Victim-Witness Assistance Program

The District Attorney's Victim-Witness program provides a variety of services for crime victims and witnesses to make their experience with the criminal justice system less traumatic and easier to understand. This involves assistance during the investigation and court proceedings and help in making claims for compensation under the California Victims of Crime Program.

Victim & Witness Assistance

San Joaquin County is unique in having a mobile Victim-Witness Unit that can respond at the request of police investigators to assist crime victims during the course of an investigation. This may involve finding emergency housing, arranging for the cleaning of a crime scene, crisis intervention or providing referrals for counseling, transporting children to the children's shelter, or just answering questions about what happens next. Victim advocates also arrange for transportation to court, provide information about the court system and information about particular cases that have been referred for prosecution, information about how to obtain restraining orders, and staff the witness waiting room at the Stockton courthouse. Victim Advocates are also stationed at both the Stockton Police Department and San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office in order to be available for immediate assistance to victims and witnesses of crimes investigated by those agencies.

Witness Coordination

Witness Coordination staff provide contact with and information to witnesses who have been subpoenaed to court so that they will know when to appear for hearings and when hearings have been cancelled or postponed.

Victim Claims

Victim-Witness staff assist victims in filing claims with the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board in order to obtain compensation for losses they have incurred as a result of criminal activity.