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Services Available to Help You

The victim/witness coordinator on the investigative or prosecutorial phase, case agent, and federal prosecutor will work to become aware of your needs, feelings, and concerns and to answer questions you may have about participating in the case. Services they commonly provide include:

• Referrals to mental health, financial, or social services
• Security/protection information and referrals
• Information about the federal criminal justice system and your rights and roles as you participate
• Assistance with employers and creditors
• Notification about dates, times, places, and outcomes of court proceedings
• Information about how you can submit a victim impact statement or, where permissible, speak at sentencing
• Restitution

If you are named as a victim in the case and are required to testify, these services may be provided to you:

• Information about being placed "on call" for court attendance, an arrangement that lets you stay at home or work until you are actually needed to testify
• Arrangements to help you travel to and from court, especially if you live out of state
• Escort to court proceedings

The victim/witness coordinator may also be able to help you retrieve property of yours that was taken into evidence and tell you how to enroll in the Bureau of Prisons Victim Notification Program. Under that program, if the accused is found or pleads guilty and is incarcerated, you can be notified of the offender's target release date.

If you have additional needs, contact the victim/witness coordinator to determine what additional services may be available. The address and phone number are listed on the back cover of this handbook.

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