U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Victims Guide to the D.C. Criminal Justice System
NCJ Number
              236954

Date Published

October 1991
Length
              17 pages
Annotation
              This Victim's Guide to the D.C. (District of Columbia) Criminal Justice System explains the features of case processing in the criminal justice system, services available at the U.S. Attorney's Office and at the D.C. courthouse, victim/witness rights, programs available to victims and witnesses, transportation to the court, building locations, and a case diary.
Abstract
              The features of case processing by the D.C. criminal justice system encompass arrest; "papering" (information about the charged crime and the accused presented by the police to the prosecutor's office); felony presentment/misdemeanor arraignment; preliminary hearing; grand jury; felony arraignment; status hearings; witness conferences; trial; testifying; and sentencing hearing. Services available at the U.S. Attorney's Office include a Victim/Witness Assistance Unit, a cafeteria, witness waiting rooms for meetings with a prosecutor. Services available at the D.C. Courthouse are a public information desk, the pretrial services agency, a child care center, a cafeteria, and witness waiting rooms for use prior to a court appearance. Issues pertinent to victim/witness rights include victim impact statements, victim compensation, return of property, freedom from intimidation, the defense attorney, and witness fees. Programs available to victims and witnesses include the crime victims compensation program, the crime victims assistance program, victim/witness assistance from the U.S. Attorney's Office and the U.S. Capitol Police, the D.C. Rape Crisis Center, the National Organization for Victim Assistance, and the Citizens' Complaint Center. The Case Diary provides a format for entering information pertinent to victim/witness matters.
      
  
          Additional Details
Agencies
        NIJ


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Instructional Material
    
  
  
Date Published: October 1, 1991
    
          Downloads
        
                      Text

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Court Procedures
        Victim compensation
        Victim Impact Statements
        Victim services
        Victim-witness programs



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Emotion Dysregulation and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: a Test of the Incremental Role of Difficulties Regulating Positive Emotions
                  Parents reporting partner violence: Reaching or not reaching agreement in mediation or litigating without mediation
                  Assessing the Longitudinal Measurement Invariance of the Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory (CADRI) Victimization Scale Across Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Adolescents in the United States
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov