General Information

The Victim Assistance Program is a Unit within the Investigations Division of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. Victims of crime may have experience injury, loss, confusion, and a disruption of life. Feelings of Shock, disbelief, fear, vulnerability, anger, and frustration may occur. Having information and an understanding about the criminal justice system may be helpful for you. Our Victim Advocates can assist you navigate this process and provide services and resources that you may need immediately after a crime has occurred.

Eligibility

Victim assistance is available to any person who is a victim of any of the crimes falling under Colorado Revised Statutes 24-4.1-302 which includes many of the following crimes listed below and occurred within the jurisdiction of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, the Fountain Police Department, and the Manitou Springs Police Department. If you need more information about the Victim’s Rights Act please click HERE.  

Victim Advocacy Services

Services are based upon victim’s needs and delivered without discrimination of age, race, gender, or religion. It is the victim’s right to request or refuse these services. Victim advocates provide information about your case, referrals and will be able to guide you to the appropriate county agencies. Advocates can also provide:

• 24 hours, 7 days a week on call victim assistance, immediate crisis intervention and response, safety planning
• Information on the Colorado’s Victim Rights Act (VRA)
• Assistance completing applications for the Crime Victim Compensation Fund
• Referrals to Shelters
• Arrangement of interpretation services for victims with limited English proficiency
• Information and assistance on obtaining protection orders
• Guidance on U Visa Certification information.
• Assistance with VINE registration. (Victim Information Notification Everyday helps you plan for your safety through notifications of custody status and criminal case information—delivered to you in real time)
• Among other services and resources as needed in case-by-case basis.

Helpful Resources

• Helping Hands El Paso County Community Resources
• El Paso County Department of Human Services 
• 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office  Home
• Colorado VINE (Victim Information Notification Every day)- register for notifications of an offender’s custody changes 
• TESSA - confidential services to victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault 
• Kingdom Builder’s Family Center  
• Colorado Crisis Services confidential and crisis support by trained counselors 
• Kid Power- personal safety and violence prevention education to children ages 3-18 and families 
• The Place- services and support to youth ages 15-24 experiencing homelessness  
• Silver Key Senior Services - for adults age 60 and over 
• Servicios de la Raza- education, support, and services to the Latino communities in Colorado 
• DOVE Colorado- Deaf Overcoming Violence Through Empowerment 
• Asian Pacific Development Center- education and advocacy services to Asian American, Pacific Islander, immigrant, and refugee communities in Colorado 
• Haseya Advocate Program - Native woman-led organization that serves Indigenous survivors of domestic and sexual violence in the Colorado Springs, Colorado region. 
• Colorado Legal Services- legal services for low-income individuals and members of vulnerable populations in Colorado 
• Information on Protection Orders  

Victim Assistance Volunteer Program

If you are interested in applying to become a volunteer victim advocate with El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Victim Assistance Program, please contact The Classes are generally held every year and are approximately 80 hours in length. Please call the Victim Assistance Program Supervisor Pamela Mancini at 719-520-7272 or email the program at [email protected]

Click HERE for more information on volunteering in other areas within the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.