‘You’re Not in This Alone’: Statewide Organizations Collaborate to Better Serve Victims of Violent Crime
More than 120 victim service providers from across Alabama gathered at Faulkner University to strengthen partnerships and improve services for victims of violent crime.
Representatives from at least 20 organizations — including district attorneys, law enforcement officials and victim advocates — traveled to Montgomery to collaborate and share resources. Organizers said they hope to make the gathering an annual event.
The event was organized by Everette Johnson, executive director of the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission.
“We’ve had people from Northwest Alabama all the way to southeast Alabama so it spans the whole state of people coming here to learn more about victim services,” Johnson said.
The commission helps victims and their family members with expenses including funeral costs, medical bills and counseling.
“If a victim needs to go to court, and they live a distance away to go to court, we cover those expenses so we say any expenses that are associated with their victimization is what we cover,” Johnson said.
Monica Jordan, an Alabama crime victims compensation specialist and victim advocate, also addressed the crowd.
“A lot of people don’t realize that that there’s a lot of financial hardship that comes in to play when someone is victimized and that’s by no fault of their own. So these agencies come together and try to help a little bit with that financial burden,” Jordan said.
Jordan advocates for victims of sexual assault and understands firsthand the pain families endure. Her daughter was killed by her dating partner in 1995. In 2003, her son was killed by a drunk driver.
“There was a crime victim specialist who was so wonderful. She heard me and she understood what my family was going through, and she was just very compassionate and very helpful. So that inspired me when I was asked to come and be a part of this agency,” Jordan said.
Jordan described victim service providers as “first responders” who are often the first point of contact for families navigating trauma.
“There are organizations and people out here that care about you and you’re not in this by yourself,” Johnson said.
In 2025, the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission provided more than $2.5 million to 2,973 victims and their families. For more information about help for crime victims, contact the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission or Victims of Crime and Leniency.
