Crime Victim Advocacy in the Aftermath of Firearms Crime

When someone discharges a firearm in an act of violence, this affects the lives of multiple people within a community. One successful model for addressing the impacts of crimes on a community—and specifically those related to firearms crime—is deployed in Washington state by the nonprofit organization Victim Support Services. The agency works in partnership with local law enforcement and other service agencies to provide services to a geographic zone surrounding Seattle, Washington, and other counties to the north and west. The mission is to support victims of crime through advocacy, education, and awareness.