About us

About Us

Mission Statement

Victim Outreach Incorporated (VOI) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to support victims of crime and other trauma, empowering them to access resources that protect their rights and promote safety, healing and hope.  We provide crisis intervention, information about victim's rights and the criminal justice system, and offer referrals to help clients deal with the resulting trauma and life changes.  Our services continue through the criminal justice process.

Vision

People impacted by crime and trauma will lead healthy, productive and inspired lives.

Values

We value the personal safety of individuals, the safety of the community, and the constitutional rights of crime victims. We believe in empowering persons to move beyond victimization through a variety of means. We especially believe in the processing of trauma as a tool in recovery and in providing resources for on-going support. We view inter-agency communication, education, and cooperation as critical to the success of accomplishing our mission.

History

On April 23, 1982, the President’s Task Force on Victims of Crime was established. The hypothesis that innocent victims of crime had been overlooked and unattended was substantiated in a report submitted by the task force on December 20, 1982. Furthermore, the task force proposed sixty-eight means to correct “a national disgrace.” By the end of 1982, the 97th Congress of the United States enacted the Victim and Witness Protection Act with “fair treatment standards” for victims of federal crime.

In 1984, Congress enacted the Victims of Crime Act with a fund generated by criminal fines and penalties to support state compensation and local service programs.

During spring 1986, a research project undertaken by Maryellen B. Jagel resulted in a program designed to address unmet needs of crime victims in Colorado’s First Judicial District.

The project design, submitted as Victim Outreach Information, was funded by a grant awarded by the Victim Assistance Law Enforcement (V.A.L.E.) Board of Colorado’s First Judicial District. On September 5, 1986 Victim Outreach Information was incorporated. During the following March, the Internal Revenue Service granted VOI non-profit status under 501 (c) (3).

Diversity Equity and Inclusion Statement -

VOI is committed to creating an inclusive environment that is warm and welcoming and treats victims of crime and people experiencing trauma, their loved ones, our community partners, and all community stakeholders with dignity and complete respect of race, class, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, immigration status, ability, age, type of work/employment status, or religious affiliation.

Our goal is to continually focus on maintaining a space that is safe, inclusive and welcoming to foster healing. We do this in part by our Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Committee that provides important leadership for the agency as we deepen our commitment to being responsive to community needs and set a path forward to ensure anti-racist and anti-oppressive practices in the work we do. We also work towards this goal by evaluating our staff hiring practices, volunteer recruiting practices, and leadership opportunities within the organization to continue building a team with diverse lived experiences and identities.