Victim Assistance Unit
A victim advocate is located at each of our office sites to serve you. Please feel free to call them during business hours for assistance or information about your rights as a victim of crime. You may also email victimrights@miottawa.org for assistance.
For cases starting in the Holland District Court and Holland felonies bound over (transferred) to the 20th Circuit Court:
Amber Schuster, Victim Advocate
85 West 8th Street, Suite 130
Holland, MI 49423
Holland: (616)355-4310
Grand Rapids: (616) 662-3100, ext. 4310
FAX: (616) 355-4336
85 West 8th Street, Suite
130
Holland, MI 49423
Holland: (616)355-3534
Grand Rapids: (616) 662-3100, ext. 3534
FAX: (616) 355-4336
For cases starting in the Grand Haven or Hudsonville District Courts and Grand Haven or Hudsonville felonies bound over (transferred) to the 20th Circuit Court:
Emily Hills, Victim Advocate414 Washington Avenue, Room 120
Grand Haven, MI 49417
Grand Haven: (616) 846-8300
Grand Rapids: (616) 662-6060, ext. 8300
FAX: (616) 846-8178
For Child Abuse or Criminal Sexual Conduct cases involving child victims:
Ashlie Boerma, Victim Advocate
414 Washington Avenue, Room 120
Grand Haven, MI 49417
Grand Haven: (616) 846-8338
Grand Rapids: (616) 662-6060, ext. 8338
FAX: (616) 846-8178
Services
- Provide victims with notice of initial charges, their rights and all court proceedings.
- Assist victims in seeking appropriate counseling or social services.
- Assist and accompany victims during trial or court proceedings (upon request).
- Provide an opportunity for victim input regarding trial decisions and any plea negotiations.
- Assist victims in presenting sentence recommendations orally or in writing.
- Assist victims in determining the amount of appropriate restitution and communicating restitution amounts to probation departments and the court.
- Assist in securing court-ordered restitution from convicted defendants.
- Assist victims in obtaining information about parole hearings and anticipated discharge dates for convicted defendants who are incarcerated.
Brochures & Forms
- Working with Victims of Child Abuse
Brochure
- Crime Victim Compensation Brochure
- Crime Victim Compensation Application
- Collection On Your Order Of Restitution
- Working With Victims Of Elderly Crimes &
Abuse
- Community Services Referral Card (English)
- Community Services Referral Card
(Spanish)
- Domestic Violence Brochure (English)
- Domestic Violence Brochure (Spanish)
- Domestic Violence, Stalking and Date
Rape Informational Guide
- Protect Your Identity
- Understanding Criminal Sexual
Conduct
A Handbook for Victims: Provided by Ottawa County
Links
- AARP
AARP in Espanol at bottom right of the Home Page. Also type in "grief & loss" under Search - About
Crime Victim Compensation in Michigan of Community Health
- Bereaved Parents of the USA
National self-help group, especially for the newly bereaved - Call - 211
Your 24 hr. link to Health & Human Services
- Resilience
- Compassion Connection
Offers gift of compassion & concern - The Compassionate Friends, Holland,
Zeeland Chapter
Assists families toward the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child of any age & provides information to help others be supportive. - DHS - Michigan Department of Human
Services
The DHS directs the operations of public assistance and service programs through a network of over 100 county departments of human service offices around the state. If you do not have access to a computer you may call Michigan's Social Services Hotline: 211. - The Dougy Center, The National Center for Grieving
Children & Families
Spanish Programs are also available. - Evergreen Commons
Support Groups & General Assistance for seniors - Hospice of Holland -
Kids Grieve Too - Teenage
Grief
- Michigan Attorney General's Office
Call to make a report on suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation by a licensed provider or residential facility - Michigan Department of Corrections
- Offender Tracking Information System (O.T.I.S.)
Find where a prisoner is housed, earliest release date, mug shot, etc. - Michigan Department of Corrections
Victim Notification & prisoner Information, Crime Victim Notification Unit - Michigan Sex Offender Registry
- Mothers Against Drunk Driving Victim/Survivor
Helpline
- National Center on Elder Abuse
Check under Report Abuse: other helpful listings for Helplines, Hotlines, and Referral Sources in Michigan. - National Center for Victims of Crime
- National Committee for the Prevention
of
Elder Abuse
- National Consumers League's Fraud Center
- National Council for Aging Care's guide on Elder Abuse
- National Crime Prevention Council
- The National Institute for Trauma & Loss In
Children, Parents Trauma Resource Center
Provides services to traumatized children & families - National Organization of Parents of Murdered
Children
For families & friends of those who have died by violence - National Organization for Victim Assistance
- National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
- National Sex Offender Lookup Service
Results include a map with links to offender information - National Sexual Violence Resource Center
- U.S. Department of Justice ,
Office of Justice Programs; Victims of Crime Resource Center
- United States Postal Inspection
Service
- Us Dept. of Justice/Office For Victims of
Crime