Victims & Witnesses

VICTIMS: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

As a victim of crime in Pennsylvania, you have the right to:

Information. Receive information about the services available for victims of crime.  

Accompaniment. Be accompanied by a family member, victim advocate or other support person at all criminal and juvenile proceedings.  

Commentary. Submit a comment to the prosecutor’s office on the dropping or reducing of any charge, or changing of a plea, in cases involving burglary, personal injury, or driving under the influence resulting in bodily injury.   

Submit a comment prior to any release decisions of an offender from state prisons.   

Notification. Receive notification, and information on any relevant conditions imposed, when an offender is released or escapes from a local correctional facility in cases involving personal injury.  

Receive notification when an offender is released or escapes from a state prison. Receive notification when an offender is committed to—or is discharged, transferred or escapes from—a mental health facility in a state prison. 

Restitution. Get help in making a claim with the state’s Victims’ Compensation Fund. 

The defendant, if found guilty, may be required to pay for all the financial damages and expenses you incurred as a result of the crime. Eligible expenses include things like damaged or stolen property, as well as any medical expenses. Download, complete and return a Restitution Form.

VICTIMS & WITNESSES: COURT PROCEDURE BASICS

“Why am I being subpoenaed as a witness when I’m the victim in the case?” 

Our Victim & Witness Coordinators get asked this question a lot, and it makes sense we do, because so much about the criminal justice system can be frightening, confusing and frustrating. That’s why we address the needs of victims and witnesses with care, sensitivity and discretion. 

In response to this frequent question, we let victims know that they as victims are also technically “the complaining witness,” which is why they’re required to come to court to testify to help prosecutors to make a case against a defendant, while acknowledging there are a lot of new words, concepts, and processes victims and witnesses now must learn, on top of managing the physical, emotional and mental stress of what happened to them. 

Victims and witnesses want to know exactly what’s going to happen when they come to court, so we walk them through the following steps.

If you are scheduled to appear in Court and haven’t heard from your victim witness coordinator, or if don’t know who your coordinator is, or can’t reach your assigned one, call our Victim Services Unit: 215-686-8027 or e-mail [email protected]. 

Once a trial sate is set

• Arrange for your Victim & Witness Coordinator or another court advocate through an outside agency to accompany you to court. For court proceedings, it is not necessary for you to secure a separate attorney as the Assistant District Attorney from our office is representing your interests in the case. 
• Get assistance with transportation if you are elderly, disabled, or traveling from out of state. We need at least two business days before your scheduled court appearance to make these arrangements.
• Secure language interpretation services. For this, we also need at least two business days before your scheduled court appearance to make these arrangements.
• Make sure you arrange for appropriate child care for the day of the trial.

On the morning of the trial

• Dress appropriately. Court is a serious matter, and everyone’s dress should reflect that. 
• Eat something before appearing in court and bring any medicines you will need as you may need to spend several hours in the waiting room and courtroom, possibly taking the entire day from early morning until the courts close. 
• Park at the PPA AutoPark located at the Gallery Mall at 10th and Filbert streets, where the District Attorney’s Office has negotiated a special parking rate for victims and witnesses attending court.

Courtroom protocols & procedures

• The judge, defendant(s), the defendant’s attorney(s), our office’s prosecutor, all victims and witnesses, victim advocates, police officers, sheriffs, and other court staff involved in the case may be present in the courtroom. 
• Witnesses testify one at a time. While one testifies, the other witnesses may be asked to wait outside the courtroom. This can be frustrating for victims and witnesses, but please understand it’s commonly done to ensure that testimonies do not influence each other.
• The Office of the District Attorney operates waiting rooms for victims and witnesses, their families, and other people there to support them in both the Criminal Justice Center (1301 Filbert Street, Room 105) and Family Court (1501 Arch Street, 9th Floor). For witnesses who are concerned about their safety while testifying, a separate waiting room can be arranged.
• When it’s your turn to testify, you will be asked to come to the front of the courtroom to swear (or “affirm”) that you will tell the truth. The judge will want to hear only the facts that relate to the case. 
• The prosecutor (ADA) from our office will ask you questions about the case, which you will be expected to answer to the best of your ability.
• When the ADA has finished asking you questions, the defendant’s attorney will ask you questions. 
• Once everyone testifies, all witnesses may re-enter the courtroom.
• The number of times you will be asked to appear in court to testify depends on a lot of things, including the type of crime that was committed and who shows up to testify on the day of the trial.

• Witnesses are entitled to a small fee for every court appearance. The total fee is paid after a case concludes. On the last day of trial, you can ask the ADA about your fee.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS

VICTIMS & WITNESSES: SPECIAL CASES

Victims of Elder Abuse 

For victims of crime who are 60 years of age or older, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has designated a specially-trained Victim & Witness guide to assist and support them. 

Elder abuse is the abuse or exploitation of a person aged 60 or older by family members, caregivers and other perpetrators. This can include: 

• Physical abuse by hitting, pushing, kicking and biting elderly people 
• Emotional abuse through harassment, intimidation and threats 
• Financial exploitation, such as abusing the power of attorney and the theft of monthly checks 
• Sexual abuse, which means any sexual contact without consent 
• Neglect by depriving elderly people of food, clothing, shelter, or medical care 
• Violent crimes involving home invasions, robbery, assault, or carjacking 
• Fraud, from scams involving telemarketing, door-to-door sales and free prize offers to fraudulent home repair and real estate operations 

VICTIMS & WITNESSES: SPECIAL CASES

Victims of Family Violence & Sexual Assault 

Domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and similar crimes are tragic, complicated crimes that often affect those most vulnerable in our communities.  

 The Family Violence & Sexual Assault unit handles cases involving family and intimate-partner violence, physical abuse, sexual assault, and failure to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law. This unit also reviews and prosecutes cases involving the most vulnerable victims, such as those who are victims of: child abuse and neglect, pornography and exploitation; elder abuse and neglect; and human trafficking. 

These cases are difficult to prosecute, since many of these crimes take place behind closed doors, out of sight from witnesses. Victims can also be conflicted about whether they should come forward, some even blaming themselves, or pressured by others to remain silent.  

 Our Family Violence & Sexual Assault unit works closely with our Victim & Witness Services team, along with other citywide partners, to connect victims with community resources and support at every step of the criminal justice system process, and promote healing from such intense trauma.