a not-for-profit organization based at the RCMP detachment in the Town of Rocky Mountain House. We offer compassionate, informative support services to victims of crime & trauma in Rocky Mountain House, Clearwater County, and Bighorn, Sunchild & O'Chiese First Nations. We are governed by a volunteer board consisting of representatives from the community and the regional RCMP detachment.
Extensively trained volunteer Victim Advocates from the Rocky region provide the front-line support to the victims of tragedy, abuse or trauma in our area. These volunteers have specialized expertise and security clearance through the RCMP, and continue to receive training throughout their term of service. They are led by a Victim Response Team Coordinator who maintains communications with the RCMP and other emergency responders who refer clients to the Rocky and District Victim Services Unit.
What We Do
Rocky and District Victim Services offers crisis intervention 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the goal of alleviating trauma and reducing the emotional impact of a crisis situation. We also act as a referral service, providing appropriate information and direction to service providers that victims of crime and tragedy may require.
Our core purpose is to be the compassionate face of law enforcement when police are called in to respond to a crime, crisis or emergency. Victim Service advocates will be contacted to provide caring support, referral information and other timely assistance as required by the client.
Victim and Witness Court Support
Court Support Workers are available to assist victims of, or witnesses to, a crime who are involved in court proceedings. A Court Support Worker can keep victims/witnesses updated on the status of the matter as it proceeds through court & can meet with those individuals requiring guidance prior to the court date to help them through that sometimes intimidating experience. The goal is to help alleviate fears they may have and to familiarize our clients with the legal process.
A Court Support Worker may, if requested, attend Court with the victim or witness as moral support or to further assist them in understanding the proceedings. The Court Support Worker will also liaise with Crown Prosecutors and Court personnel, in order to keep victims informed and to maintain communications in a secure environment.