Victim Services

If you are a victim of a crime or witness to a crime dial 9-1-1 for immediate emergency police assistance or dial (954) 764-HELP(4357) for non-emergency dispatch.
For questions or assistance from the Wilton Manors Police Department's Victim Advocate please call 954-390-2162 or email Brianna Germain at bgermain@wmpd.org.

Who is a Victim?

A victim is a person who suffers direct or threatened physical, psychological, or financial harm as a result of the commission or attempted commission of a crime or delinquent act or against whom the crime or delinquent act is committed. The term victim includes the victim’s lawful representative, the parent or guardian of a minor, or the next of kin of a homicide victim, except upon a showing that the interest of such individual would be in actual or potential conflict with the interests of the victim. The term “victim” does not include the accused.

If you are a victim of a crime or a witness because you have seen, heard, or know something about a crime that was committed, you are important to the case. Your testimony may be necessary to establish the facts. Understandably, you might feel anxious about testifying in court. However, without your testimony the defendant may go unpunished.

Florida Crime Victim's Bill of Rights

Florida Constitution Sec. 16: Rights of accused and of victims

The right to due process and to be treated with fairness and respect for your dignity.
The right to be free from intimidation, harassment, and abuse.
The right, within the judicial process, to be reasonably protected from the accused and any person acting on behalf of the accused. However, this is not intended to create a special relationship between the crime victim and any law enforcement agency or office absent a special relationship or duty as defined by Florida law.
The right to have your safety and welfare as well as your family’s considered when setting bail, including setting pretrial release conditions that could affect you or your family’s safety and welfare.
The right to prevent the disclosure of information or records that could be used to locate or harass you or your family, or which could disclose your confidential or privileged information.
The right to the prompt return of your property when no longer needed as evidence in the case.
The right to full and timely restitution in every case and from each convicted offender for all losses you suffered, both directly and indirectly, because of the criminal conduct.
The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay and to a prompt and final conclusion of the case and any related post judgment proceedings. (In appropriate cases, the prosecutor may file a good faith demand for a speedy trial. In non-capital cases, all state-level appeals and post-conviction proceedings must be complete within two years and five years for capital cases, unless the court enters an order with specific findings concerning why the court was unable to do so and the circumstances causing the delay.)
The right to be informed of your state constitutional rights, and to be informed that you can seek the advice of an attorney with respect to your rights.

Victims of crime or their lawful representatives, including the next of kin of homicide victims, are entitled to the right to be informed, to be present, and to be heard when relevant, at all crucial stages of criminal proceedings, to the extent that these rights do not interfere with the constitutional rights of the accused.

City of Wilton Manors Victim Advocate

The Victim Advocate for the Wilton Manors Police Department responds to victims of crime and trauma within the City of Wilton Manors. At the request of Police, the Advocates responds to crime scenes to provide immediate crisis intervention and referrals to victims of sexual assault, child abuse, domestic violence, stalking, homicide and other violent crimes.

In addition, the Advocates will be there to provide emotional support, court advocacy support, and assistance in obtaining injunctions. Advocates are available for victim/witnesses in understanding how the judicial system works. They will help in filing for Victim's Compensation on behalf of those crime victims.

The Victim Advocate does not give legal advice or provide therapy. When necessary, referrals are made to agencies which provide these services. All services provided by the Victim Advocates are free of charge.

The Victim Advocate can assist victims and witnesses of domestic violence and violent crimes by:

• Notifying victims of their rights under the Florida Law
• Crisis Intervention and short term counseling
• Information and referral to community agencies
• Criminal Justice Support and Advocacy
• Assisting victims prepare and deliver a victim impact statement
• Assistance with victim compensation
• Emergency assistance for shelter and food
• Assisting with the return of property
• Transportation arrangements
• LGBT+ Life in Wilton Manors - Crime related Legal concerns, LGBT+ Advocacy, and Program Partnerships
• Personal Advocacy

In addition, the victims of a crime and the state attorney, with the consent of the victim, have standing to assert the rights of a crime victim as provided by law.

The Wilton Manors Victim Rights Handbook includes information on these rights and other helpful information. You may download a copy of the Victim Rights Handbook below or visit the Lobby during business hours to request a printed copy.

Wilton Manors Victim Rights Handbook - English

Wilton Manors Victim Rights Handbook - Spanish

Broward Sheriff's Office V.I.N.E. Program

(Victim Information Notification Everyday)

The Broward Sheriff's Office VINE (Victim Information Notification Everyday) program notifies known victims, including the next of kin of homicide victims and the relatives of minors who are victims, about the pending release of sentenced prisoners incarcerated in Broward County jails. BSO's VINE program is a free, anonymous, 24-hour, computer-based telephone service for victims of crimes. The VINE program is designed to provide easy access to offender information and to an offender's custody status changes.

For inmate custody information, call 1-877-VINE-4-FL (1-877-846-3435) and follow the prompts. VINE informs a caller if an offender is still in custody, the offender's bail amount and the name of the facility where the offender is being held. Live operator assistance is also available.

Callers may also choose to register for automated notification via phone when an offender is arrested, released, transferred, escapes or dies. To register, callers enter the phone number at which they wish to be reached and are then asked for a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for use during notification. The service will automatically call when one of the above events occurs.

Only offenders in Broward County jails are included in the Broward County VINE service. Offenders in another county's jails or in state or federal custody facilities are not included in this program.

The Broward Sheriff's Office strongly encourages victims of crimes to NOT depend solely on VINE or any other single program to maintain their safety.