The Surfside Police Department is committed to addressing domestic violence within our community. Domestic violence has reached epidemic proportions in society and positive efforts are being made to combat the problem.
The Department provides unique services to domestic violence victims, victims of crime, and their children, such as:
• criminal justice support and advocacy
• information and referrals
• Counseling services specializing in trauma resolution and community activism.
The department wants to continue its effective legal and social interventions to all victims of crime, as well as implementation of services for the underserved population, including but not limited to, elderly abuse victims, gay and lesbian victims, and ethnic minorities who are victims of crime.
The Surfside Police Department’s Domestic Violence / Violent Crime Office serves as a catalyst for victims of crime and their families to receive effective legal and social intervention. Our office has formed a unique collaborative partnership with the Miami-Dade County Bar Association Legal Aid Society, safe space, the Domestic Violence Intake Unit, Victim Services Center, The State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Children and Families in order to ensure effective and holistic intervention for domestic violence victims, as well as victims of crime and their children. Furthermore, The Department provides community awareness projects to highlight the pervasive and devastating effects of domestic violence. The Dade County Bar Association Legal Societies involvement with the Police Department ensures that victims of domestic violence will have the opportunity to obtain legal representation. These services are implemented to ensure continued support and direct assistance after the crime has occurred, in order to reduce further victimization and improve victim participation and involvement in the criminal justice process. Our office focuses on issues of domestic violence, family violence, dating violence, sexual assaults, same-sex battering, and child welfare, abuse of elderly and multi-cultural awareness.
The services provided by our office include:
• supportive counseling services (specifically crisis intervention and trauma resolution);
• follow-up contact (in-person, through phone contacts and certified letters);
• information and referrals in-person and through certified letters (community service agencies and shelters);
• criminal justice support and advocacy;
The Surfside Police Department’s Domestic Violence / Violent Crime Office also provide information and offers direct assistance to victim’s compensation claims. As a unit, we make victims aware of the availability of crime victim compensation, by providing them with documentation on the victim compensation program. The Surfside Police Department’s Domestic Violence / Violent Crime Office has further expanded to include services provided to homicide survivor’s victims, sexual battery/violent sex crime and other violent crime victims/survivors as needed.
The philosophy of the Domestic violence /violent crime Office embraces a holistic approach to dealing with the complex crime of violence in the families. Our Domestic Violence / Violent Crime Office serves as a catalyst for most victims to seek and ultimately receive legal and social intervention, as well as a liaison between the police department and other entities. Some of these entities include:
• The Miami-Dade County Bar Association Legal Aid Society (legal representation)
• The Domestic Violence Intake Unit (injunctions)
• Safe space (shelter, relocation)
• Victims Service Center (counseling)
• Miami – Dade State Attorney’ Office
The Surfside Police Department Domestic/Violent Crime Office coordinates services with these entities by daily contact and various monthly meetings. The office is unique in its implementation of services because it is an integral part of the law enforcement agency.
Victims of crime are able to receive intervention and a myriad of client specific services at the point of crisis or shortly thereafter. The availability is crucial when effectively dealing with persons who are traumatized by their victimization.
As a direct result of crime, the victims suffered loss of property, cash, medical expenses and lost wages due to injuries and court proceedings. The emotional damage and social isolation caused by the victimization can be compounded by a lack of support resulting in re-victimization. The Surfside Police Department’s Domestic Violence / Violent Crime Office serve as a link between the victim and the criminal justice system. The Surfside Police Department provider’s tools that aid victims in regaining control of their lives. The Surfside Police Department is committed to providing the citizens and visitors of the Town of Surfside the best service possible.
Please contact Wanda Flores (305) 861- 4862 Ext. 283
Domestic Violence Centers in Florida
