The Victim Services Unit is committed to serving victims of crime by providing access to immediate and continuing comprehensive services through advocacy, collaboration, and community referrals.
We strive to empower individuals and families experiencing trauma by providing compassionate, practical support that promotes safety and healing.
Donate
Donations play a vital role in providing essential support to crime victims, addressing both their immediate and long-term needs. We maintain a community resource closet and update our wish list to accommodate the needs of our clients. We request new, unused items that can be delivered to the Victim Services Unit at 209 E Avenue A, Temple, TX 76501 or delivered in person by donors. Our current wish list:
- Travel-sized hygiene products, including facial cleanser, body wash, shampoo, and conditioner.
- Combs, brushes, picks, hair ties, and clips.
- Deodorant for both men and women.
- Underwear for men, women, and children in all sizes.
- Lightweight socks for women.
- Leggings for women in various sizes.
- Sports bras available in all sizes.
- Unisex lightweight sweatpants in a range of sizes.
- Baby clothing items such as onesies, socks, and one-piece footed sleepers, suitable for newborns to 24-month-olds.
- Gently used /functioning cell phones and cell phone chargers for variety of phones
For further information regarding donations, please contact Temple Police Victim’s Liaison, Lisa Hatfield at: (254) 298-5678 or via email at lhatfield@templetx.gov
Become a Volunteer or Intern
We encourage and appreciate any help that our community can offer. Volunteer and intern staff are vital to the success of our unit and our volunteer program allows different levels of engagement, including clerical, direct contact with victims, and participation in community events that support victims in our community. We are also able to offer limited internships based on program requirements. Eligibility is determined by specific qualifications and is available in the Volunteer Application provided in the Forms tab of our page.
this is a summary of rights, additional information is available in Chapter 56 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 57 of the Texas Family Code, and Article 1, Section 30 of the Texas Constitution.
Crime Victims Rights Summary (PDF English & Spanish)
Additional Rights for Victims of Sexual Assault (PDF English & Spanish)
The Temple Police Department Victim Services Unit is part of the Criminal Investigations Division and is comprised of a crime victim liaison, family violence case manager, and volunteer staff, including interns. The services we offer to victims include:
- Notification & explanation of crime victims’ rights
- Crisis Response/Support/Intervention
- Assistance with Crime Victim Compensation application process
- Safety Planning and Protective Order Assistance
- Community Resource Referrals
- Court/Legal/Medical Accompaniment in qualifying cases
- Assistance with I 918 forms for U-Visa Applications.
- Assistance with Address Confidentiality Program Applications (additional program available to qualifying victims through the Texas Attorney General's Office)
- (Used) Cell phone distribution for contacting 911 while in supply
The Crisis Assistance Program is funded by the Victim of Crime Act Grant and allows our unit to provide specific financial assistance to qualifying individuals and families. This includes up to 8 sessions of counseling through participating counseling professionals, emergency assistance with temporary safe shelter, transportation, hygiene, and food. These additional services are available as grant funding allows-please contact us for more information about CAP.
We would love to see you at some of the local events we will be hosting or attending in the upcoming weeks:
The 20th annual Tree of Angels ceremony hosted by the Bell County Crime Victims Coalition will take place on November 27, 2023, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at the Cadence Bank Center. Learn more about the 20th annual Tree of Angels ceremony
*This event is not hosted by the City of Temple
We welcome feedback regarding the services we provide and how we can improve our delivery of these services. If you have received services, please complete the crime victims survey link here.
