December 2025
2025 Victim Impact Statement Revision Committee
By Kayla Smart, Program Supervisor VI, Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse
The Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse (TxCVC) hosted its tenth annual Texas Victim Assistance Training (TVAT) Academy from August 18-21, 2025, at the Georgetown Public Safety Center. This year’s academy hosted 42 attendees from across the state of Texas representing various government agencies and non-profit organizations that provide services to victims of crime. The four-day curriculum required the attendees to follow the experience of a crime victim as their case moves throughout the criminal justice system from the time of their victimization to navigating life post-conviction.
Curriculum required attendees to start each day with ethics, followed by discussions around best practices and service delivery from victim services subject matter experts at each stage of the criminal justice process. Other activities included In Her Shoes and triad role plays that attendees stated “…put the providers in the position of the victim…”, challenging them to empathize with the experience of crime victims and to reflect on the ways that we as professionals show up every day.
Attendees engaged in both small and large group discussions, and the Exhibitor Round Robin provided an additional opportunity for the attendees to network with community and statewide organizations. Exhibitors included Texas Victim Services Association, Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, Hope Alliance, TDCJ Victim Services Division, Texas Legal Services Center, Texas District & County Attorney’s Association, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Grand Canyon University, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Victim Services. All of these exhibitors visited with attendees to provide information regarding their organizations and resources that they can share with the victims and victim services professionals in their communities.
The TVAT Academy may have come to an end, but looking for ways to improve attendee experience and the academy’s curriculum is a year-round effort. At the time of writing this article, the TxCVC has already begun preparations for TVAT Academy 2026. On behalf of TxCVC and the TDCJ Victim Services Division, thank you to the support staff and faculty who assisted in the preparation and facilitation of the TVAT Academy this year; without your continued support there would be no TVAT Academy!
Big congratulations to the TVAT Academy Class of 2025! New criminal justice and victim services professionals such as yourselves are the future of this field, and your willingness to show up every day for the victims and the communities that you serve is a testament to the dedicated, compassionate, and resilient individuals that you continue to be.
Always remember…
If you are interested in learning more about the TVAT Academy you may visit the TVAT Academy website.
