Help-In-Crisis currently provides full-time Court Advocacy services in Cherokee, Wagoner, and Sequoyah counties. The Sequoyah County Advocate also provides services to victims in Adair County once a week.
The Court Advocates provide assistance to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault seeking protective orders, provide advocacy and support during hearings and trials, provide referral for clients needing formal legal assistance, provide transportation when needed, and assist clients with the development of a Safety Plan for themselves and their children. The Advocates also accompany women with a law enforcement officer when they go to retrieve their belongings the residence (civil stand-by).
All Court Advocates work hard at developing strong working relationships with court personnel, law enforcement, social services, and the judiciary in each of the counties. They provide education and training as needed or requested as well. Each of the Court Advocates has a strong working knowledge of the court system and is up-to-date on laws related to domestic violence and sexual assault. The trained advocates are not lawyers and do not represent themselves to be so. They assist each client in navigating the complicated and often biased legal system, advocating for the rights of the victim, while providing support and referrals.
Court Advocates offer assurance and strength to victims who are often too afraid to proceed with legal avenues because of intimidation from their abusers. The Court Advocates use their expertise and knowledge of the legal system paired with concern and care for the victim to develop a trust that enables the client to do what she must (legally) to enable justice to be served. It is the hope of all advocates to play a role in building partnerships between community and local government so that change can be effected and attitudes changed concerning domestic violence and sexual assault.
