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Every U.S. Attorney's Office has a Victim/Witness Assistance Program to assist victims of federal crimes. The Victim/Witness Assistance Programs are a part of federal efforts to provide information on rights and services to victims and witnesses of federal crimes, as well as to encourage the participation of victims in the criminal justice system to the extent that they wish, in accordance with federal law.
To Contact Our Office:
Victim/Witness Assistance Information
U. S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
Central District of California
888-228-0315
213-894-2744 (Fax)
To contact the Victim/Witness Assistance Program at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, call toll free at 1-888-228-0315, and listen to the instructions on how to reach a specific staff person or service. Please leave a message, your name and phone number, as well as the name of the defendant, and/or case number if you are calling on a specific case, if no one is available and we will return your call as quickly as possible.
If you wish to attend a sentencing, please be sure to provide information including the name of the defendant, the case number, your phone number and information sufficient to let program staff know that you want to attend a specific hearing. Cases are often postponed at very short notice, and every effort will be made to keep you informed, if you let us know you want to attend.
Victims have certain rights specified in 42 U.S. Code Section 10606, which include the right to:
(1) be treated with fairness and with respect for the victim's dignity and privacy; (2) be reasonably protected from the accused offender; (3) be notified of court proceedings; (4) be present at all public court proceedings related to the offense, unless the court determines that testimony by the victim would be materially affected if the victim heard other testimony at trial; (5) confer with the attorney for the Government in the case; (6) receive restitution in certain cases; and (7) obtain information about the conviction, sentencing, imprisonment, and release of the offender.
Victim/Witness Assistance Programs within the U.S. Attorney's Offices primarily work with victims involved in indicted cases, however, program staff works closely with Victim/Witness Assistance Program staff from various other federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, or U.S. Immigration Service who provide services to federal victims for cases under investigation.
While each District may differ in how each program is run, the Central District's Federal Victim/Witness Assistance Program within the U.S. Attorney's Office offers a variety of services to eligible victims, which may include:
Crisis intervention and support services.
Information about the status of a victim's case in the criminal justice process.
Registry with the Bureau of Prisons to obtain information about an inmate's release date.
Accompanying victims to court for trials and sentencings, upon request, when staff is available.
Referrals to appropriate community agencies and programs, including information on how to apply for victim compensation for victims of violent crimes.
Information about a victim's rights and role in the federal criminal justice process.
Information about the victim impact process, the restitution process, and the right to allocution at sentencing where permitted.
Act as a victims' liaison with investigative agencies, U.S. Probation Department, the Bureau of Prisons and the assigned prosecutor.
Assist victims in obtaining release of their property after a case has been completed.
Explaining court and/or case related information to employers of victims or witnesses.
Crime prevention tips, especially for victims of financial crimes such as telemarketing, mail theft and identity theft crimes.