Crime victims in Pennsylvania are automatically entitled to services from a crime victim advocate. Victim advocate services include three basic principles: advocacy, education, and accompaniment. Advocates tailor their services to the needs of the individual and are tasked with making sure that crime victims know their rights and that their rights are afforded to them. They also educate victims on the criminal justice process and other services/supports that are available to them. Advocates can also assist with applications for Protection From Abuse orders, restitution, victim compensation, and other referrals. Lastly, the advocate can, when appropriate, provide accompaniment to court and other criminal justice events. Victim advocacy is a critical service for ensuring that crime victims are heard, supported, and empowered following a crime. 

Perkasie Borough Police department offers law enforcement based victim advocacy for victims of crime within our jurisdiction through the Civilian Community Relations Program. Law enforcement based victim advocates provide free, voluntary services to victims of crime throughout the initial stages of the criminal justice process including the preliminary hearing and referral to appropriate follow-up services if needed. If you are a victim of a crime in our jurisdiction, you will automatically receive information for our victim advocate and be offered outreach if desired. 

If you have been a victim of crime within Perkasie Borough or Sellersville Borough or you have questions regarding victim advocacy, you can contact our victim advocate Chris Doheny at 215-257-6876 ext. 223 or cdoheny@perkasiepd.org. 

There are also fully confidential community-based non-profit victim advocacy organizations within Bucks County. These organizations include A Woman's Place for domestic violence victims and Network of Victim Assistance for general crime victims.