BCPD FY 2019 Law Enforcement Based Victim Specialist Program

The purpose of this award, funded under the OVC FY 2019 Law Enforcement-Based Victim Specialist Program, is to develop or enhance crime victim specialist programs within law enforcement agencies to better support victims through the criminal justice process including connecting them with community-based direct victim services programs to more quickly and more effectively serve them. The Battle Creek Police Department’s project goal is to reduce Part I violent crimes within the City of Battle Creek and to serve the victims of Part I violent crimes by providing victim services and connecting victims with trauma-informed healing modalities and community resources. BCPD’s partner, the Battle Creek Community Foundation, received a Michigan Health and Human Services-VOCA/Anti-Terrorism grant to provide a victim navigator through their office and build capacity of victim supports within Kalamazoo and Calhoun Counties after the mass shooting that occurred in February 2016. Much work has been accomplished in building capacity of trauma informed healing modalities and resources for victims since then; however, there is little victim support in the form of victim advocates in Battle Creek. This project will address that gap. CA/NCF