Victim Advocacy Services

The City of Carbondale Police Department Victim Advocacy Program provides advocacy and social services to victims and witnesses of crime. Services are provided primarily to victims of violent crime occurring within the Department’s jurisdiction, with an emphasis on incidents of domestic violence. In addition, services are offered to all victims over the age of 60, regardless of the type of crime committed against them. Assistance is also offered to individuals who come in contact with the police for “non-crime” related situations, yet who are in need of social service intervention.

Services provided include: crisis intervention, information and referral; legal, social service and medical advocacy; investigative information; and support through the investigative process. Assistance in obtaining Orders of Protection and completing Victim’s Compensation Claims is also provided.

The Crime Victim Advocate's are available during regular business hours at (618) 457-3200, ext. 447 or ext. 304.  The Advocate's are also available for call-out in crisis situations.

The Advocate's represents the Department on a number of community boards, including the Jackson County Family Violence Task Force, Chancellor/Mayoral Task Force on Sexual Assault, and the First Circuit Family Violence Coordinating Council.

The Advocate's conduct community education and in-house police training on victim issues.

Orders Of Protection

The Advocacy Program is grant funded through the Illinois Attorney General’s Violent Crime Victim’s Assistance Program as well as the Violence Against Women Act grant and has been operational for years.

Family or household member is defined by state law as:

• Spouse or former spouse
• Persons who presently (or in the past) reside together
• Parent(s) and child(ren)
• Persons who have a child(ren) in common (regardless of marital status)
• Persons related by blood, marriage or common child
• Persons in a dating or engagement relationship
• Persons with disability and their personal care assistants

You cannot petition for an Order of Protection if you do not meet one of the above criteria.

You do not need an attorney to file a petition for an Order of Protection. You may do so on your own, or by assisted by a Victim Advocate. There is no fee for filing a petition for and Order of Protection. An Order of Protection may be granted for up to two years, and is enforceable throughout the United States. Any violation of an Order of Protection should be reported to the police immediately.

In Jackson County Circuit Court, Orders of Protection hearings are held at 8:30 a.m. ONLY, Monday through Friday.

For more information or assistance in Jackson County, contact:

• City of Carbondale Police Department Victim Advocate's, (618) 457-3200, ext. 447 or ext. 304
• Carbondale Women’s Center, (618) 529-2324 or 1-800-334-2094
• Jackson County States Attorney’s Office, Victim Advocate, (618) 687-7200
• SIUC School of Law Domestic Violence Legal Clinic, (618) 536-4423
• Jackson County Circuit Clerk’s Office, (618) 687-7300
• Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, (618) 687-1303

Crime Victim's Compensation

The Illinois Attorney General’s Crime Victims Department administers the Crime Victim’s Compensation Program. If you are the victim of “Violent Crime” or “Crime of Violence”, and sustain physical injuries, you may receive compensation for medical/hospital expenses, counseling, loss of earnings, and tuition reimbursement. Additionally, some coverage may be provided to survivors and relatives in certain circumstances.

To be eligible, you must report the crime to proper authorities within 72 hours and cooperate fully with law enforcement officials. Injuries or death attributable to wrongful conduct or provocation by the victim are not covered. There are certain crimes that are covered by the program; there is no compensation for property loss or pain and suffering.

Compensation under this program is a secondary source of recovery, and the applicant must first exhaust other remedies reasonably available, including, but not limited to private health or life insurance, Medicare and Public Aid.

For more information on any of the above programs or to obtain claim forms, contact:

• City of Carbondale Crime Victim Advocate, (618) 457-3200, ext. 447 or TTY, (618) 457-3200, ext. 305 or email:
• stoliver@ci.carbondale.il.us
• City of Carbondale Domestic Violence Advocate, (618) 457-3200 ext. 304 or e-mail: kkennedy@ci.carbondale.il.us