Victims Witness Unit 

The Victim Witness Unit ensures the rights of crime victims by providing direct services to crime victims who come to the attention of the County Criminal Justice System. Services are standardized statewide to include components such as case status notification, court accompaniment, referral for counseling services, and safe waiting areas.

The goal of the County Offices of Victim-Witness Advocacy is to improve the treatment of victims and ensure their rights by providing the assistance and services necessary to speed their recovery from a criminal act and to support, aid and advocate for them as they move through the criminal justice process. Under mandated services of NJSA 52:4B-44.1-16, the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights and the Attorney General's Standards to ensure the Rights of Crime Victims, crime victims and witnesses are provided with a number of important services.

Assistance, Services & Information Provided

• Information about the criminal justice process
• Information on the case status through a letter notification process
• Information on restitution
• Crisis intervention
• Expedited property return
• Expedite property return
• Referrals to community services
• Assistance with victim-impact statements
• Assistance with VCCO applications
• 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 another related virus identified as a probable causative agent of AIDS.
• Information on referrals to available medical testing and counseling for a victim who as a result of a crime may be at risk for transmission of disease.

Resources