Victim Services’ Emerging Role in Law Enforcement

The Kaysville Police Department’s Victim Services Coordinator, Jennifer Winchester, has been instrumental in reshaping KPD’s culture and response to crime and trauma. Five years ago, Kaysville officers would respond, investigate, collect evidence, make an arrest if probable cause existed, and supply a resource pamphlet to victims upon request. It was considered normal for local law enforcement agencies to offer limited support and guidance to victims of crimes while on scene, as victim services were provided through the courts. Enter Jennifer.

KPD identified a need for immediate victim support and received grant funding to hire a full time victim service coordinator, a program no surrounding agencies were offering to their to their community. ?Jennifer was selected and tasked with developing a comprehensive victim service program to enhance KPD’s service and response to victims of crime and trauma. Over the last three years, Jennifer has worked relentlessly to build the program and is undeniably as essential as our officers. Jennifer is always on call, ready to respond at a moment’s notice. ?Jennifer provides emergency stabilization, resources, and basic needs such as safety and security to the victims who have had their world turned upside down. ?

Jennifer believed the creation of a dedicated sex crime and domestic violence detective would provide KPD an opportunity to deliver a full circle of combined service throughout an investigation. ?KPD was awarded funding necessary to create this specialized assignment and Detective Josh Steadman was selected. Jennifer and Josh worked with KPD leaders to develop best practice response and protocols in domestic violence investigations. In 2020, the Davis County Attorney’s Office, recognized the exceptional service and dedication Jennifer and Detective Steadman provide to the community, describing their work as the “gold standard.”

It is impossible to describe the positive impact Jennifer has had on KPD and our community. Jennifer successfully proposed a crisis response/therapy K-9 to be a part of KPD’s victim services. K-9 Walter joined KPD in January 2021 and his presence in the department has noticeably increased morale. Jennifer recently renovated KPD’s soft interview rooms to create a safe, more secure environment to assist with basic needs of victims in crisis. Recognizing many victims may not feel comfortable asking for support, Jennifer organized/coordinated a professionally produced victim information video series available on KPD’s website.

Despite officers’ best efforts to support victims on-scene, as a profession we often fell short. Scott Snow, the director of Denver PD’s Crisis Services offered valuable insight, “We know too much about how trauma effects a cyclical nature of crime and victimization. If all you do is document, prosecute or attempt to prosecute, and leave, you’re missing the opportunity to change the familial culture and the dynamics that perpetuate victimization[i].” Law enforcement leaders must consider the powerful implications and opportunities within this statement. ?

Jennifer has established a robust victim services program, effectively enhancing our officers’ knowledge and understanding of the rights and needs of victims. We are incredibly proud of Jennifer’s accomplishments and honored to work alongside her.

KPD Assistant Chief Ellington (left) and Jennifer (left center) met with Jennifer’s Commerce City-Brighton victim services mentor. Assistant Chief Ellington believes, “Victim Services are as important as anything else we’re doing in law enforcement.[ii]”?

Jennifer (center) participating in a mock mass casualty event at the FBI’s Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia. The training was the final week of the 10 week FBI ELEVATE PPB program (Excellence in Law Enforcement-Based Victim Assistance Training and Enrichment Applied Program Building)i.

[i] FBI. (2019). Trial by fire: FBI course ELEVATEs victim services. Retrieved from: www.fbi.gov/news/stories/fbi-course-elevates-victim-services-102519.

[ii] Commerce City. (2020). News and announcements: Commerce city-brighton victim services unit becomes a model for other agencies. Retrieved from: https://www.c3gov.com/Home/Components/News/News/4413/15