Victim and Witness Services
Case Updates
Victim Services
Federal crime victims* have the following rights, as set forth in the Justice for All Act of 2004, 18 U.S.C. §3771:
(1) The right to
be reasonably protected from the accused.
(2) 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.
(3) 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.
(4) The right to be reasonably heard at any public proceeding in the district
court involving release, plea, sentencing, or any parole proceeding.
(5) The reasonable right to confer with the attorney for the Government
in the case.
(6) The right to full and timely restitution as provided in law.
(7) The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay.
(8) The right to be treated with fairness and with respect for the victim's
dignity and privacy.
*Under the statute, "the term ‘crime victim' means a person directly and proximately harmed as a result of the commission of a Federal offense or an offense in the District of Columbia. In the case of a crime victim who is under 18 years of age, incompetent, incapacitated, or deceased, the legal guardians of the crime victim or the representatives of the crime victim's estate, family members, or any other persons appointed as suitable by the court, may assume the crime victim's rights under this chapter, but in no event shall the defendant be named as such guardian or representative."
The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York is committed to protecting the rights of crime victims. If you are a victim of an offense being prosecuted by our Office, our Victim/Witness Unit can make sure that you are notified of important stages of the case to help you exercise your rights. In addition, our Victim/Witness Unit can help refer you to agencies that provide other services to witnesses, such as compensation and counseling. For information or assistance with referrals, please contact:
Wendy
Olsen Clancy
Victim/Witness Coordinator
United States Attorney's Office
One St. Andrew's Plaza
New York, New York 10007
(866) 874-8900
Wendy.Olsen@usdoj.gov
There are many resources for crime victims. One important resource for New York victims is the New York State Crime Victims Board. In addition, the Office for Victims of Crime of the United States Department of Justice, which oversees funding for state crime victim programs, contains links to many other victim services organizations throughout the country, as well as information for victims of international terrorism. If you have any questions or problems regarding your rights as a victim, please bring it to the attention of our Victim/Witness Coordinator, who can usually resolve the issue, either on her own, or with the involvement of investigators and prosecutors on the case, or supervisory attorneys within the United States Attorney’s Office. If nevertheless there has been a failure by a Department of Justice employee to provide crime victim rights, a complaint form may be accessed here. A Spanish version of the complaint form may be accessed here.
Witness Services
The Victim/Witness Unit of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York arranges for all travel for witnesses in cases being handled by our Office. If you have been notified that you are required to appear as a witness for the Government in a case or other legal proceeding being handled by this Office, you should contact our Victim/Witness Unit to make arrangements for your travel and lodging, which we will prepay. (If you are coming from outside the local court area, you should not make travel arrangements yourself). For further information, please see Instructions for Witnesses Appearing on Behalf of the United States Government.
The Victim/Witness Brochure provides additional important information about services, information available to you, and the investigation process.