The Palm Bay Police Department Victims’ Advocacy Program is a free program that has been developed by the Palm Bay Police Department to assist victims of all crimes.

The Victim’s Advocacy Program pursues the goals as recommended by the National Victim Assistance Academy to:

• Empower victims with the ability to make significant changes and solve problems.
• Increase a victim’s ability to make a successful transition from an abusive or battering environment to independence.
• Connect the victim to both short and long-term community resources that provide support, encouragement, and assistance.

A Victim’s Services Advocate who is trained in domestic abuse/violence issues is available 24 hours per day Free transportation for appointments related to the judicial process is available.

An Emergency Cell Phone Program is available to all victims to ensure access to “911.” Please contact a Victim Advocate for further information.

Contact Information:
Phone: (321) 953-8998
24-hour: (321) 952-3456, option 1, then option 0.
Email: VictimServices@pbfl.org

Victim's Rights

YOU DON’T DESERVE TO BE HIT, HURT OR THREATENED!

Rights of a Crime Victim

• To be informed, present and heard when relevant at all crucial stages of criminal or juvenile proceedings.
• Right to not be excluded from a case related court event based upon witness status alone.
• Incarcerated victims have the right to be informed and submit written statements at all crucial stages of criminal, juvenile or parole proceedings.
• Notification of the accused arrest release, escape and/or approval for community control and work release.
• Notification of scheduling changes and advanced notice of all court proceedings if time permits.
• Opportunity to have a victim services advocate present during depositions and a right to be excused from depositions held at any correctional facility.
• Consultation with the Assistant State Attorney regarding disposition of cases involving certain crimes as well as prompt and timely disposition of the case as long as it does not interfere with the Constitutional Rights of the accused.
• Opportunity to submit an oral or written impact statement at the time of sentencing.
• Prompt notification of the results of court proceedings
• Prompt return of property and assistance in obtaining return of recovered property unless there is a compelling law enforcement need to retain the property.
• Information on steps concerning protection from intimidation, it is a third-degree felony to threaten and intimidate victims and witnesses
• Upon request, notification to employer and explanation to creditors of serious financial strain resulting from victimization
• Opportunity to review the investigation report on adult and youthful offenders, prior to the sentencing of the accused.
• Victims of a sexual offense may request the courtroom be cleared in certain instances during the victim’s testimony
• Opportunity to request HIV testing of the accused in sex offenses.
• Minor victims and/or their siblings who attend school with the accused may request at sentencing/disposition that defendant(s) be required to change schools
• In certain instances, the right to have your information redacted from police reports. (Marsy’s Law)

Marsy's Law Request Form - Juvenile - English
Marsy's Law Request Form - Adult - English
Marsy's Law Request Form - Juvenile -Spanish
Marsy's Law Request Form - Adult - Spanish

Florida Crime Victim Compensation

What Is Florida Crime Victim Compensation?

Financial compensation to eligible persons who are victims of crime. Your victim advocate will assist you with the application process.

Who Qualifies?

Any victim who received personal injury, or survivors of someone who was killed as a result of a felony or misdemeanor crime punishable under federal or state laws, including DUI and hit and run. Also, any elderly or disabled adult who suffered a property loss as a result of a crime.

What are the Eligibility Requirements?

The victim or applicant must cooperate fully with law enforcement officials, the State Attorney’s Office, and the Attorney General’s Office.

The victim must have suffered a physical, psychiatric, or psychological injury, or death, as a result of the crime (exceptions may apply).

The crime must be reported to law enforcement within three days after it happened, unless there is good reason for reporting it later.

The claim must be filed within one year of the crime, up to two years if there is good reason for not filing the claim. Exceptions are made for minor children. The victim must not have contributed to the circumstances that caused the crime, injury, or death.

The victim was not engaged in an unlawful activity at the time of the crime.

Who Can Apply?

Any adult victim who has been physically injured as a result of a crime.

The parent or guardian of a minor or incompetent victim that has been injured as a result of a crime.

The parent or guardian of a minor victim less than 16 years old who was present at the scene of a violent crime, who saw or heard the crime, and who suffered psychological injury but was not physically injured.

The spouse, parent, sibling, or adult child of a deceased victim.

Any elderly or disabled adult who lost property as a result of a crime.

Contact your Victim Advocate at (321) 953-8998 to obtain a Crime Compensation application and for assistance in completing the form .

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VINE Program

The Palm Bay Police Department’s Victim Information and Notification Everyday (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.

The Palm Bay Police Department strongly encourages victims of crimes to NOT depend solely on VINE or any other single program to maintain their safety. 

If you need assistance with this program, please contact a Palm Bay Police Department Victim Advocate at (321) 953-8998.

Helpful Telephone Numbers

Victim Resources

• Florida Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-500-1119
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving 24 Hour Helpline 1-800-GET-MADD (800-438-6233) / 1-877-MADD-HELP (877-623-3435)
• National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (800-799-7233)
• National Association for Victim Assistance 1-800-TRY-NOVA (800-879-6682)
• National Victim Center 1-800-FYI-CALL (800-394-2255)
• Rape Hotline 321-784-4357
• Serene Harbor Domestic Violence 24 Hour Hotline 321-726-8282
• Salvation Army Domestic Violence Shelter 321-631-2764

Family Services

• Children's Home Society 321-752-3170
• Circle of Care 321-722-5200
• Department of Children & Families 800-96-ABUSE (800-962-2873)
• Family Counseling Center of Brevard 321-632-5792
• Hospice of Health First 321-952-0494
• Hospice of St. Francis 321-269-4240
• PREVENT of Brevard 321-259-7262
• Wuesthoff Hospice 321-253-2222

Help Lines

• Child Abuse 1-800-96-ABUSE (800-962-2873)
• Circle of Care Children's Crisis Unit 321-676-6648
• Crisis Intervention & Emergency Services 321-722-5257
• 24 Hour Addictions Referral Network 1-800-577-4714

Legal Aid

• Crisis Intervention and Referral Dial 211
• Family Court Resource Assistance 321-952-4631
• Guardian Ad Litem 321-690-6823
• Hearing Officer/Child Support Enforcement 321-952-4627
• Legal Aid 321-631-2500

Become a Volunteer

The Palm Bay Police Department relies on volunteers to assist with many of the unit’s responsibilities.  Volunteers work closely with the Victim Advocates to help victims and witnesses of crimes by offering further services, creating follow up report documentation, meeting, and networking with other professionals in the victim services field and keeping victims informed throughout the legal and judicial process. For more information about volunteering, contact Dana Packard at (321) 953-8980.