Victim Assistance
The Victim-Witness Assistance Program is available to help victims of crime throughout the criminal justice process by offering guidance, support, and information.
Crime Victims Bill of Rights
The State of Georgia’s state constitution ensures that victims of crime have specific rights when it comes to criminal cases.
The Georgia Constitution (Art. I, Sect. I, Paragraph XXX) and the Georgia Crime Victims Bill of Rights (O.C.G.A. 17-17-1, et seq.) declare that victims of certain crimes and delinquent acts be accorded certain basic rights. These rights include, but are not limited to:
The RIGHT to be treated fairly and with dignity by the criminal justice system.
The RIGHT to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of the arrest, release, or escape of the accused.
The RIGHT to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any scheduled court proceedings.
The RIGHT not to be excluded from scheduled court proceedings involving the alleged act.
The RIGHT to be heard at any scheduled court proceedings involving the release, plea, or sentencing of the accused.
The RIGHT to be informed of ALL rights included within the Georgia Crime Victims Bill of Rights.
The RIGHT to restitution and compensation as provided by law.
If a victim’s constitutional right is denied, the RIGHT to assert these rights by filing a motion with the same court that is handling the criminal or delinquent proceeding. [Marsy’s Law (Article I, Section I, Paragraph XXX)].
It is the RIGHT and the RESPONSIBILITY of any victim who desires notification under this chapter or any other notification statute to “OPT IN” to the notification process and KEEP ALL CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES INFORMED OF CURRENT CONTACT INFORMATION.
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Crime Victims Compensation
The State of Georgia offers a program called Crime Victims Compensation Program. This program is designed to help victims of crime with medical bills, counseling, loss of wages due to the incident, funeral expenses, and crime scene clean-up.
Our office has an advocate who specializes in helping victims with the compensation program application and ensuring victims in our office receive all resources available. You can now apply to the program online on the website at: http://crimevictimscomp.ga.gov/our-programs/victims-compensation/
If you need help applying or have questions regarding the program, please contact our office and ask for our Compensation Victim Advocate.
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Servicios para Víctimas/Testigos
Una de las funciones principales de nuestro Programa de Asistencia a Víctimas y Testigos es asegurar que el Fiscal del Distrito se adhiera a la Declaración de Derechos de las Víctimas del Crimen de Georgia. Promulgada en 1995, la legislación exige que las Fiscalías estatales brinden notificaciones y otros servicios a las víctimas de delitos. Los derechos de las víctimas de delitos siempre han estado a la vanguardia de nuestra lucha por la justicia y siempre haremos todo lo posible para garantizar que se cumplan los derechos de las víctimas de delitos en el condado de Douglas.
Se proporciona un resumen de los servicios ofrecidos sin costo a las víctimas de delitos y sus familias por el Programa de asistencia a víctimas y testigos del fiscal de distrito del condado de Douglas:
· Un defensor para acompañar a las víctimas a la corte y brindar apoyo emocional
· Asistencia con solicitudes de compensación para víctimas de delitos
· Asistencia con la preparación y presentación de Declaraciones de Impacto de Víctimas
· Asistencia con solicitudes de restitución
· Explicación e información sobre el sistema de justicia penal
· Información sobre el estado del caso
· Notificación de próximas audiencias
· Orientación sobre el entorno y los procedimientos de la sala de audiencias
· Sala de espera privada antes de la comparecencia ante el tribunal
· Referencias a agencias comunitarias apropiadas y otros recursos
· Planificación de la seguridad personal
Nuestro personal de víctimas-testigos incluye:
· Defensor del niño
· Especialista en Compensación para Víctimas del Crimen
· Director de Servicios a las Víctimas
· Defensor del tribunal de menores
· Defensor de víctimas asignado a cada uno de los 3 equipos del Tribunal Superior
FEATURED RESOURCE
See the Criminal Justice Process Chart
The criminal justice process can be a confusing process for those who are not familiar with the various steps that are involved. The three main stages are prosecution and pretrial services, adjudication, and post-conviction. Our office has the following chart available as a resource to show the various steps in the criminal justice process:
Download PDF
Prosecution
The prosecution phase of the criminal justice process takes place after an arrest has occurred, once a warrant has been taken out after the initial investigation. The defendant will then have a first appearance hearing in front of a magistrate judge where it will be determined if they will receive a bond (bail) or not. A defendant may then have a preliminary hearing to show probable cause on why the case should be sent to Superior Court. A prosecutor will review the case and will draft an accusation or an indictment. If an indictment is drafted it will be presented to the Grand Jury, who will determine if there was probable cause for an arrest and the charges. If the Grand Jury agrees, the case will then be “true billed,” and will move forward with prosecution. Once a case has been indicted or accused there will be an arraignment, which is at the beginning of the adjudication phase of prosecution.
Adjudication
When a defendant is arraigned they can either enter a guilty plea or a not guilty plea. If the defendant enters a guilty plea, then the case will go to the sentencing phase. If the defendant enters a not guilty plea, then the case will continue with motions and move towards trial. Motions are mainly evidentiary and are heard before trial. The defense attorney and prosecutor will discuss the case and could reach an agreement on a plea., If the defendant agrees to plead guilty in the case, the plea will be heard in front of the judge. A defendant can choose to plead to a negotiated plea, which is where the defense attorney and prosecutor reach an agreement on what the offer should be, or the defendant can choose to plead non-negotiated, which means the judge would ultimately decide what the defendant’s sentence should be. If the defendant requests a trial, the courts will move forward with a trial and the defendant could be found guilty or not guilty. If the defendant is found guilty at trial, then it will go into the sentencing phase. Sentencing could result in either probation or prison, which is a part of the post- conviction stage of the criminal justice process.
Post Conviction
Once a defendant has been sentenced, they could be sent to prison or will serve time on probation. If the defendant receives prison time, they could be eligible for parole, if they meet the requirements to parole out. In the State of Georgia probationers and parolees are supervised by the Department of Community Supervision. If a defendant is sentenced to serve time in prison, victims can sign up to be notified by the Pardons and Parole board to be notified of their release, or if the defendant is up for parole. The Georgia Office of Victims Services website is https://pap.georgia.gov/georgia-office-victim-services. If you need assistance in signing up to be notified call our office to speak with one of our victim advocates, and they can help you.