Tips from Kathy and Wedge
- Pick one family member to have all information, to and from, the Police Department and District Attorney's Office to go to.
- Be selective in who gets a copy of the Medical Examiners Report, as it can be quite graphic.
- Save receipts for all Funeral Arrangements for possible Reimbursement.
- Brainstorm as a family together, think about things in the past that might have been odd or possibly have relevance to the case.
- Check old phone bills for possible important numbers to share with the police.
- Check all records of anything having to do with the victim and yourself, such as medical and dental bills, bus or plane tickets, hotel stays, etc.
- Develop a relationship with the Detective and District Attorney working on your case. Let them know you want to help and be involved as much as possible, and mean it.
- Do not get discouraged if you have to send information more than once or twice. It happens.
- Let your Victim's Advocate know you want to be advised of any and all proceeding/hearing dates and give her more than one way to get the information to you.
- Do not be shy with questions for your Victim's Advocate, as they may know more than you might think.
- Never think that any information you have is unimportant. Let the Detective and the District Attorney determine that.
- Do not cross off friends or coworkers, of the victim, as someone to help with information. Be sure to ask if they are willing to make a statement or testify to what they know.
- Remember not all victims are forthcoming with the whole truth for various reasons. Seek out the truth.
- Check local Shelters to see if the victim sought shelter with them. Share this information with the authorities as they can help with retrieving documentation that may be admissible in court.
- Check Hospitals to see if they have any records for the victim. Share this information with the authorities as they can help with retrieving documentation that may be admissible in court.
- Children see and hear more than one might think, do not cross them off, ask them what they know.
- While some neighbors may appear not to want to get involved, it never hurts to give them the opportunity to do the right thing.
- Do not take no for an answer, if it is not the answer you expected, pursue it one step further.
- Take good notes when you get answers.
- Remember the people on the other end of the line are on your side.
- Provide as much information as you can to the authorities. Information you provide to them makes one less place they have to spend time looking.
- Stay involved. If you haven't heard from the people working your case in a while, remind them that you are still there and still care.
- Research Research Research ~ Know if you are getting the run around ~ Know your rights
- If you know somebody else that is going through Domestic Abuse, share with them the importance of documenting incidents and keeping all documents and records safe for possible future reference.
- Be diligent, yet remain graceful.
- Take time to Grieve.
Remember two things: Life is what you make it, always has been, always will be. ~ and ~ Your loved one will never be forgotten.
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