Victim Assistance

Wanda Page
Victim Assistance Coordinator

The Burleson Police Department has established a Victim Assistance Program that provides full victim services normally found only in large agencies.

A victim of a violent crime is someone who has suffered bodily injury or death or who is the victim of sexual assault, kidnapping or aggravated robbery or the close relative (spouse, parent, or brother, sister or child) or the guardian of a victim. Texas state law requires law enforcement agencies to provide certain services to victims and to ensure their rights are protected. It is up to the individual agencies to establish how these services are provided and administered. In most small agencies the services provided are minimal, at best, because of limited funds.

Burleson, like other communities in Johnson County, is feeling the mass migration of people out of large cities and into the smaller suburban communities. With the increased growth, the city is also facing an increase in criminal activity. With the increase in crime there is a growing number of crime victims.

The coordinator responds directly to the scene of major incidents where immediate crisis intervention is needed. In order to provide better on scene response and twenty four hour coverage, the Victim Assistance Coordinator developed a volunteer service consisting of four well trained individuals who assume call out duties on a rotating basis.

 

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