Salem Police Department Seeking Victim Advocates

The program depends heavily on the support of volunteers.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - The Salem Police Department Domestic Violence Response Team is currently accepting applications for volunteer advocates.

This program depends heavily on the support of volunteers.

Training is provided free of charge to applicants who successfully complete the screening process and interview.

Salem Police Department DVRT has scheduled the advocate academy to occur during six consecutive evenings and two full Saturdays in April beginning on the 18th.

All dates are mandatory for attendance. Trained victim advocates sign up for specific shifts throughout the month to carry the 24-hour crisis intervention pager.

Once paged by the officer, the advocate responds on-scene to provide the victim of crime with various information, assistance and support.

Victim advocates strive to ease the impact of this devastating crime on the victim and provide intervention in an effort to break the cycle of violence.

Those interested must be at least 18 years of age, have no history of criminal conduct, live within 5 miles of the City of Salem, have an insured vehicle to use, and be able to respond on-scene to a variety of different circumstances and situations.

Applications are being accepted from now until Friday April 6th.

Please contact the program coordinators at (503) 588-6499 x2 or x3 for an application packet.