Victim Witness Assistance

The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee 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 specialists can make sure that you are notified of important stages of the case to help you exercise your rights. In addition, they 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 Susie Delozier, our Victim-Witness Coordinator in our Knoxville office, who serves our Knoxville and Greeneville offices or Amy Russell, our Victim-Witness Specialist in Chattanooga, who serves our Chattanooga and Winchester Divisions.

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.

There are many resources for crime victims. 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. If you have any questions or problems regarding your rights as a victim, please bring it to the attention of our Victim/Witness staff, who can usually resolve the issue, either on their own, or with the involvement of investigators and prosecutors on the case, or supervisory attorneys within the United States Attorney’s Office.

VICTIM-IMPACT STATEMENTS: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Ever wonder what is meant by restitution? Ever wonder what a pre-sentence report involves? This brochure answers those questions and also gives detailed insight into making a statement either verbally or orally at a sentencing hearing.

Victim Impact Statements brochure