Legal Advocacy

Legal advocates are a free and confidential resource to help program participants navigate the legal system in criminal and protective order cases.

support program participants and explore options available to them;
explain criminal and protective court processes;
assist program participants by working with local police, city, and county attorneys to advocate on the program participants’ behalf;
assist in filing Orders for Protection and Harassment Restraining Orders. In many cases protective orders can be filed at no cost;
attend protective order and criminal court hearings with participants to provide information and support;
accompany victims of a sexual assault, domestic assault and/or stalking to report to law enforcement;
offer immediate safety planning, crime victim advocacy, and explanation of criminal court procedures following a domestic or sexual assault in Anoka County;
explain financial remedies available for victims/survivors of a sexual or domestic assault; and
extend program participants’ safety through Order for Protection Modifications and Extensions and referrals to resources for assistance in family law matters.

A civil court case can be a scary process. The advocates’ support eased my fears. Their presence in court gave me a sense of security.