Victim Witness
Victim Witness Assistance Program
The goal of the victim witness assistance program in the United States Attorney’s Office is to ensure that victims of federal crime are treated with fairness and respect, and receive the services to which they are entitled. A variety of notification and assistance services are available.
Transportation and Parking Information
Victim Witness Information
Victim Witness Assistance
The goal of the Victim-Witness Assistance Program in the United States Attorney’s Office is to ensure that victims of federal crime are treated with fairness and respect, and receive the services to which they are entitled. A variety of notification and assistance services are available.
Notification Services
When a case reaches the prosecution stage in the criminal justice system, notification will be provided to the victims. Notifications include the filing of charges against the suspected offender, the custody status of the offender, the scheduled dates of court hearings, a guilty plea or a verdict after trial, the opportunity to provide a victim impact statement, the date of sentencing, the sentence judgment, and post sentencing notifications. The most common method of notification is by letter.
Other Assistance
For those needing additional assistance as a result of the crime, referrals can be made to agencies which provide direct services. Assistance with court process, court waiting areas, translator services, and employer contact is available. Additional services are available for child victims and witnesses.
If you are threatened or feel you are being harassed due to your contribution to the prosecution of the case, contact the case investigative agent immediately, or the Victim-Witness staff. Additional penalties can be established for harassment and other threats. If you fear for your safety, call 911.
Crime Victims’ Rights 18 U.S.C. Section 3771
As a federal crime victim, you have the following rights:
• The right to be reasonably protected from the accused.
• The right to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any public court proceeding, or any parole proceeding, involving the crime or any release or escape of the accused.
• The right not to be excluded from any such public court proceeding, unless the court, after receiving clear and convincing evidence, determines that testimony by the victim would be materially altered if the victim heard other testimony at that proceeding.
• The right to be reasonably heard at any public proceeding in the district court involving release, plea, sentencing, or any parole proceeding.
• The reasonable right to confer with the attorney for the Government in the case.
• The right to full and timely restitution as provided by law.
• The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay.
• The right to be treated with fairness and with respect for the victim’s dignity and privacy.
Advice of an Attorney
As a crime victim, you can seek the advice of an attorney with respect to the rights described under Crime Victims’ Rights, 18 U.S.C. Section 3771, listed above.
Crime Victims’ Rights Act Complaint Form
If you are a crime victim and you believe that a Department of Justice employee violated or failed to provide you with one or more of your rights, you may file a complaint with the Department of Justice. A crime victim includes any person who has been directly and proximately harmed as a result of the commission of a federal offense or an offense in the District of Columbia.
The complaint process is not designed for the correction of specific victims’ rights violations, but is instead to request corrective action against Department of Justice employees. If you wish to file a complaint, complete a Victim Complaint Form [Forma de la queja en Español] 
. Mail the completed form to Dale A. Goldberg, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney, at the address on the form. It is recommended that you contact her prior to filing your complaint. 937-225-2910.
Please review the complaint form carefully and provide as much information as you can. You may seek the advice of an attorney to assist you in understanding your rights and in filling out the complaint. Your complaint must be filed with sixty (60) days of your knowledge of a violation by the Department of Justice employee, but not more than one year after the actual violation.
Prosecution Steps
Listed below are the steps in the federal criminal justice system. Depending on the case, not every step will occur.
• Filing of criminal complaint, Information, or Indictment
• Arrest of the offender, if not already in custody
• Initial Appearance by the offender in court
• Detention Hearing
• Preliminary Hearing
• Grand Jury Hearing
• Arraignment and Plea
• Hearings on Motions
• Change of Plea to Guilty or Trial
• Verdict
• Sentencing
• Appeal
There are cases in which the offender will change the initial “not guilty” plea to “guilty”. When the offender changes his/her plea to guilty, the case will not go to trial, and as a victim or witness, you will not have to testify in court. If the case does go to trial, and you do not reside within driving distance of the appropriate site of court, the Victim-Witness Coordinator or Specialist will make the necessary travel arrangements for your appearance in court. You will receive advance notification, and reimbursement for witness fees and per diem for the days you are required to be in the district for testimony.
Victim of a Violent Crime
If you suffered bodily injury or the loss of a loved one as a result of a violent crime, the State of Ohio Victims of Crime Compensation Program may help with crime related costs. You may be eligible to receive compensation for out-of-pocket medical expenses, unreimbursed economic losses, counseling expenses, lost wages, or funeral and burial expenses.
For information, contact
Ohio Victims of Crime Compensation Program
150 E. Gay St. 25th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
800/ 582-2877 or 614/ 466-5610
Victim Notification System
In order to provide victims with information and notification on case events and dates, the Department of Justice utilizes a computer-based system which the victims can access at no cost by telephone or by Internet, 24 hours a day, everyday. Each victim will receive a Victim Identification Number (VIN) and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to use to access the system. This information will be sent in a letter to the victim.
Transportation and Parking Information
Directions to our offices and the courthouses in the district are provided on the home page of this website or by following the links below:
Victim Resources
Ohio Crime Victims Compensation Fund
Phone: 1-800-582-2877
Domestic Violence
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Phone: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Action Ohio Coalition for Battered Women
Phone:1-888-622-9315
Ohio Domestic Violence Network
Phone: 1-800-934-9840
Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services
Family Violence Prevention Center
Phone: 614-466-7782
Human Trafficking
U.S. Department of Justice Trafficking in Person and Worker Exploitation Complaint Line
Phone: 1-888-428-7581
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Phone: 1-888-373-7888
Abuse and Child Exploitation
Childhelp USA - Child Abuse Hotline
Phone: 1–800-422-4453
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Phone: 1-800-843-5678
TTY: 1-800-826-7653
Ohio Missing Children’s Clearinghouse
1-800-325-5604
Community Eldercare Locator
Phone: 1-800-677-1116
Rape Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
Phone: 1-800-656-4673
Fraud/ID Theft
U.S. Department of Justice ID Theft & Fraud
Ohio Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
Phone: 1-800-282-0515
General Victim Resource Information
National Center for Victims of Crime
Phone: 1-800-FYI-CALL (394-2255)
National Organization for Victim Assistance
Phone: 1-800-TRY-NOVA (879-6682)
U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime
US. Department of Justice Office of the Victims’ Rights Ombudsman
Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services
Phone: 614-466-7782