Sussex County Prosecutor's Office 19-21 High Street Newton, NJ 07860 Telephone (973) 383-1570 Services to Victims of Crime Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM vw@scpo.sussex.nj.us We all know about crime, but we don't expect it to involve us. We think of crime as something that happens to someone else. Other Victim Assistance Resources Nationwide New Jersey State Victim Notification Service (VINE) VINE toll-free number 1-877-846-3465 National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) 1-703-535-6682 Office for Victims of Crime 1-202-307-5983 National Center for Victims of Crime 1-202-467-8700 Statewide Victims of Crime Compensation Board 50 Park Place Newark, NJ 07102 1-877-NJ VCCB1 (1-877-658-2221) www.njvictims.org New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women 1670 Whitehorse-Hamilton Square Road Trenton, NJ 08690 (609) 584-8107 www.njcbw.org New Jersey Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-572-SAFE (1-800-572-7233) 24 hours a day - 7 days a week New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault 2333 Whitehorse Mercerville Rd., Suite B Trenton, New Jersey 08619 609-631-4450 Hotline: 1-800-601-7200 www.njcasa.org New Jersey Crime Victims' Law Center Richard Pompelio, Esq. Executive Director/Law Director 15 Mountain Blvd Warren, NJ 07059 1-908-757-7800 or 1-973-903-9848 Email:  Rpompelio@newjerseylaw.net www.njcvlc.org New Jersey State Office of Victim Witness Advocacy Division of Criminal Justice P.O. Box 085 Trenton, New Jersey 08625 (609) 896-8855 www.njvw.org State of New Jersey Department of Corrections www.state.nj.us/corrections New Jersey State Police www.njsp.org What happens if crime touches your life? What do you do, where do you go, and what can be expected of you? The Office of Victim Witness Advocacy can answer these questions for you. Specially trained Victim Advocates provide services to help victims of crime. If you have been the victim of a crime these services can provide the information and support you need, completely free of charge. Where do I go for help? If you have been the victim of an assault, a property offense, or any other crime, the first step is to call the police. They can take action to investigate the crime and they can refer you to the Office of Victim Witness Advocacy for assistance. If someone is arrested for committing an indictable crime against you, you will automatically be contacted by the Office of Victim Witness Advocacy. What kind of help can I expect? The Office of Victim Witness Advocacy provides the following services and information: Staff available to answer your questions on the telephone, in person or via e-mail Explanation of how the criminal justice process works Explanation of legal terms and various types of court hearings Notification on the status and disposition of cases If you will be required to appear in court and what you will need to do Court accompaniment Crisis intervention Assistance in getting your property back when it is no longer needed as evidence Assistance in making a victim impact statement to the Court Transportation to court on a case by case basis Child care assistance during court hearings Referrals to local social service agencies Assistance in filling out victim compensation claims Assistance with obtaining restitution A safe and secure waiting room Directions to courthouse New Jersey Crime Victims' Bill of Rights: To be treated with dignity and compassion by the criminal justice system To be informed about the criminal justice process To be free from intimidation To have inconveniences associated with participation in the criminal justice process minimized To make at least one telephone call which is reasonable in both length and location called To medical assistance, if it appears necessary To be notified if presence in court is not needed To be informed about available remedies, financial assistance and social services To be compensated for losses when possible To be provided a secure waiting area during court proceedings To be advised of case progress and final disposition To the prompt return of property when no longer needed as evidence To submit a written statement about the impact of the crime to the County Prosecutor's Office which shall be considered prior to the Prosecutor's final decision concerning whether formal criminal charges will be filed To make, prior to sentencing, an in-person statement directly to the sentencing court concerning the impact of the crime How do I find out about victim compensation? If you have been injured as a result of a crime, have missed work, have had to go for counseling or have medical expenses not covered by insurance, you may be able to receive money to cover some of your costs. If a family member was the victim of a homicide or vehicular homicide, you may qualify for assistance with burial expenses. Other benefits are available, however property crimes are generally not covered by the Victims of Crime Compensation Board. You can apply for compensation even if the offender has not been caught or convicted, but you must report the crime to the police. A Victim Advocate can help you fill out an application form or you can obtain one directly from: Victims of Crime Compensation Office 50 Park Place Newark, NJ 07102 Toll free number: 1-800-658-2221 www.state.nj.us/oag/njvictims   Victim Information & Notification Everyday (VINE) The New Jersey VINE Service will tell you if an offender is in custody in the State of New Jersey and will give you other important information. VINE will also let you register telephone numbers where you can be notified if an offender is released or transferred. The offender will not know you are registered with the New Jersey VINE Service. This important information is only a phone call away. 1-877-VINE-4NJ. For more information contact our staff: Carolyn Zydel, Victim Witness Coordinator General questions on adult criminal matters and victim assistance Laura Santaita, Victim Advocate - Juvenile Unit Questions about crimes committed by juveniles (under age 18) and Juvenile Family Court matters Nina Pisani, Victim Advocate - Domestic Violence Unit For assistance with Domestic Violence cases in both Superior and Municipal Courts …when crime touches you The Sussex County Prosecutor's Office is located at 19-21 High Street in Newton just two doors away from the Sussex County Judicial Complex. Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We can be contacted by telephone at (973) 383-1570.