Supporting Survivors
DA Rollins expands Victim Witness Assistance Program
BOSTON, October 23, 2019 — Since coming into office on Jan. 2, District Attorney Rachael Rollins has made significant leadership and programmatic changes in the Victim Witness Assistance (VWA) Program, a critical component of her effort to improve the services the criminal justice system provides.
"These changes are not only the right thing to do on a human, moral level, but they can also help build positive connections between the community and law enforcement,’’ District Attorney Rollins said.
Some of District Attorney Rollins’ changes include hiring a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with deep experience in the field of trauma response to run the entire program. In addition, the office just launched an MSW internship program, and increased the number of homicide VWAs by 25 percent. And, by November, the number of VWAs with fluency in multiple languages will have increased more than 60 percent.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office strives to support victims with services that contribute to their empowerment, safety, recovery and healing. Under DA Rollins, the VWA program has moved to a holistic, victim-centered approach, such as providing staff with trauma training and looking at the barriers survivors of violent crimes may face while they or their loved ones are participating in those trials. The process can be overwhelming and emotional as they or their family and loved ones are reliving the trauma of violent crime. DA Rollins thinks extensively about how vicarious trauma impacts the community, her staff, first responders, grand jurors, or survivors, and she is committed to an education and awareness campaign.
Last month, DA Rollins launched the Project for Unsolved Suffolk Homicides (PUSH) an office-wide program to re-examine homicide cases dating back to the 1960s. "The people of Suffolk County deserve to hear us say ‘We Remember’,’’ she said. "Your loved one is not just a case file. They are a person
who had their life stolen. We will work to get you answers, and we will be there to provide any necessary support or services at each step of the way."
The Office recently added a section to its website where survivors of unsolved homicide can reach out directly if law enforcement (police and/or prosecutors) have fallen out of contact with them.
Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins’ office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 25,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.