5/17/2023 0 Comments Victim witnessThe purpose of the Victim/Witness Services Program is to inform these rights to those victimized by crime. The Virginia General Assembly has been passed laws to ensure certain rights to crime victims and witnesses. PURPOSE: The Victim/Witness Services Program is located within the Richmond Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney and was established to assist crime victims and witnesses through the criminal justice system. GOAL: To provide information and assistance to crime victims and witnesses as directed in the Crime Victim and Witness Bill of Rights established by the Virginia General Assembly. As directed by the Virginia General Assembly the V/WSP Specialists are available to inform crime victims and witnesses of their rights, court case information, and resource assistance, while empowering and respecting them as they navigate through the criminal justice system. MISSION STATEMENT: As a part of the Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, the Richmond Victim/Witness Services Program is dedicated to assisting crime victims and witnesses in the City Of Richmond. To enquire about Victim Witness Services assistance contact the office at 80. Each Specialist provides and ensures an explanation of the complexities of the criminal justice system, provides written materials to crime victims and witnesses which explain how to obtain the program's services, and summarizes victim and witness rights while offering specialized counseling or a referral to such services. The role of each Specialist is to reduce the trauma of victimization and encourage crime victims and witnesses to cooperate with and participate in the criminal justice system by providing direct services including assisting crime victims in completing victims’ compensation fund claim applications, providing court date notification of judicial proceedings, providing case disposition information, prisoner status, and any other assistance required by the Crime Victim and Witness Rights Act. The program consists of eleven staff members with nine designated as Victim Witness Services Specialists available to assist crime victims and witnesses. There is a Victim Witness Services office located in each of the three City Of Richmond courthouses. The program is hosted and located within the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Offices. INFORMATION ABOUT THE RICHMOND VICTIM WITNESS SERVICES PROGRAM The Richmond Victim Witness Services program was established in 1991.
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