Contact Us
Commonwealth's Attorney Office at:
Circuit Court Building:
John Marshall Courts Building
400 N. 9th Street, Room 100
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Tel: 804-646-3500
Fax: 804-646-0506
Commonwealth's Attorney Office at:
General District Court Building:
Marsh Manchester Courts Building
920 Hull Street
Richmond, Virginia 23224
Tel: 804-646-8704
Fax: 804-646-8988
Commonwealth's Attorney Office at:
Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Building:
Oliver W. Hill Courts Building
1600 Oliver Hill Way
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Tel: 804-646-2950
Fax: 804-646-3225
Victim Witness Services:
Tel: 804-646-7665
Fax: 804-646-3610
VICTIM WITNESS
INFORMATION ABOUT THE RICHMOND VICTIM WITNESS SERVICES PROGRAM
The Richmond Victim Witness Services program was established in 1991. The program is hosted and located within the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Offices. There is a Victim Witness Services office located in each of the three City Of Richmond courthouses. The program consists of eleven staff members with nine designated as Victim Witness Services Specialists available to assist crime victims and witnesses. The role of each Specialist is to reduce the trauma of victimization and encourage crime victims and witnesses to cooperate with and participate in the criminal justice system by providing direct services including; assisting crime victims in completing victims’ compensation fund claim applications, providing court date notification of judicial proceedings, providing case disposition information, prisoner status, and any other assistance required by the Crime Victim and Witness Rights Act. Each Specialist provides and ensures an explanation of the complexities of the criminal justice system, provides written materials to crime victims and witnesses which explain how to obtain the program's services, and summarizes victim and witness rights while offering specialized counseling or a referral to such services. To enquire about Victim Witness Services assistance contact the office at 804-646-7665.
MISSION STATEMENT:
As a part of the Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, the Richmond Victim/Witness Services Program is dedicated to assisting crime victims and witnesses in the City Of Richmond. As directed by the Virginia General Assembly the V/WSP Specialists are available to inform crime victims and witnesses of their rights, court case information, and resource assistance, while empowering and respecting them as they navigate through the criminal justice system.
GOAL:
To provide information and assistance to crime victims and witnesses as directed in the Crime Victim and Witness Bill of Rights established by the Virginia General Assembly. Virginia Code § 19.2-11.01.
PURPOSE:
The Victim/Witness Services Program is located within the Richmond Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney and was established to assist crime victims and witnesses through the criminal justice system. The Virginia General Assembly has been passed laws to ensure certain rights to crime victims and witnesses. The purpose of the Victim/Witness Services Program is to inform these rights to those victimized by crime...
CRIME VICTIM AND WITNESS BILL OF RIGHTS:
In recognition of the Commonwealth's concern for the victims and witnesses of crime, it is the purpose of this chapter to ensure that the full impact of crime is brought to the attention of the courts of the Commonwealth; that crime victims and witnesses are treated with dignity, respect and sensitivity; and that their privacy is protected to the extent permissible under law. It is the further purpose of this chapter to ensure that victims and witnesses are informed of the rights provided to them under the laws of the Commonwealth; that they receive authorized services as appropriate; and that they have the opportunity to be heard by law-enforcement agencies, attorneys for the Commonwealth, corrections agencies and the judiciary at all critical stages of the criminal justice process to the extent permissible under law.