Are You a Victim?

Victim Assistance Program
813-272-6472
[email protected]

Download    Victims’ Rights Brochure

Download    Folleto De Los Derechos De Las Víctimas

 

Dear Fellow Citizen,

Public safety and victim advocacy are top priorities of this office. In the aftermath of a violent or criminal offense, victims are left to cope with physical pain, psychological trauma, financial loss and a criminal justice system that is confusing and overwhelming. We are here as your advocate and guide through every step of the legal proceedings.

Our office and the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners recognizes that meeting the needs of victims are best met through a combined effort. You are not alone. We are proud to collaborate with Hillsborough County and the Victim Assistance Program (VAP). Our staffs will help you navigate the court process and assist with accessing the services you need to move forward and ensure justice is served. We also partner with community organizations like Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, The Spring of Tampa Bay and Dress for Success.

Additionally, Florida Law provides a cadre of services designated to support you and your family. There are no fees for our services and we are available to assist any crime victim who is a resident of Hillsborough County or who was a victim of a crime occurring in Hillsborough County.

Please feel free to contact our office should you need anything, including questions or concerns about a pending case. Our Victim Assistance Program is available to you now, as the prosecution proceeds, and even after the case is closed.

Sincerely,

State Attorney

Your Legal Rights

To preserve and protect the right of crime victims to achieve justice, ensure a meaningful role throughout the criminal and juvenile justice systems for crime victims, and ensure that crime victims’ rights and interests are respected and protected by law in a manner no less vigorous than protections afforded to criminal defendants and juvenile delinquents, every victim is entitled to the following rights, beginning at the time of his or her victimization 1 Art. 16(b), Florida Constitution

Victim Rights

As a victim of a crime, you do have rights.

• You have the right to due process and to be treated with fairness and respect for your dignity.

• You have the right to be free from intimidation, harassment, and abuse.

• You have the right within the judicial process, to be reasonably protected from the accused and any person acting on behalf of the accused.

• You have the right to have your safety and welfare and that of your family considered when bail and conditions of pretrial release are set.

• You have the right to prevent the disclosure of information or records that could be used to locate or harass the victim or the victim's family, or which could disclose confidential or privileged information of the victim.

• You have the right to request reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of all public proceedings involving the criminal conduct, including, but not limited to, trial, plea, sentencing, or adjudication.

• You have the right to request the opportunity to be present at all public proceedings involving the criminal conduct, including, but not limited to, trial, plea, sentencing, or adjudication, even if you will be a witness at the proceeding, notwithstanding any rule to the contrary.

• You have the right to request the opportunity to be heard in any public proceeding involving pretrial or other release from any form of legal constraint, plea, sentencing, adjudication, or parole, and any proceeding during which a right of the victim is implicated.

• You have the right to request the opportunity confer with the prosecuting attorney concerning any plea agreements, participation in pretrial diversion programs, release, restitution, sentencing, or any other disposition of the case.

• You have the right to request the opportunity to provide information regarding the impact of the offender's conduct on you and your family to the individual responsible for conducting any presentence investigation or compiling any presentence investigation report, and to have any such information considered in any sentencing recommendations submitted to the court.

• You have the right to request a copy of any presentence report, and any other report or record relevant to the exercise one of a your victims right, except for such portions made confidential or exempt by law.

• You have the right to request to be informed of the conviction, sentence, adjudication, place and time of incarceration, or other disposition of the convicted offender, any scheduled release date of the offender, and the release of or the escape of the offender from custody.

• You have the right to request to be informed of all post-conviction processes and procedures, to participate in such processes and procedures, to provide information to the release authority to be considered before any release decision is made, and to be notified of any release decision regarding the offender.

• You have the right to request to be informed of clemency and expungement procedures, to provide information to the governor, the court, any clemency board, and other authority in these procedures, and to have that information considered before a clemency or expungement decision is made; and to be notified of such decision in advance of any release of the offender.

• You have the right to the prompt return of your property when no longer needed as evidence in the case.

• You have the right to full and timely restitution in every case and from each convicted offender for all losses suffered, both directly and indirectly, by you as a result of the criminal conduct.

• You have the right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay, and to a prompt and final conclusion of the case and any related post-judgment proceedings.

The Victim Assistance Program wants to ensure that you are aware of these rights and will assist you along the way.  You have a right to be informed of the court process and have input into the outcome of the case, through a Victim Impact Statement. We can assist you with this form.

First Appearance Hearing

A person who is arrested and held in custody is entitled to a first appearance hearing. Bail and other pretrial release conditions may be addressed at that hearing. If you are the victim of a crime, you have the right to have the safety and welfare of you and your family considered when bail is set.  If you are a victim and your case is set for a first appearance hearing, you may provide input on the issue of bail by attending the first appearance hearing. If you are unable to attend, you may provide your input to the State Attorney’s Office by sending an email to [email protected] or leaving a message at (813) 272-5400 (select option 1), before 7 a.m. on the day of the court hearing.

First appearance hearings are held at the Hillsborough County Courthouse Annex every morning, usually starting at 10 a.m. These hearings are conducted by video by the scheduled duty judge.  Defendants are located at the jail and appear remotely before the judge who is located at the courthouse. Any victims or witnesses are also located at the courthouse. As a victim, if you wish to attend the hearing, you would access the courtroom by going through security located at the courthouse at 800 E. Twiggs St., Tampa, FL.

Before attending first appearance court, please confirm that the defendant is scheduled to appear on that day’s docket and that the defendant has not bonded out of jail. The list of cases set for first appearance hearing is posted each day by 5am at https://teamhcso.com/StaticMedia/first_appearance_victim_notification.pdf.  To verify if a defendant remains in custody, you can search at HCSO Arrest Inquiry Search

Victim Counselors and Advocates

Our victim counselors help victims with any issues associated with the crime and the court process. Counselors can advocate on your behalf with employers, creditors and landlords about any problems associated with your victimization. They will serve as a liaison between you and law enforcement, the assistant state attorney to your case and other agencies as needed. Our program also has a food pantry and clothes closet to assist with immediate needs, as well as cell phones for 911 emergency calls.

Our counselors are trained to help victims deal with typical feelings of anger, frustration, guilt, loss, fear and understanding the common reactions and effects of the victimization. We can provide escorts to hearings and depositions when requested and assist in seeking the return of your property when it is no longer needed as evidence. We work directly with many of our community partners and, if we are unable to assist you directly with a problem, we will provide you with referrals to other community agencies that may be able to assist you.

Our domestic violence counselors provide specialized services unique to victims of domestic violence, including safety planning, relocation options and assistance with petitions for injunctions for protection.

You can contact our office to speak with a counselor or schedule an appointment. Counselors are also available on a walk-in basis Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 419 N. Pierce St. on the third floor.

Victim Compensation

We can provide information and assistance about the Crime Victim Compensation Fund, offered through the Florida Attorney General’s Office. If you are eligible, this fund may provide financial assistance to you for such things as funeral expenses, relocation expenses in domestic violence cases, medical expenses and wages lost as a direct result of the crime.

Notification

The Victim Assistance Program will explain the criminal justice process and will notify you in advance, whenever possible, of all crucial court dates. Victims will be notified at the email or phone, address that is listed for you on the law enforcement report. If your contact information is not up to date, it is imperative that you contact our office in order to update your information. An email address is the most efficient way for us to notify you of court dates.

Worthless Checks

Our Worthless Check Unit provides assistance to victims of worthless checks. Our Worthless Check Diversion Program seeks to collect restitution for the victim while providing education to prevent future worthless checks.

Post Conviction

Once your case has been completed and the defendant has been sentenced, you have the right to be informed. The agencies that can assist you will depend on the defendant’s sentence. It is important that you contact these agencies directly and keep your contact information up to date. For juvenile cases, please contact the Victim Assistance Program directly at 813-272-6472.

Florida Department of Corrections supervises offenders sentenced to felony probation and houses inmates sentenced to state prison. For notification regarding inmate moves and release, contact and register with the DOC’s automated VINE (Victim Information & Notification Everyday) system.

• Pre-Trial Intervention: 813-975-6524

• Phone: 1-877-VINE-4-FL (1-877-846-3456)

• Website: www.dc.state.fl.us

The Hillsborough County Jail detains inmates awaiting trial and houses inmates sentenced to less than a year of incarceration.

• Records: 813-247-8400

• Inmate info: 813-274-8300

• Website: teamhcso.com

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Misdemeanor Probation Services provides supervision for misdemeanor offenders sentenced to probation in county court and also supervises Misdemeanor Intervention and Domestic Violence Intervention (Diversion Programs).

• Phone: 813-318-5365

• Website: teamhcso.com

Restitution: If a defendant is ordered to pay restitution and placed on probation a probation officer will be assigned. The probation officer will require current victim contact information for restitution purposes. To find the name of the probation officer assigned, contact one of the agencies below:

• Misdemeanor – HCSO: 813-318-5365

• Felony – Department of Corrections: 813-233-2382

The Office of the Attorney General provides notification to victims, survivors or next of kin when an appeal is opened, oral argument is scheduled and when a decision is rendered.

• Phone: 813-287-7900 ext 7126 or 1-800-226-6667

• Website: myfloridalegal.com

Public Awareness

If you are interested in having someone from the Victim Assistance Program participate in an event, please contact us at 813-272-6472.

Reporting A Crime

The State Attorney’s Office is responsible for prosecuting crimes while law enforcement is responsible for investigating crimes. While we work closely with our law enforcement partners, you should contact your local law enforcement agency directly to report a crime. You should call 911 if there is an emergency.

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