Services provided by the Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Orientation to the Criminal Justice System;
Notification on the status and disposition of cases;
The following events in the criminal justice system generate automated case status notification letters:
The Initial Contact letter
Pre-Grand Jury Remand Notification
Administrative Dismissal
Grand Jury Remand
Grand Jury Dismissal (no bill)
Indictment Returned (true bill)
Acceptance into Pre-Trial Intervention Program (PTI)
Termination from or Completion of Pre-Trial Intervention Program
Negotiated Plea on all Charges
Released on Bail/Conditions of Bail
Fugitive Status
Court dismissal
Sentencing Date
Sentence Imposed
Parole Registry/Parole Eligibility
Mistrial/Retrial
Mistrial/Dismissal
Released from Prison/Expiration of Sentence/Furlough/Community Release Program
Notification of the defendant’s release from custody (notification made by Passaic County Jail);
Court accompaniment;
Child Care;
Information and assistance with applications to the Victims of Crime Compensation Board;
The Victims of Crimes Compensation Board is a state agency that assists victims of violent crimes, such as homicide, aggravated assault, sex offenses, robbery and vehicular homicide, with compensation for funeral expenses, counseling expenses and lost wages. For property crimes such as burglaries, senior citizens may apply for losses up to $500. A written application for compensation must be made to the Board. No fees are required and assistance with filing and filling out the application is available from the Office of Victim Witness Advocacy.
Assistance with restitution applications;
Victim impact statement assistance;
A crime victim has the right to have the judge consider the impact of the crime on the emotional, financial or physical trauma resulting from the crime. The Office of Victim Witness Advocacy assists victims in preparing a written statement for the judge.
Employer, school, landlord and creditor intercession services;
Referrals to social service agencies;
Crisis intervention;
Assistance with property return;
Victim witness waiting room;
Crime prevention information;
Parking and lunch vouchers;
Community information;
Assistance with transportation;
Referrals for medical testing and counseling related to sexually transmitted diseases;
Some crimes, usually sexual offenses, put a victim at risk for contracting the HIV virus, the causative agent of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), as well as other sexually transmitted diseases. Victims of sexual assault or a victim of any other offense that has a likelihood of transmitting bodily fluids will be referred for confidential, medical testing. Victims are also provided with counseling if requested or a referral to counseling and, if necessary, referrals for health care. Victims may also ask the court, through the Prosecutor’s Office to have the defendant tested for HIV/AIDS.