Victim Services

The victim services department of MADD, Louisiana is dedicated to assisting victims of alcohol-related crashes -both surviving victims and bereaved family members of those killed in the crash. Our staff consists of a director, a coordinator, two full-time advocates and a Victim Impact Panel coordinator. The Victims Assistance Program is housed at the Louisiana State Office of MADD in Baton Rouge, with satellite offices located in New Orleans and Shreveport.

Victim Impact Panels

The Victim Impact Panel is a service provided to the courts, run by MADD and volunteers. Once a month, two to three volunteer victim speakers go to the courthouse and discuss the tragic experiences they have had involving drunken driving. Many speak of the loss of a family member or close friend, while others discuss their own personal injuries. The meeting is in no way confrontational. The ultimate goal of the program is to reduce repeat offending by “opening the eyes” of the offenders. Before the panel begins, offenders are required to sign-in and pay a $5.00 fee in the form of a money order. At the conclusion of the panel, offenders are required to complete an evaluation that asks their opinions of drunken driving and the effectiveness of the VIP Program. They are then given a certificate of attendance that they are to return to their probation officer or judge. Currently, there are 21 Victim Impact Panels held throughout the state of Louisiana. To volunteer or for more information on the VIP program, contact Cindy Savoy at cindy.savoy@madd.org or 225.926.0807.

Court Monitoring

The Court Monitoring Program is a tool to observe the DWI/DUI criminal justice system and create accountability. The program is focused on forming strong strategic alliances with law enforcement, judges, prosecutors, and the defense bar, including public defenders. For more information about Court Monitoring, contact Tammy Matzke at tammy.matzke@madd.org or 225.926.0807.