Office of Victim Witness Assistance Tifton Judicial Circuit

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The Job Posting for the victim advocate position has closed. Thank you for your interest.

The Office of Victim Witness Assistance, Tifton office is closed until December 4th due to Covid-19.

If you are a victim/witness of a felony crime in Tifton, you may reach your advocate, Latricia Sumner at 229-386-7953 or 229-392-6934.

If you are a victim/witness of a misdemeanor/felony crime in Irwin, or a felony crime in Turner or Worth, you may reach your advocate, Jodie Spooner at 229-386-7877 or 229-402-9678.

If you are a victim/witness of a juvenile crime in Irwin, Tifton, Turner or Worth County, you may reach your advocate, Divayna Esquivel at 229-386-7935 or 229-256-7174.

If you have or need to apply for the Crime Victim Compensation Program, please contact your appropriate advocate.

Chief Justice Extends State Judicial Emergency as Shelter-in-Place Orders Expire | Daily Report As businesses across Georgia have begun reopening, state Supreme Court Justice Harold Melton has extended the statewide judicial emergency, continu...

Please be assured that should your case require a hearing, your advocate will contact you and help you attend the hearing via the appropriate technological format. Our advocates are working for you and with you during this difficult time to continue to provide victim services. Your rights as a victim of crime will be protected. If you should have any questions, please contact your advocate.

Irwin County Felony Crime Victim Advocate &
Turner County Felony Crime Victim Advocate
Victim Witness Assistance Director:
Jodie Spooner (229) 386-7877

Irwin County Misdemeanor Crime Victim Advocate
Irwin, Turner, & Worth Juvenile Crime Victim Advocate
Crime Victim Compensation Advocate:
Divayna Esquivel (229) 256-7174

Tift County Felony Crime Victim Advocate:
Latricia Sumner (229) 386-7953

Tift County Juvenile Crime Victim Advocate
Worth County Felony Crime Victim Advocate:
Miranda Kelly (229) 386-7948

Early Notification Advocate &
Victim Witness Assistance Administrative Assistant:
Brittany Ray (229) 386-7903

STAY HOME & STAY SAFE!!

ORDER EXTENDING DECLARATION OF STATEWIDE
JUDICIAL EMERGENCY

Pursuant to OCGA § 38-3-61, and due to the continuing statewide emergency involving the transmission of Coronavirus/COVID-19, the Honorable Harold D. Melton, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, does hereby extend the March 14, 2020 (amended) Order Declaring Statewide Judicial Emergency, which would have expired on April 13, 2020 at 11:59 p.m., until Wednesday, May 13, 2020, at 11:59
p.m., unless otherwise further modified or extended. The Chief Justice will provide notice as to the expected termination of the Order at least one week in advance to allow courts to plan the transition to fuller operations.

With regard to matters not deemed essential functions under the
Statewide Judicial Emergency Order, courts and litigants are
encouraged to proceed to the extent feasible and consistent with public health guidance, for example through the use of teleconferences and videoconferences, to reduce backlogs when the judicial emergency ends.

With regard to all matters in this challenging time, all lawyers are
reminded of their obligations of professionalism.

It is ordered, pursuant to OCGA § 38-3-63, that notice and service of a copy of this Order shall immediately be sent to the judges and clerks of all courts in this State and to the clerk of the Georgia Court of Appeals, such service to be accomplished through means to assure expeditious receipt, which include electronic means; and It is further ordered that notice shall also be sent to the media, the State Bar of Georgia, and the officials and entities listed below and shall constitute sufficient notice of the issuance of this Order to the affected parties, counsel for the affected parties, and the public.

IT IS SO ORDERED this 6th day of April, 2020
Chief Justice Harold D. Melton
Supreme Court of Georgia

**BE AWARE** While the current situation brings opportunity to do good in our communities, there are still those who will use it for harm. Please be on alert for any scams requiring you to give out your information. NEVER give out your personal information to anyone you do not know.
**The Stimulus Check scam** Noone will call and ask for your account information. DO NOT give out your account information to anyone .
**Service Provider Scams** Unless you have requested a utility worker to come to your home (and most won't during the current situation unless absolutely necessary) DO NOT let anyone into your home without checking their I.D. AND calling the company they are representing.

If you have questions about scams or need to report a scam situation, call your local law enforcment office.

Our advocates are still working for victims during the current health crisis. However in an effort to keep our victims and staff safe, we are asking that you communicate with us via phone, email, regular mail or our page. We will not be meeting in person at this time. Please call us if you have any questions, 229-386-7903.

On March 14, 2020, pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 38-3-61, the Honorable Justice Harold D. Melton, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, declared a Statewide Judicial Emergency. The Statewide Judicial Emergency shall terminate on April 13, 2020, at 11:59 p.m., unless otherwise extended.
During the Statewide Judicial Emergency, to the extent feasible, courts should remain open to address essential functions, and in particular, courts should give priority to matters necessary to protect health, safety, and liberty of individuals. Essential functions are subject to interpretation; however, some matters that fall into the essential function category are: (1) where an immediate liberty or safety concern is present requiring the attention of the court as soon as the court is available; (2) criminal court search warrants, arrest warrants, initial appearances, and bond reviews; (3) domestic abuse temporary protective orders and restraining orders; (4) juvenile court delinquency detention hearings and emergency removal matters; and (5) mental health commitment hearings.
Pursuant to OCGA § 38-3-62, during the period of this Order, Chief Justice Melton hereby suspends, tolls, extends, and otherwise grants relief from any deadlines or other time schedules or filing requirements imposed by otherwise applicable statutes, rules, regulations, or court orders, whether in civil or criminal cases or administrative matters, including, but not limited to any: (1) statute of limitation; (2) time within which to issue a warrant; (3) time within which to try a case for which a demand for speedy trial has been filed; (4) time within which to hold a commitment hearing; (5) deadline or other schedule regarding the detention of a juvenile; (6) time within which to return a bill of indictment or an accusation or to bring a matter before a grand jury; (7) time within which to file a writ of habeas corpus; (8) time within which discovery or any aspect thereof is to be completed; (9) time within which to serve a party; (10) time within which to appeal or to seek the right to appeal any order, ruling, or other determination; and (11) such other legal proceedings as determined to be necessary by the authorized judicial official.

***For more information on how to reach your advocate directly, find their contact info under their photo.

Come see us today at the Sweet Potato Festival in Ocilla.

Wearing teal for

Sexual Assault in the United States

One in five women and one in 71 men will be r***d at some point in their lives

In the U.S., one in three women and one in six men experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime

51.1% of female victims of r**e reported being r***d by an intimate partner and 40.8% by an acquaintance

52.4% of male victims report being r***d by an acquaintance and 15.1% by a stranger

Almost half (49.5%) of multiracial women and over 45% of American Indian/Alaska Native women were subjected to some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime

91% of victims of r**e and sexual assault are female, and nine percent are male

In eight out of 10 cases of r**e, the victim knew the perpetrator

Eight percent of r**es occur while the victim is at work

Jodie Spooner has been the Program Director since 2014. She also serves as the victim advocate for Irwin, Turner and Worth Counties.

Direct Office Line: (229) 386-7877
Email: [email protected]

Know Your Role

Meet the advocates of the Tifton Judical Circuit District Attorney's Office of Victim Witness Assistance Program

GEORGIA CRIME VICTIMS' BILL OF RIGHTS
O.C.G.A. 17-17-1

VICTIMS HAVE THE RIGHT:

* to be treated fairly and with dignity by all criminal justice agencies involved in the case

* to proceedings free from unreasonable delay

* to be notified of the availability of Victims Compensation, which is available under the Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program at (800) 547-0060 or www.cjcc.ga.gov

* to be notified of the Georgia Crime Victims Bill of Rights

* to be notified of community based victim service programs

* to reasonable, accurate and timely notice of the following:
* an arrest warrant being issued for the accused
* the accused's arrest
* the condition that the accused is prohibited from contacting the victim
* the accused's release or escape from custody
* any court proceeding where the release of the accused will be considered
* any scheduled court proceedings or any changes to such proceedings, including restitution hearings
* the accused's release on an electric release and/or monitoring program

* to be present at all criminal proceedings in which the accused has the right to be present

* to NOT be excluded from any scheduled court proceedings, except as provided in O.C.G.A. 17-17-1 or otherwise provided by law

* to a waiting area, during judicial proceedings, that is separate from the accused and his/her relatives, friends, and witnesses

* to be reasonably heard at any court proceedings involving the release, plea or sentencing of the accused

* to complete a Victim Impact Statement and have it presented to the court prior to the trial or plea of the accused (O.C.G.A. 17-10-1.1)

* to restitution as provided by law

* to refuse to submit to an interview by the accused, accused's attorney or agent of the accused

* to be notified by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) if the accused is committed to the DBHDD for an evaluation, as mentally incompetent to stand trial or as not guilty by reason of insanity at the time of the crime. Upon the written request of the victim, at least 10 days before the release or discharge, the department shall mail notice to the victim of the accused release from such facility

* to request not to receive any form of written, text, or electronic communication from an inmate who was convicted of a criminal offense against the victim

* to be advised on how to file a complaint with the Judicial Qualification Commission if a judge denies the victim's right to be heard

In keeping with the theme of the 2019 National Crime Victims' Rights Week, "Honoring Our Past. Creating Hope for the Future," the Office of Victim Witness Assistance Program would like to take a moment to honor and remember our program's beginning. Mary Meeler was the Victim Witness Assistance Program Director in the District Attorney’s Office for the Tifton Judicial Circuit from September 1987 until her death December 2010. During her time as director, Mary was instrumental in establishing Ruth’s Cottage in 2001 and The Patticake House in 2005. Through her professionalism and her extensive contacts in Tift, Irwin, Turner and Worth Counties, she was able to help establish both of these vital projects that make resources available to child witnesses and victims’ families.

Tifton Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office

Shirene Daniell of the Wiregrass Quilting Guild presented Program Director, Jodie Spooner with 36 dolls made by guild members. The dolls will help children of crime communicate their abuse to advocates and prosecutors. The Office of Victim Witness Assistance would like to thank the members of the Wiregrass Quilting Guild for using their talents to help give our youngest victims a voice.

Today marks the beginning of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 1 in 7 children have experienced child abuse and/or neglect in the past year, and this is likely an underestimate.

We all have a role to play in the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Merry Christmas 🎅🎄🤶❄⛄