Carson City DA's office starts victim-witness advocate service

Fear. It's the one thing that will keep a victim or witness from coming forward for help.

The Carson City District Attorney's Office hopes to overcome that fear with a new department dedicated to helping victims and witnesses of crime.

Established by District Attorney Neil Rombardo, the Victm-Witness Services office supports victims and witnesses of violent crimes throughout the court process.

"Our goal is to take away the fear and intimidation from the victims," Coordinator Frankee Haynes said. "If they (victims) were better informed, and the key to that is education, they will realize it is not hopeless."

"We offer information, referrals, education " everything imaginable " from victims of embezzlement to murder," Haynes said. "Any kind of crime, paper crime to animal abuse to elder abuse. And the worse the economy, the worse the crimes become."

Haynes, 39, a Carson City resident with two grown children, said animal cruelty is a growing concern in the area.

"When you have animal abuse, there's a 99 percent chance there's domestic violence in the household."

Haynes said Rombardo was determined, budget constraints and all, to bring awareness to the community about this department.

"Imagine you're a victim of a violent crime," Rombardo said. "You get to court, don't know who to talk to, what to do, where to go. We will offer guidance to lead them through this process."

Rombardo said Haynes will perform community outreach.

"She'll also be in front of special projects working with local organizations and groups," Rombardo added. "Specifically with the gang issue, elder abuse program and animal cruelty, which is characteristic of other problems. We need to get to these issues ahead of the problem."

For information on services available, the public can reach the Victim-Witness Services through the district attorney's page on the city's Web site, www.carson-city.nv.us.

"I'm in the job I've always wanted to be in," said Haynes, who previously worked for Advocates to End Domestic Violence. "I knew the possibilities this office could do for the community.

"For the victims, the phone call is the first step. We want no victim left behind and each victim is to be treated fairly."

The division is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, at the courthouse, 885 E. Musser St. For information, call 887-2072.

"Frankee's done a great job of getting started with this service," Rombardo added. "She's achieving what we want to achieve."

Contact Rhonda Costa at rcosta@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.