This week is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and we’re sharing some information with you about how our office works to serve victims of crimes, so they can feel empowered when moving through the criminal justice system.
If you are a crime victim, you are suddenly faced with navigating an unfamiliar criminal justice system because of circumstances outside your control. But you will not be navigating this system alone.
Survivors of crime will meet a few people along the way in a criminal case. After a crime is reported, one of those people will be a victim-witness coordinator.
At our office, victim-witness coordinators act as the liaison between victims and prosecutors, and provide services and support. They help victims navigate the criminal justice system, and go over the rights a victim has, which include being treated with fairness, respect, dignity and privacy throughout the process.
Our office has eight victim-witness coordinators and one victim witness administrator who follow cases from start to finish alongside survivors of crimes — each handle upwards of 75 open cases at any given time.
Our coordinators are dedicated to serving victims and providing them the support they need, with the goal of victims finding success on the other side of a criminal case.
“Seeing the resilience of victims through their healing process is one of the most rewarding parts of the job,” said Susan, Victim Witness Administrator.