Victim Assistance

Eligibility  |  Services  |  Victim's Rights
University Services  |  Important Numbers

Crime leaves us all at a loss.  No one expects a family member, a close friend, or even themselves to become a victim of crime. 

There is a period of shock and confusion that follows the criminal victimization of yourself or a loved one.  These feelings are normal and common.  It is important to give yourself time to understand and talk about what has happened.  However, it is not always possible to do this alone.  It may be useful to seek the services of those specially trained and experienced in helping victims reduce the emotional impact of crime.

The University Police Department’s Victim Assistance Program was established to provide these services to anyone who may become a victim of crime while on the campus.  The Victim Assistance Program maintains close working relationships with other local and state victim service providers, and is a member of the North Carolina Victim Assistance Network. All services are free and confidential.  

Contact Us

Eligibility  
Services provided by the Victim Assistance Program are available to any Wake Forest University student, faculty, staff or visitor to the campus who becomes the victim of a crime committed within the jurisdiction of the Wake Forest University Police Department.

Services Provided
Emergency Outreach
A victim assistant is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to respond to the emergency needs of a victim.  For assistance, call 758-4332 during daytime hours or 758-5591 for after-hours paging.

Victim Assistance

The Victim Assistance Program is here to ensure that victims of crime receive fair treatment in accordance with the provisions of the North Carolina Victim’s Rights Amendment.  This amendment guarantees the right of a victim to be informed, to be present and to be heard, when relevant, at all crucial stages of the criminal proceedings. 

The victim assistant can accompany and support victims through all stages of the criminal justice process such as law enforcement interviews, line-ups, testimony, deposition, trial, sentencing, injunction, hearings, etc.

Crisis Intervention & Referral
Every victim of crime, especially violent crime, experiences predictable emotions and behaviors in the aftermath of his/her victimization.  The victim assistant provides emotional support dealing with the initial issues and feelings the victim may have.  Referrals for counseling are made to Wake Forest University Counseling Center and agencies off campus.

Campus & Community Education
The Victim Assistant is available to speak to the campus community about the Victim Assistance Program and other related topics.  For more information or to request a speaker, call the program at 758-4332.

North Carolina Victim’s Rights Amendment
Guidelines for Fair Treatment of Victims in the Criminal Justice System

1. Victims have a right to be treated with dignity and compassion.
2. Victims have a right to protection from intimidation and harm. 
3. Victims have a right to be informed concerning the criminal justice process. 
4. Victims have a right to provide input into the criminal justice process, especially at such key points as plea bargaining, sentencing, and parole release hearings. 
5. Victims have a right to receive restitution. 
6. Victims have a right to preservation of property and employment. 
7. Victims have a right to due process in criminal court proceedings. 
8. Victims have a right to timely notice of judicial proceedings they are to attend and cancellations of any proceedings. 

Services Provided by the
University Police Department Victim Assistance Program

1. Twenty-four hour support/outreach to victims of violent crime. 
2. Referral to community and University support services for counseling and other assistance. 
3. Victim assistance support and accompaniment through criminal proceedings (testimony, deposition, trial, sentencing, injunction, hearings, etc.). 
4. Community education, consultation and speaking engagements. 

All services are free, confidential, and available to all university students, faculty, staff and visitors to the University campus.