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Utah County victim advocates report high client satisfaction, warn emergency funds nearly spent
Summary
Utah County Sheriff's Office victim advocates told commissioners they handled many domestic violence and stalking cases this year, reported strong satisfaction in a recent survey (24 of 29 respondents 'very satisfied'), and said emergency assistance funds are nearly exhausted, prompting requests for outreach and clearer court-process communications.
Lauren Davis, a victim advocate with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, told the county commission that domestic violence remains the most common incident type her team handles and that their emergency assistance funds are nearly depleted. “We used every last dime,” Davis said, adding the office received a $600 carryover to the fiscal-year end and estimated roughly $200–$400 remained after recent calls. She described last-night responses where advocates provided clothing, hotel rooms, transportation and helped install security cameras and change locks.
Davis said the office logged 98 domestic-violence incidents since January and that stalking cases have increased. To evaluate services, Davis said she surveyed victims she had worked with in the prior 90 days between March 19 and April 15; she reached out to roughly 50 people and received 29 responses. “The vast majority — 24 out of the 29 victims surveyed — said that they were very satisfied with victim services,” she said, and read several written responses praising advocacy at court and help obtaining civil protective orders.
The survey also identified gaps. Several respondents said they did not understand the next criminal-justice steps or receive timely court updates. Davis said the office will distribute a simple criminal-justice flowchart and a domestic-violence education pamphlet, and plans to expand outreach to schools, churches and social media to encourage people to contact victim services before crises escalate. “Understanding the severity is life saving,” she said.
Commissioners thanked Davis and offered to help with training and outreach; Davis said she would email the presentation slides and coordinate on public education. The presentation closed with commissioners noting that victim services’ work also builds rapport with prosecutors and deputies and helps victims navigate both criminal and civil processes.
The sheriff’s office did not request new one-time county funding during the presentation but noted the emergency fund’s limited balance and the program’s reliance on existing resources. Commissioners encouraged follow-up discussions about outreach partnerships and any budget implications during the regular budgeting process.
