Code of Ethics for South Carolina Law Enforcement Victim Advocates

 

1. The primary role of the Victim Advocate is to assist and provide service to victims in a non-judgmental, non-threatening manner.
   1. Victim Advocate will serve all victims with devotion, loyalty, determination, and fairness with professional competence, skill, and compassion.

 

2. The Victim Advocate will respect the dignity and rights of all victims.
   1. The Victim Advocate will not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, origin of birth, marital status, religion, political values, or any physical or mental handicapping condition.
   2. The Victim Advocate will treat the victim in a manner befitting the circumstances and situation.

 

3. The Victim Advocate will explain and provide complete and accurate information in regards to the services available to the victims.
   1. The Victim Advocate is to acquaint victims with their rights, risks, opportunities, and obligations along with other required assistance.
   2. The Victim Advocate draws upon knowledge, experience, skill and continuous training to aid victims.

 

4. The Victim Advocates will conduct themselves in a sincere and trustworthy manner.
   1. The Victim Advocate should not misrepresent himself or herself or the Department.
   2. The Victim Advocate will not with purpose and knowledge, mislead a victim.
   3. The Victim Advocate will always act in good faith.

 

5. The Victim Advocate, in the event of a conflict between two victims should refer one of the victims to another qualified Victim Advocate for services.   
   1. The Victim Advocate will at no time appear to take sides between victims.

 

Ethical Standards

 

1. Dedication to victims of crime
   1. The main responsibility of the Victim Advocate is to assist victims of crime in times of crisis and afterward as appropriate.
   2. This assistance includes but is not limited to:

                                                              i.      The Victim Advocate making a referral(s)

                                                            ii.      The Victim Advocate providing/filling out a SOVA forms

                                                          iii.      The Victim Advocate providing/acquiring transportation for a victim to and from court or other case related appointments

                                                           iv.      The Victim Advocate may serve as a liaison between the victim and the investigator

 

2. Victim’s right to self-determination
   1. A victim has the right to decline services at any time regardless of the situation.
   2. A Victim Advocate will not pressure a victim into acceptance of services.
   3. A Victim Advocate should assist in empowering the victim.

 

 

3. Competence
   1. A Victim Advocate should strive to become and to remain, adept in professional practice and the performance of professional functions.
   2. A Victim Advocate should not claim knowledge as their own, that they have not acquired; nor should a Victim Advocate falsify information given to a victim.
   3. A Victim Advocate should be aware of, and have knowledge of the various cultures that they will encounter and how to interact with a victim from another culture and background different from their own.
   4. A Victim Advocate will maintain the departmental standard for cultural awareness and competency.
   5. A Victim Advocate will maintain all necessary certifications for the performance of their job duties.

 

4. Confidentiality of a victim’s personal or case related information
   1. A Victim Advocate should respect the privacy of victims and hold in confidence all information acquired in the course of professional service.
   2. A Victim Advocate will not share a victim’s personal information with those that do not have proper authority and need to know.
   3. A Victim Advocate has the responsibility of informing victims regarding the limits of confidentiality in a given situation, the reasons for obtaining specific information, and how it is to be used.

 

5. Advocate/Victim Relationships
   1. A Victim Advocate will, under no circumstances, engage in sexual activities with victims.
   2. A Victim Advocate should avoid friendships with victims.
   3. A Victim Advocate should maintain a professional working relationship at all times with a victim, including professional distance.
   4. A Victim Advocate should not offer services or make referrals for one victim that they would not make for another, maintaining a standard of fairness.

 

6. Acceptance of gifts
   1. A Victim Advocate should not make a victim feel any sense of obligation for the services they provide.
   2. A Victim Advocate should not accept anything of value for making a referral or for providing a service. 
   3. Examples of gifts include, but are not limited to:

                                                              i.      offers money

                                                            ii.      offers gift certificates of any variety (store, restaurant)

                                                          iii.      offers items of clothing

                                                           iv.      invitations to restaurants/ or their home for a meal

                                                             v.      anything of monetary value

 

7.  Inappropriate language
   1. A Victim Advocate should not use inappropriate language while in the presence of a victim or co-worker.
   2. This includes:

                                                              i.      Using non-polite words; cursing

                                                            ii.      Making racial slurs

                                                          iii.      Making crude/demeaning jokes

                                                           iv.      Making comments of a sexual nature

                                                             v.      Using professional jargon, which may not be clearly understood by the clients (i.e. 10 codes)

 

8. Promises to a victim
   1. A Victim Advocate should not make a promise to a victim regardless of the nature of the promise whether direct or implied.