August 4, 2021
Page 9
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O PINION
‘We Help Crime Victims Who Have Suffered’
Addressing the
devastating toll
of violence
Multnomah County’s Victim
and Survivor Services Unit works
with survivors of crime connected
to probation and parole. Over the
past year and a half we have en-
countered an increase in violence.
The number of incidents of com-
munity violence — domestic vio-
lence, sexual violence, trafficking,
person-to-person violence and gun
violence — is devastating.
Countless news stories have
highlighted tragic loss and violence
that tears at the seams of our com-
munity. The impacts are life chang-
ing not only for a survivor, but also
their family, friends and the neigh-
borhoods they live in. And like so
many crises that have recently un-
folded, they disproportionately im-
pact Black, Indigenous and other
communities of color.
We know that many in our com-
munity struggle to trust a justice
system that has historically orga-
nized itself around a bureaucracy
of punishment while neglecting to
The Portland metro area has experienced an increase in community violence over the past year.
Multnomah County’s Victim and Survivor Services Unit has stepped up to help crime victims who
have suffered.
care for those who have suffered probation, parole or post-prison su- security systems in some cases.
from the consequences of harmful pervision in Multnomah County has
Multnomah County is also ex-
actions. However, our team works been convicted of causing harm to panding victim and survivor notifi-
to advocate for the care of victims you, we can provide support to you. cation services with resources from
and survivors connected to the You do not have to be listed as a the American Rescue Plan. These
Multnomah County Department of victim in a case. We also know that funds support a position that ex-
Community Justice.
people on supervision experience pands our ability to provide notifi-
We want our community mem- abuse and we are here for you, too. cations of court processes and pro-
bers to know about the resources
Through additional funds pro- bation violation hearings and other
and services available to victims vided by the Multnomah County notifications that victims have a
and survivors who have been Board of Commissioners, we have right to request.
harmed by someone on supervision expanded a client assistance fund to
Multnomah County’s Depart-
in Multnomah County.
further support survivors who have ment of Community Justice Victim
Our unit operates in one of the six experienced violence from some- and Survivor Services Unit is a sur-
Oregon counties that provide victim one on supervision. These funds vivor-led, trauma-informed team
and survivor services during com- can help with immediate safety that is committed to serving the
munity supervision in both adult needs, such as housing, transpor- whole person. Our eight-member
and juvenile cases. If someone on tation, household utilities and even team includes culturally specific
and bilingual advocates who sup-
port victims from the Black/Afri-
can American and Latinx commu-
nities. We are here to advocate for
you, get you the information you
need to plan around your safety,
support your healing process, and
connect you to resources to meet
your unique needs.
If you or someone you know is
experiencing any kind of harm from
someone on probation or parole in
Multnomah County, our advocates
are here to help. We welcome you to
reach us to contact an advocate, re-
quest notification of probation vio-
lence in court and learn more about
the Department of Community Jus-
tice’s victim and survivor services,
by phone at 503-988-7606 or online
at multco.us/dcj/victims-services.
If you are experiencing domestic
or sexual violence, the crisis line
Call to Safety is available to support
you 24/7 at 503-235-5333. For all
other survivors of crime, Lutheran
Community Services is available to
offer support at 971-888-7830.
Thanks to the eight members of
the Multnomah County Victim’s
and Survivor Services Unit for
the submission of this important
message.