Victim and Witness Assistance Services

The Victim Witness Assistance Center provides a wide variety of services to victims and witnesses to help reduce the trauma, frustration, and inconvenience experienced by those affected by crime.

The services provided by the Victim Witness Assistance Center may include:

Mandated Services:                                                                           Additional Services

Crisis Intervention                                                                              Creditor Intervention

Emergency Assistance                                                                        Child Care Assistance

Resource and Referral Assistance                                                    Witness Notification

Victim Compensation Program Claim Assistance                          Transportation Assistance

Property Return                                                                                   Court Waiting Area

Orientation to the Criminal Justice System                                     Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) Assistance/Referral

Court Escort and Support                                                                   Media Intervention                                        

Case Status/Case Disposition                                                            

Notification of Family/Friends

Employer Notification/Intervention

Restitution Assistance

 

Crimes Against Persons

Some crimes can leave victims with physical injuries and/or emotional trauma. Such crimes are considered crimes against persons. The Victim Witness Assistance Center provides basic services and, if necessary, referrals to other assistive programs.

Victims of any of these types of crime may be eligible to apply for compensation for out-of-pocket expenses through California Victims’ of Crime Board.  Please contact a Victim Witness Assistance Center advocate for more information. 

  • Aggravated Assault
  • Assault with a deadly weapon
  • Child Abuse
  • Domestic Violence
  • DUI resulting in injury/death
  • Elder Abuse
  • Hit and run causing injury/death
  • Homicide/Manslaughter
  • Kidnapping
  • Robbery
  • Sexual Assault
  • Crime Victims with Disabilities
  • Human Trafficking

Property Crimes

Property crimes affect many people in their day-to-day lives. The prosecution of property crimes helps prevent more serious personal crimes and improves the quality of life in our local communities.  The Victim Witness Assistance Center provides basic services and, if necessary, referrals to other assistive programs.  A victim of property crime has a right to request restitution, which is a court order that the offender pay for any loss caused by the crime.

A property crime may be:

  • Commercial/residential burglary
  • Shoplifting
  • Petty theft
  • Auto theft
  • Forgery
  • Embezzlement
  • Vandalism
  • Hit and Run (non-injury)
  • Driving Under the Influence (non-injury)