What victim services are available?

Victim services are available through the office of your local county attorney. Services for victims vary between courts and agencies and based on misdemeanor or felony crimes may be available through the office of the prosecutor involved in the case, the law enforcement agency involved in the case, or an outside agency. A victim advocate can explain the judicial system, act as a link between the prosecutor and the victim, give current case status information, assist in obtaining orders of protection, make referrals for counseling, food, shelter, and escort victims while they testify or appear at hearings. Under the Victims Bill of Rights in Arizona, a crime victim always has the right to retain private counsel, and to be notified of both upcoming hearings and possible plea offers before they are proposed to the defendant. If you are a victim, it is important that you stay in touch with the office of the prosecutor and appear in court for each hearing – or they may assume that you do not care how they resolve the case.