22nd Judicial District - Victim Assistance Program

Victims

Assistance Program

Walter P. Reed

DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Twenty-Second Judicial District

St. Tammany & Washington Parishes

"Every crime victim has particular needs which deserve assessment, treatment, and support. Victim's rights must be maintained throughout the judicial process until the criminal proceedings are complete."

Program Objectives and Procedures

The District Attorney's Victim Assistance Program provides direct service to ALL victims. A Victim Assistance Coordinator will contact each victim or victim's family, and will advise them that the case has been accepted for prosecution and has been assigned to an Assistant District Attorney. Victims will be provided with the Assistant District Attorney's name, the court docket number, District Attorney file numbers, the name of the Judge who will be hearing the case, as well as a 24 hour telephone number in order to maintain contact with our office, for any other information relevant to court proceedings.

If the victim is a minor, the Victim Assistance Coordinator will be available to accompany both parent and child to the courtroom in order to help the child become familiar with the court procedures and to allow them to be at ease in the courtroom setting.

The Victim Assistance Coordinator will explain each step in the judicial process to the victim. Victims in need of restitution/reparations will be informed of the Crime Victim's Reparations Fund and will be assisted in completing the initial application forms and all follow-up inquiries.

What Is A Victims Entitled To By Law?

Subject to Constitutional Amendment (1998), Louisiana Law states that crime victims are guaranteed the following:

The right:

To be informed;
To be advised of the progress of the case;
To be treated with dignity and respect; and to be made

whole;

To be treated with fairness;
To be informed of and present at all "critical stages" of the criminal justice process;
To be free from intimidation, harassment, or abuse and to be informed about what steps can be taken if there is any intimidation or harassment by (a) a person accused of or convicted of the crime or (b) anyone acting on behalf of a person accused or convicted of the crime;
To be present and heard in court regarding bond reduction, continuances, acceptance of plea negotiations, case disposition or sentencing;
To talk with the District Attorney before the case is resolved or goes to trial and to be informed of how it is resolved;
To be informed of the status of the case and any scheduling changes or cancellation, if known in advance;
To prepare a Victim Impact Statement and to be present and to be heard at sentencing;
To have restitution ordered and to be informed of the right to pursue a civil case against the person convicted of the crime;
To a prompt return of the victim's property when no longer needed as evidence;
To be informed of the availability of financial assistance, community services, and State Crime Victim Compensation;
To be given appropriate employer intercession services regarding court appearances and meetings with criminal justice officials;
To have a safe, secure waiting area during court proceedings;
Upon request, to be informed when a person accused or convicted of the crime is released from custody, is paroled, escapes, or absconds from probation or parole;
Upon written request, to be informed of and heard at any reconsideration of sentence, parole hearing or commutation of sentence;
To be informed of the process for enforcing compliance with victims' rights.

Some things you might like to know

First and foremost, if you are the victim of a crime, contact your District Attorney Victim Assistance Coordinator in either parish. They are victim advocates and will assist you in all matters, from crisis outreach programs to explaining court procedures.

Average misdemeanor cases take about six months to complete. Felony cases on the average, take about one year. Capital cases (murder, aggravated rape of a juvenile, etc.) take one to three years on average for trial completion.

If a victim qualifies, the Crime Victim Reparation Fund can reimburse certain medical bills associated with economic loss or injuries from a crime. Also, the trial Judge may order restitution as a circumstance of probation. In either case, a Victim Assistance Coordinator will assist you in obtaining information in this matter.

Continuances can be frustrating. Judges grant continuances for a variety of reasons. Some continuances are unpredictable and cannot be anticipated.

The Assistant District Attorney will notify the court that the victim wishes to be heard at sentencing, via a written or oral statement. This is known as a Victim Impact Statement and is a very powerful and important proceeding.

When a defendant pleads guilty to the charge, the case is immediately resolved and relieves the victim and witnesses from testifying in a court trial. When the Judge sentences the defendant to probation, the defendant is REQUIRED to actively participate in a court supervised monthly monitoring program set by the Judge. The defendant is required to pay fines, monitoring fees, and may pay restitution to the victim. If at any time the defendant does not abide by these and other special conditions, probation may be revoked by the court and incarceration is likely for noncompliance.

The Victim Assistance Coordinator has Louisiana Department of Corrections detention notification request forms. As an individual affected by the criminal acts of another person, you are a legitimate participant in the criminal justice system. If the individual who committed the criminal act has been sentenced to state custody and you would like information regarding his status, or if you have any questions about the Department of Corrections policies and programs, or about your rights and responsibilities, you may contact the Crime Victims Services Bureau through this form. Additionally you will be notified about any scheduled hearing for a parole or pardon. These requests are kept in strictest confidence by the Crime Victims Services Bureau of the Department of Corrections.

Criminal Proceedings

Phone Numbers:

District Attorney: (985)809-8383 Covington

(985)646-4111 Slidell

(985)732-9594 Bogalusa

(985)839-6711 Franklinton

Clerk of Court: (985)898-8700 Covington

(985)646-4077 Slidell

(985)839-4663 Franklinton

Reparation Funding: (985)898-2484 Covington

Probation & Parole: (985)871-8351 Covington