Warner Robins Police Department adding victim advocate to staff. What it means for crime victims

WARNER ROBINS — The Warner Robins police want to make it less overwhelming for crime victims to reach out. The department plans to hire a victim advocate to help connect victims with police.

Police Chief Wayne Fisher said it’s the first position of its kind at a law enforcement agency in Houston County, and he is glad the department is leading the way locally. The Office for Victims of Crime at the U.S. Department of Justice notes that similar programs are already in place in Atlanta-area agencies.

Fisher said the advocate position was approved in the budget for fiscal year 2027, meaning the department could begin recruiting for the role in July. By mid-July, they were interviewing candidates.

He said the police department is working with the Houston County District Attorney’s Office to find the right person for the job. Once a case is sent to the DA’s office, the victim usually begins working with their victim advocacy group.

What is a victim advocate?

Fisher said that the police department’s victim advocate will primarily review cases, ensure victims have been contacted, and connect them with community resources based on the type of crime.

Typically, investigators communicate with victims.

“I believe in accountability within the community and being able to provide the resources that we need to, and looking at what we are structured for within the organization, we are doing very well in the crime enforcement avenue,” Fisher said.

Fisher said one investigator usually handles 25 to 50 cases at any given time. They tell victims about available resources, but with so many cases, it was hard to follow up and make sure victims got the help they needed.

Fisher said the victim advocate will help by acting as a link between investigators and victims, allowing detectives to focus more on their investigations.

This new role also helps reassure victims that their cases are still being handled.

“What it is hoped for is that through the process, the victim will not feel abandoned or forgotten in regards to when the cases are ongoing, and to ensure that with our resource partners, they’re being properly leveraged and utilized to get resources to the victim as quick as possible,” Fisher said.

What happens to victims in the court system?

Fisher hopes that victims who work with the department’s advocate will be better prepared for what comes next. In Houston County, the district attorney’s office can handle victim advocacy once a case enters the criminal justice system.

Amanda Stables, a victim advocate at the DA’s office, said the new role could help victims access resources more quickly and stay better informed before cases reach their desks.

“It’s really exciting to me to know that there’s going to be someone who ideally will be able to bridge that gap of time, go ahead and get them connected as soon as possible, and do a warm handoff to our office so that they know there’s going to be someone that will follow you through once it gets to the court part,” Stables said.

She added that the new position could also help victims feel more at ease while interacting with police.

“I hope that it will provide a sense of trust, that they know there’s somebody in their corner, even from that very first reporting of a crime and having contact with law enforcement. Even that part can be scary. Some people may not feel very comfortable talking to an officer with a badge and a gun,” Stables said.

Stables said that once a case gets to the DA’s office, victim advocates can offer help like financial counseling for fraud victims, paying for funerals, and finding mental health care for victims of violent crimes.

Victim advocates also help people navigate the criminal justice system, ensure they know their rights, go with them to court and provide advice.

“If a victim has to testify we help get them ready for that, support them emotionally, and just be there with them. We follow through with them from the beginning of a case all the way to the very end,” she said.

She said the DA’s office always tries to support victims after the trauma of witnessing a crime, mainly by maintaining relationships with local organizations.

“It’s one thing to just hand out a phone number and say, ‘Hey, you can talk to 211,’ but it’s really nice that we have partnerships. With our community resources, we work with them. We have meetings with them. I think what helps make us effective is knowing that we trust those resources,” Stables said.

She explained that, like the police department, victim advocacy in the court system helps connect victims with lawyers.

“We stay effective by staying on top of our cases and communicating with the attorneys in charge of prosecuting those cases, so that we can answer questions for victims and get them connected to what they need,” Stables said.

Stables said that after someone goes through the trauma of witnessing a crime, a victim advocate can be a valuable guide during uncertain times. She added that with the right training, anyone who wants to help others can become a victim advocate.

“Our hope is that having a victim advocate for anyone who’s gone through a trauma is that they felt supported, they felt they had a point of contact that they can ask their questions to,” Stables said. “We hope they felt like somebody was really caring about them and meeting them where they were.”