February 10, 2024
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri recently announced the promotion of Alicia Phillips to victim witness coordinator for the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. Phillips succeeds Susan Meyer, who recently retired from the prosecutor’s office after more than 25 years of service.
As coordinator, Phillips will oversee a staff of eight victim witness advocates. The prosecutor’s Office of Victim Witness Advocacy is dedicated to providing direct, personal service to crime victims, witnesses and their families. The staff advocates for victims and promotes their rights within the criminal justice system. It also provides emotional support, crisis intervention, referrals, court accompaniment and information to victims and witnesses. The office maintains strong partnerships with allied professionals, other victim service providers, and leaders in the community to ensure that a comprehensive network of services and support is available.
“Alicia has been an avid champion of victims in Mercer County,” Prosecutor Onofri said.
She works tirelessly to ensure that victims of crime are treated with fairness, compassion and respect by the criminal justice system. I look forward to working with her in this essential, supervisory role.”
Phillips has been with the prosecutor’s Office of Victim Witness Advocacy for 22 years as a victim advocate and most recently as a supervising victim advocate. As an advocate, she has worked in various units including domestic violence, homicide, special victims, juvenile, economic crime, trial, grand jury and serious collision response. As a supervisor, Phillips oversaw the activities of victim witness staff responsible for providing services to crime victims, witnesses and their families.
She currently serves as an instructor of the Victim Witness Assistance Program at the Mercer County Police Academy. Phillips is also involved in writing both Victims of Crime Act and Violence Against Women Act grants, helping to secure funding for the Victim Witness program.
During her time with the prosecutor’s office, Phillips has received National Organization for Victim Assistance Crisis Response Team certification and is working toward her certification as a trauma-competent family professional through the Institute for Family Professionals.
Phillips attended York College of Pennsylvania and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science and a minor in English. During college, she interned with the York Children and Family Counseling Center, where she worked with troubled youth and their families and assisted in implementing the Families and Schools Together program in local public elementary schools.
Prior to joining the prosecutor’s office, Phillips worked as a community education specialist for the Mercer County Division of Mental Health, where she conducted suicide prevention trainings for volunteers and professionals throughout the community.
