The Boulder DA's Office places a priority on the
treatment
of crime victims. The DA's Victim/Witness advocates offer information,
intervention, and community referrals to victims and witnesses in cases
where a perpetrator has been identified, and sufficient probable cause was
found to file charges in court. Although Victim/Witness responds to
requests from any crime victim, the major focus of Victim/Witness is
assistance to victims of crimes against persons as opposed to crimes
against property.
The participation of victims and witnesses is crucial to the successful
prosecution of a criminal case. Victim/Witness makes sure:
- that all victims and witnesses needed to testify are notified and
prepared regarding court appearances
- that the DA is aware of the wishes of the victim regarding possible
outcomes of the case, and that the victim is made aware of the DA's
strategies regarding the direction of the case.
Victim/Witness administers the
Victim
Compensation Program for Boulder County, awarding financial assistance
to victims of violent crimes for their medical, psychotherapy and wage
losses. The Victim Compensation Program will not compensate victims for
property losses, but the DA will ask the judge to order the defendant to
pay restitution as a condition of sentence.
In l983, Boulder County Victim/Witness was nationally recognized by the
President's Task Force on Violent Crime as a model Victim/Witness program.
The program works with over 3,000 victims annually.
Volunteers
in this unit average 5,600 working hours annually.
