MICHAEL FOWLER: Victims of crime can find help

What do I do now? Who can I call? Where can I find help? Am I alone?

These are only a few questions that may run through the mind of a victim of a violent crime or property crime. Even a witness to a crime can feel afraid and confused. It is an awfully scary, unexpected thing to be a victim or witness to a crime, and the emotional, mental and/or physical injuries in many cases cannot be undone.

Fortunately, there are many helpful services offered by the District Attorney’s Office to assist victims through the Victim Witness Assistance Division. It is very important for people to know their rights as a victim or witness, to know that we are here to help you and to know that we work tirelessly for all justice to be served.

Witnesses to crimes are urged to call the police. The witness of a crime plays a key role in the conviction of a criminal. It is our duty as citizens, neighbors and friends to report all known information about a crime, for it could be the very thing that helps take a criminal off of our streets.

The Victim Witness Assistance Division is here to help guide you and answer all of your questions about the trial process, being questioned by a prosecutor and the defendant’s attorney, and about whether or not you will have to appear in court.

Victims are also urged to utilize the assistance program, which is free and confidential, with services that include information about your court case’s status, emotional support and companionship to attend court cases, direction and an introduction to the courtroom setting, property recovery of items that may have been stolen, overall support with any of the issues that a victim may have as a result of the crime, and much more.

As a victim, you may also be eligible for the Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program. The crime victims’ compensation program was created to assist victims with debt or money loss as the result of a crime, and it was also created to help inspire victims to become active participants in the criminal justice system.

Qualified applicants can receive a payment for up to $25,000 to assist with dental and medical care, mental health counseling, financial and economic support, crime scene cleanup, and more.

You will more than likely be eligible for this program if you are the innocent victim of a violent crime who has suffered emotional or physical trauma, or if you are the parent, legal guardian, surviving spouse, sibling or child of the victim. Domestic violence victims that are dependent on support from the abuser are also urged to apply for this compensation program.

For more information on the Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program, such as who should and shouldn’t apply, and categorical caps for covered expenses, please visit your local Victims Witness Assistance Office, located in the Dougherty County Judicial Building.

We hope that you are never the victim of a violent crime, but we want you to know that if you unfortunately are, we are here to help.

Michael Fowler is the Dougherty County coroner. He can be contacted at (229) 438-3974 or email [email protected].