The impact of crime is far reaching.
It effects the victims, witnesses, their families, neighborhoods and
sometimes even whole communities. The Office of Victim-Witness
Advocacy, within the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, was
established to ensure that the rights of the crime victims are protected
and that the criminal justice system treats crime victims and witnesses
with fairness, understanding, dignity, and respect. The Somerset
County Prosecutor's Office of Victim-Witness Advocacy, through its
dedicated staff, provides victims with information about the criminal
justice process, their rights as victims and other support services.
These services are available to help victims cope with the trauma and
the aftermath of the victimization and to lessen the inconveniences
often associated with participation in the criminal justice process.
Your cooperation throughout the criminal justice process is essential to
the successful prosecution of criminal cases and is sincerely
appreciated.
Crime victims are entitled to certain basic rights:
To be treated with
dignity and compassion by the criminal justice system.
To be informed about
the Criminal Justice Process.
To be free from
intimidation.
To have inconveniences
associated with participation in the criminal justice process
minimized to the fullest extent possible.
To medical assistance if, in the
judgment of the law enforcement agency assistance appears necessary.
To make at least one
telephone call provided the call is reasonable both in length and
location called.
To medical assistance if,
in the judgment of the law enforcement agency, medical assistance
appears necessary.
To be notified if presence
in court is not needed.
To be informed about
available remedies, financial assistance and social services.
To be compensated for your
loss whenever possible.
To be provided a secure,
but not necessarily separate, waiting area during court proceedings.
To be advised of case
progress and final disposition.
To the prompt return of
property when no longer needed.
To submit a written
statement about the impact of the crime to a representative of the
Somerset County Prosecutor's Office which shall be considered prior to
the Prosecutor's final decision concerning whether formal criminal
charges will be filed.
To make, prior to
sentencing, an in-person statement directly to the sentencing court
concerning the impact of the crime. This statement can be made
in addition to the statement permitted for inclusion in the
presentence report.
Assistance Available to You as the Victim of
a Crime
Provide
information about the criminal justice process.
Information
on the case status through a letter notification process.
Crisis
Intervention.
Expedite
property return.
Referrals to
community services.
Assistance
in applying for compensation through the Victims of Crime Compensation
Board.
Assistance
with Victim-Impact Statements.
Restitution
information.
Courtroom
orientation and accompaniment.
Information
on parole input.
Information
on the court ordered medical testing of a defendant for acquired
immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or infection with human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or other related virus identified as a
probable causative agent of Aids.
Referral
information on available medical testing and counseling for a victim
who as the result of a crime may be at risk for transmission of
disease.
For further assistance and information, call:
Victim / Witness Coordinator
Deborah McGowan
908-575-3359
The New Jersey Victim Notification
Service (VINE) is a service through which victims of crime can use the
telephone or Internet to search for information regarding their
offender's custody status and register to receive telephone and e-mail
notification when the offender's custody status changes. This service
is brought to you by the Office of the Attorney General. The VINE
toll-free number for New Jersey VINE is 1-877-846-3465.
Victim
/ Witness Brochures and Impact Statement Forms
Victim / Witness Brochures
(PDF Format)
Victim Impact
Statement Forms (PDF Format)
