Highland County Victim Witness announces new office staff

Pictured from the Highland County Victim Witness office are (l-r) Teresa Wisecup, office manager; Barbara Shoemaker, director; and Jamie Stapleton, juvenile advocate.

Highland County Victim Witness announces new office staff

The Highland County Victim Witness program has a new director, Barbara Shoemaker, and staff, Jamie Stapleton, Juvenile Advocate, Teresa Wisecup, Office Manager, and Betty Jackman, County Court, who all also serve as volunteer advocates. They are working to establish relationships with area agencies such as Domestic Violence, Highland County Sheriff’s Office, all area police departments, and the Fayette County Victim Witness office.

   The Victim Witness program offers support and information to those affected by a crime. The staff offers a variety of services to victims and witnesses as well. Their goal is to help victims and witnesses understand their rights and responsibilities so that they can make intelligent choices about what is best for them. The office relies on volunteers to work with staff to maintain 24-hour crises services. Volunteers, along with staff, also respond to area hospitals to provide support and information to victims who have been sexually assaulted. Volunteers obtain information from responding police and hospital personnel to relay to a staff member on call.

   Volunteers are on call evenings and weekends; no holidays.

   The Victim Witness assistance advocate helps with emergency assistance, such as referrals, conducts follow-up calls, orients victims and witnesses to the criminal justice system, and notifies family and friends as requested. They provide crime prevention information and communicate with law enforcement agencies, rape crisis centers, prosecutors, and other related agencies. They also assist law enforcement on death notifications.

   To become a volunteer, you must first complete a background check which the Victim Witness organization pays for.

   The benefits of volunteering give you an opportunity to help a person who has experienced trauma to become better educated in the criminal justice system, and the experience may apply as college credit.

   Call (937) 393-5872 for more information.

The Highland County Victim Witness program has a new director, Barbara Shoemaker, and staff, Jamie Stapleton, Juvenile Advocate, Teresa Wisecup, Office Manager, and Betty Jackman, County Court, who all also serve as volunteer advocates. They are working to establish relationships with area agencies such as Domestic Violence, Highland County Sheriff’s Office, all area police departments, and the Fayette County Victim Witness office.

   The Victim Witness program offers support and information to those affected by a crime. The staff offers a variety of services to victims and witnesses as well. Their goal is to help victims and witnesses understand their rights and responsibilities so that they can make intelligent choices about what is best for them. The office relies on volunteers to work with staff to maintain 24-hour crises services. Volunteers, along with staff, also respond to area hospitals to provide support and information to victims who have been sexually assaulted. Volunteers obtain information from responding police and hospital personnel to relay to a staff member on call.

   Volunteers are on call evenings and weekends; no holidays.

   The Victim Witness assistance advocate helps with emergency assistance, such as referrals, conducts follow-up calls, orients victims and witnesses to the criminal justice system, and notifies family and friends as requested. They provide crime prevention information and communicate with law enforcement agencies, rape crisis centers, prosecutors, and other related agencies. They also assist law enforcement on death notifications.

   To become a volunteer, you must first complete a background check which the Victim Witness organization pays for.

   The benefits of volunteering give you an opportunity to help a person who has experienced trauma to become better educated in the criminal justice system, and the experience may apply as college credit.

   Call (937) 393-5872 for more information.