As Deputy Director for the Georgia Office of Victim Services, Christopher Toussant oversees the daily operations that ensure crime victims, their families, and communities are supported after sentencing. His office represents three state agencies — the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Department of Corrections, and the Department of Community Supervision — providing notifications and resources that are required by law.
Toussant has been with the agency since 2017 and was promoted to Deputy Director in January 2024. For him, the role is more than administrative; it’s about ensuring victims feel heard and protected. “The Georgia Office of Victim Services provides post-sentencing support and information to crime victims, their families, and members of the community,” he explained. “My specific role is to pretty much run the day-to-day operations of the office to ensure that we are making those statutorily required notifications.”
Marsy’s Law plays a vital role in the office’s work, particularly in parole notifications. It ensures victims receive advance notice, giving them the opportunity to provide input to the parole board. The law also empowers victims when issues such as harassment arise. For example, if a victim is harassed by someone in state prison or while that person is under community supervision, the office steps in to address the problem, enforce no-contact orders, and hold those responsible accountable.
One case demonstrates the impact of this work. Toussant recalled an incident where a victim was confronted by her offender almost immediately after his release. “An individual had been released on probation, and the first stop that he made was to his victim’s door,” he recalled. “And she reached out to us by phone and then actually showed up in the office. And for us, anytime someone shows up to the office, it’s a pretty big deal.” Toussant gathered a “hands-on deck” meeting to address the situation. Through safety planning and coordination with the Department of Community Supervision, the offender was ultimately arrested and returned to prison.
For Toussant, these moments emphasize why victims’ rights matter. He has worked in victim services for more than 12 years, starting as a part-time advocate in the Clayton County District Attorney’s Office. What began as a way to “get my foot in the door” became a career he deeply values. “I fell in love with helping people,” he said. “Seeing the impact that we can make in people’s lives… those types of things encourage you.”
Marsy’s Law, he emphasized, provides a framework that ensures victims' voices are prioritized. “It kind of gives you that little oomph you need when you’re addressing issues, and it kind of makes victims’ rights be taken more seriously,” he said. And when he must confront a Marsy’s Law violator, he educates them on their offense, “Well, look, you’re violating the Constitution now. This is a little bit different than just forgetting to do something. It’s a pretty big deal.”
On a personal level, Toussant sees Marsy’s Law as proof that Georgia takes victims seriously. He noted that in his conversations with colleagues from other states, “it’s sometimes night and day” compared to the situations victims face elsewhere. Having Marsy’s Law, he explained, allows victim services providers to be taken more seriously and “definitely sends the message that Georgia cares about victims.”
Looking forward, Toussant believes that listening remains the key to strengthening victim services. “Every person deserves to be heard,” he said. “Even if we find out later down the line it wasn’t exactly what we thought in the beginning. My first thought is to always believe somebody and then just go from there.”
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