Victim/Witness Advocates
The Amherst County Victim Witness Program began in January 1990 and is primarily grant funded by the Victim Witness Grant Program through The Department of Criminal Justice Services. We currently have two full time advocates who assist all victims and witnesses of crimes committed in Amherst County, including assisting individuals with obtaining protective orders. We are part of the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and work closely with them to ensure victims are treated fairly through the criminal justice process. We strive to make sure our victims feel heard and cared for and we do everything we can to help them through what can be one of the most challenging times of their life.
Lauren B. Shelton
Victim Witness Director
The Victim-Witness Director is responsible not only for advocating for victims but also for maintaining the VOCA grant that funds the Victim Advocate program.
Lauren Shelton has been working with victims for seven years, three as the Director of the Victim/Witness program in Amherst County. Lauren is a native of Pittsylvania County and moved to the Lynchburg area in 2011. She has a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Radford University and an M.A. in Human Services: Criminal Justice from Liberty University. She loves working with victims and helping them through the court process. In her free time, she enjoys reading, attending any type of festival, and spending time with her German Shepherd.
Judy B. Brooks
Advocate
Judy is a native of Amherst County. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Sweet Briar College before beginning her career working with children, youth and families. She has over 20 years of experience working in human services, having previously worked in Social Services, Community Corrections, and Student Services. Judy is passionate about bringing her skills and expertise back to Amherst County.
Our History
Our Program
The Amherst County Victim Witness Program was implemented in 1990 with grant funds from the Victim Witness Grant Program. The program was started with one advocate/director, Bev Wiley, who kept the program running on her own for nearly thirty years. Though Bev retired in 2021 after more than thirty years of service to the people of Amherst County, the program is still active and strong today.
Our Founder
The Amherst County Victim Witness Program started in 1990 with Beverly Wiley as the director. For twenty-six years, she was a one-person program until she finally had funding to hire a second advocate. She carried the responsibilities of the Director of a program, which includes grant management and budgeting, while also assisting victims of crime. Beverly, known as Bev, assisted countless victims in her 31 years of service to Amherst County. She is known for her sense of humor, always cracking a joke, and her unwavering dedication to serving victims of crime.
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