Publication Date: April 2009
Building Partnerships
District Attorney
In Mobile County, Alabama, and Jackson County, Mississippi, the district attorneys oversee the program, coordinate with participating law enforcement agencies, and partner with agencies and organizations that recruit, train, and manage Good Samaritans volunteers.
The district attorney's leadership is essential because in most communities in the United States, the district attorney (also known as the prosecutor or prosecuting attorney) is the chief law enforcement officer. In that capacity, the district attorney can coordinate with other law enforcement officials and encourage them to participate in the Good Samaritans program, and authorize the sharing of crime victim information.
Prosecutors may have victim service professionals on staff who can help train volunteers or refer victims to Good Samaritans for services.
The district attorney also can provide criminal background checks on volunteers, a critical component for ensuring victim safety and preventing revictimization.
