CONFIDENTIALITY

Completely Confidential Services

Advocates offer a unique and necessary service to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Federal and state law clearly recognizes the need for a safe and confidential relationship in victim and survivor services.

Seeking information about services, including an initial disclosure of abuse, safety planning, shelter, legal advocacy, and counseling all deserve to confidential, so survivors can more safely access them as needed.

Confidentiality is the cornerstone of all services provided by our advocates.

Legalese
The privilege established by C.R.S. 13-90-107

Who may not testify without consent states:

(k) (I) A victim’s advocate shall not be examined as to any communication made to such victim’s advocate by a victim of domestic violence, as defined in section 18-6-800.3 (1), C.R.S., or a victim of sexual assault, as described in sections 18-3-401 to 18-3-405.5, 18-6-301, and 18-6-302, C.R.S., in person or through the media of written records or reports without the consent of the victim.

(II) For purposes of this paragraph (k), a “victim’s advocate” means a person at a battered women’s shelter or rape crisis organization or a comparable community-based advocacy program for victims of domestic violence or sexual assault and does not include an advocate employed by any law enforcement agency:

(A) Whose primary function is to render advice, counsel, or assist victims of domestic or family violence or sexual assault; and

(B) Who has undergone not less than fifteen hours of training as a victim’s advocate or, with respect to an advocate who assists victims of sexual assault, not less than thirty hours of training as a sexual assault victim’s advocate; and

(C) Who supervises employees of the program, administers the program, or works under the direction of a supervisor of the program.