Few events in a person’s life are as traumatic as being the victim of a crime. Our office is wholeheartedly committed to victims of crime and victims’ rights. Our Victim Witness Advocates have received specialized training and can help navigate the criminal justice system.

Each criminal and serious traffic case is prosecuted by one of the Assistant State’s Attorneys. That attorney will work directly with a Victim Advocate to create a Prosecution Team. Victims and witnesses are kept apprised of the status of the case by that Prosecution Team.

Our Victim Witness Advocates will help make referrals to other community and partner agencies, provide documentation for Crime Victim Compensation, help find and coordinate emergency services for food, shelter, and clothing, accompany a victim to court, and provide assistance with Victim Impact Statements. We also have an advocate specifically for victims of domestic violence. Our prosecutors work with one of our seven Victim Witness Advocates on every case.

Continuances

Continuances occur for a host of reasons and at different times throughout the case.  When a continuance is granted by request of either the State or the Defense prior to court, the prosecutor or the victim advocate will make all attempts to contact you.

We have a telephone number for District Court cases that plays a recorded message after 5:00 p.m. on the day before court, which lists cases by defendant name, where victims and witnesses are excused from court.  To hear the recorded message, call 410-535-1600, ext. 2800.

You may also check the Witness Updates section of this website for cases listed by defendant name, in which victims and witnesses are excused from court on the scheduled day.

Please make sure to check the evening before the court date to determine if you are needed.  Lastly, you may contact the Victim Advocate during the days prior to court to determine if you are excused.

Sentencing

Once a defendant is found guilty, he/she will then be sentenced.  Sentencing may occur a few months after the defendant is found guilty if the Court orders a Pre-Sentence Investigation (PSI).  A PSI is conducted by Parole and Probation and provides an in-depth history of the defendant.

At sentencing, the victim or victim’s representative has the right to address the Court.  The victim or their representative can tell the Judge how the case has impacted them and any sentence recommendations.  This includes physical injuries, psychological trauma, financial loss, and how the crime has affected the victim.

Victim Statement

A victim’s statement is extremely important as it is the victim’s opportunity to tell the judge how the crime has affected them prior to the judge imposing a sentence.  A victim statement addressing the court may be done in open court by the victim or victim’s representative, via letters to the judge (which become part of the permanent physical file), or the prosecutor can speak on behalf of the victim or victim’s representative.