Victim Witness Assistance Program

If you are accessing this website, it is likely that you are the victim of or witness to a federal crime that is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut. To victims, the Office of the United States Attorney regrets that you were victimized and will make every effort to vigorously prosecute the person(s) responsible for the crime. As a victim of crime, the federal law accords you certain rights that are codified by statute and can be found at Title 18, United States Code, § 3771. A summary of these rights is set forth below.

The Victim Witness Assistance Program is committed to ensuring that victims and witnesses of federal crimes are treated with fairness and respect and that victims are afforded rights and provided services necessary to help ease the impact of their victimization. Victims of crimes being prosecuted by this office will be notified of significant developments in the prosecutions. Victims of crimes involving numerous victims will be notified of significant developments through the "Multi Victim Case Update" link below.

Victim/Witness Assistance

The goal of the Federal Victim/Witness Assistance Program is to ensure that victims of federal crime are treated with fairness and respect for the victim's dignity and privacy. The program carries out the mandates of the Federal Victim and Witness Protection Act of 1982, the Crime Control Act of 1990, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 and the Justice for All Act of 2004. These victim/witness assistance protection laws apply to all victims and witnesses of federal crime who have suffered physical, financial, or emotional trauma. Crime victims can seek the advise of an attorney with respect to the rights described below.

A federal crime victim has 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 of 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 in 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.
  

Notification Services

• The release or detention status of an offender pending judicial proceedings; or the placement in a pretrial diversion program, and the conditions thereof;
• The filing of charges against a suspected offender, or the proposed dismissal of any or all charges, including dismissal in favor of state prosecution;
• The scheduling, including scheduling changes and/or continuances, of any public court proceeding, to include post judgment hearings (i.e. probation violations, appellate arguments);
• The terms of any negotiated plea, including the acceptance of a plea of guilty or the rendering of a verdict after trial;
• The dates of any plea, sentencing or parole hearing, and the victim's right to make a statement or present any information to the court in relation to the plea, sentence or parole of the defendant(s);.
• The opportunity to present to the court in the presentence report a victim impact statement containing information concerning any harm, including financial, social, psychological and physical harm, done to or loss suffered by the victim of the crime;
  The outcome of any trial, and the sentence imposed, to include restitution awarded, if applicable;
  

Other Assistance Services

• Provide or arrange for support and assistance to victims and witnesses during court appearances;
• Upon request by a victim or witness, provide assistance in notifying the employer if cooperation in the investigation or prosecution of the crime causes his/her absence from work; and the creditors, where appropriate, if the crime or cooperation in the investigation or prosecution affects his/her ability to make timely payments;
• Routinely provide information or assistance concerning transportation, parking, lodging, translator and related services;
• Provide referrals to other agencies for shelter, counseling, compensation, and other types of assistance services when needed.

We have taken several steps to make participation by victims of crime and witnesses more effective and meaningful. The United States Department of Justice and the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut are committed to advocating, assisting and enforcing your rights as a federal crime victim. However, you should be aware that representatives of the Department of Justice represent the interests of the United States, which may on occasion, differ from the interests of a single victim.

We hope this information helps you in understanding your rights. We recognize that being the victim or witness of a crime is a difficult and often traumatic experience. During the process, you will be kept informed of the status of your case by the Victim-Witness Coordinator, Linda Corraro, who will be your principal contact and can be reached at:

Victim Witness Assistance Program
United States Attorney's Office
(203) 821-3700
Toll Free: 1(888) 645-5807
Email: usa-ct-vns@usdoj.gov

Links

State of Connecticut, Office of Victim Services
Office for Victims of Crime
The National Center for Victims of Crime
National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA)


The Office of Family Support was developed to serve Connecticut families who lost loved ones in the September 11th terrorists' attacks. For more information, please contact: Connecticut Helps Office of Family Support, 450 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 418-6262.

The organizations listed above are provided for informational purposes only. Their inclusion in this list does not constitute an endorsement.