Imagine your loved one is murdered inside your home, and although you are grieving, you are responsible for finding someone to clean the crime scene, planning and paying for a funeral, understanding the criminal justice process and the suspect’s status, and fielding interview requests from the defense investigator and the media.

Prior to 2019, survivors of crime in Louisville, Kentucky, had to navigate these steps alone. There were gaps in the provision of support services to victims of crime to address their specific needs. To address the identified gaps in supporting victims of crime, the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) Victim Services Unit (VSU) was developed. Addressing crime victims’ needs can result in them remaining actively engaged in the criminal justice process; improve community access to the department through victim services, which complements the work of community policing; and provide an on-scene response to alleviate law enforcement so officers are able to focus on the investigation. Changes, such as implementing a new VSU, in law enforcement allow agencies to meet the changing needs of the community.