Giving Victims a Voice: How Mandy and Asher Bring Healing Across Georgia

For nearly two decades, Mandy Kimner has dedicated her career to serving victims of crime in Georgia. As a Victim Services Specialist with the Georgia Office of Victim Services (GOVS) and the agency’s canine handler, Mandy and her therapy and comfort dog, Asher, travel across the state with one mission: to ensure every victim is heard.

“I really love working with people and connecting with them, and Asher really helps create that bridge,” Mandy shared. “Even when they’re in their most vulnerable state, having to talk about really traumatic things that have happened to them or that they have witnessed, Asher helps break the ice. He helps them smile a little bit and, for just a moment, forget about what they’re actually having to do there. Or maybe to help decompress what they just had to talk about.”

Ensuring No Voice Goes Unheard

Mandy’s work is closely tied to Marsy’s Law, which guarantees that crime victims have rights throughout the criminal justice process. One recent case emphasizes just how powerful that work can be.

During a recent impact session that involved reconsideration, Mandy and her team reached out to registered victims to ensure everyone had the chance to participate. In doing so, they discovered another victim in the case who had never been informed about the process or given the opportunity to be involved. Mandy connected with that individual, explained the process, and helped them participate. For the first time in nearly 35 years, the victim was able to share how the crime had affected their life.

Mandy said it was “pretty neat to see everybody come together and really have a part in the process of that impact session and how the board might make a new decision going forward.”

Healing With a Partner by Her Side

While Mandy provides the information, support, and resources victims need, Asher plays an equally important role in creating moments of comfort. Whether attending a victim impact session, visiting parole or corrections staff, or participating in community events, Asher helps ease difficult conversations and lift spirits.

“He even helps me throughout the day as well as when we travel around to just the employees in our office,” Mandy added. “He helps everybody have a little bit of a better day.”

Serving the Entire State

Based in Atlanta but traveling across Georgia, Mandy and Asher connect with victims they are, from community events to prisons, parole offices, and victims’ hometowns. Whether responding to a specific need or simply showing up to provide encouragement, their presence leaves a lasting impact.

“You know, we just make impacts everywhere we go,” Mandy said. “It doesn’t always have to be a call to need. We just kind of show up, and it just happens to be, ‘I’m so glad you guys are here. I needed that today.”

Marsy’s Law exists to ensure that no victim is left behind. Mandy and Asher’s work is a reminder that healing often begins with being heard and sometimes, with a wagging tail.