Victim Witness Assistance Program

Deborah Diamond, Victim Witness Coordinator
530-694-2971 / 530-721-2893
ddiamond@alpinecountyca.gov

  VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM The Alpine County's Victim Witness Assistance Program offers a wide variety of assistance to victims and witnesses of crime. Trained advocates can provide support through the court process and will keep you informed about the status of a criminal case. Advocates may also assist victims with submitting requests for restitution, filing claims for Victims of Crime compensation, and much more. Funding for the Victim / Witness Program comes entirely through fines and penalties levied against defendants.

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When to Contact the District Attorney's Office

Call us if:

  • You would like an explanation of the court process
  • You want to know the status of your case or when the defendant may be released from jail or prison
  • You are nervous about testifying in court and want someone to go with you
  • You need transportation to a court appearance
  • You would like information about restitution (making the defendant pay for your losses) or about the Victims of Crime Compensation claim process
  • You want help preparing a Victim Impact Statement
  • You need referrals to local agencies that may be able to provide emergency financial help, shelter, or counseling assistance
  • You need a Temporary Restraining Order against domestic violence
  • You have any questions about the Victim/Witness Program

Services

Services offered through the Victim/Witness Assistance Program are described in a special statute, Penal Code 13835.5. These include:

  • Crisis Intervention
  • Emergency Assistance
  • Referrals to Community Resources
  • Information / Orientation To the Criminal Justice System
  • Court Accompaniment
  • Assistance with Temporary Protective Orders
  • Assistance Submitting a Victims Of Crime (VOC) Claim
  • Restitution Assistance

Victims of Crime Compensation Program

The California Victims of Crime Compensation Program was created to lessen the financial impact of crime on qualifying victims. This program is a "payer of last resort" for victims' out-of-pocket (non-reimbursed) losses, and applies only where the crime involved physical injury or threat of injury. In addition, the crime must have occurred in California, or to a California resident, and the victim cannot have been a participant in the crime. Expenses covered may include medical or dental costs; lost wages; funeral expenses; relocation costs, etc. NOTE: Property losses are not covered under the Victims of Crime Compensation Program.

For more information and applications, call 800-777-9229. Your local Victim Witness advocate can also help you in submitting a claim.

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On average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States. Over the course of a year, that equals more than 12 million women and men.

While domestic violence can happen in any relationship -- regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or other factors -- the vast majority of victims who report violence are women abused by male partners or ex-partners.

  • One in 4 women have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner, while 1 in 7 men has experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime.
  • Among women and men who experience rape, stalking or physical violence by an intimate partner, 81% of women and 35% of men report serious impacts such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms and injury.
  • A woman is far more likely to be killed by her spouse, an intimate acquaintance, or a family member than by a stranger.

Given these statistics, it is likely that you know someone who has been abused. They may be your friends and family members, your neighbors or co-workers. Domestic violence takes it's toll on our communities as well, contributing to other forms of violence and suffering, burdening us with huge medical and criminal justice costs, and decreasing workplace productivity.

Domestic Violence is about POWER AND CONTROL
 Warning signs may include:

  • Using Intimidation -- Making her afraid by using looks, actions, gestures - smashing things - destroying her property - abusing pets - displaying weapons
  • Using Emotional Abuse -- Putting her down - making her feel bad about herself - calling her names - making her think she's crazy - playing mind games - humiliating her - making her feel guilty.
  • Using Isolation -- Controlling what she does, who she sees and talks to, what she reads, where she goes - limiting her outside involvement - using jealousy to justify actions.
  • Minimizing, Denying & Blaming -- Making light of the abuse and not taking her concerns about it seriously - saying the abuse didn't happen - shifting responsibility for abusive behavior - saying she caused it.
  • Using Children -- Making her feel guilty about the children - using the children to relay messages - using visitation to harass her - threatening to take the children away.
  • Using Male Privilege -- Treating her like a servant - making all the big decisions - acting like the "master of the castle" - being the one of define men's and women's roles.
  • Using Economic Abuse -- Preventing her from getting or keeping a job - making her ask for money - giving her an allowance - taking her money - not letting her know about or have access to family income.
  • Using Coercion & Threats -- Making and/or carrying out threats to do something to hurt her - threatening to leave her, to commit suicide, to report her to welfare - making her drop charges - making her do illegal things.


For help call: LIVE VIOLENCE FREE 530-694-1853
 or Toll Free: 888-750-6444