II.The Critical Role of Victim/Witness Coordinators in
Providing Criminal Justice-based Services to Fraud
Victims
Victim/witness coordinators play a critical role in reducing the fear, stress, anxiety, and frustration that are often
experienced by fraud victims whose cases are approved for prosecution. One effective method is to provide information
about the justice system and offer case status updates. Another method is to provide fraud victims with referrals to
governmental and community-based victim assistance programs that provide additional emotional support and, in some
cases, financial assistance.
Some victims experience little anxiety about participating in the criminal justice system and do not suffer substantial
financial loss or emotional trauma as a result of a fraud crime. Such victims may need only minimal services from the
victim/witness coordinator. However, other fraud victims suffer such severe financial and emotional devastation that a full
range of victim-related support and information services is required. This guidebook has been developed to provide
victim/witness coordinators with suggestions and recommendations to better meet the needs of those victims. Therefore,
where appropriate and allowed, victim/witness coordinators may wish to consider providing the following criminal
justice-related support and informational services to fraud victims:
- Notification of case status (confidentiality permitting), including arrest; subsequent bail determination; dates, times, and
locations of court proceedings; and information about the conviction, sentencing, imprisonment, and release of the
offender
- Referrals to agencies or organizations that provide mental health, financial, or social services
- Referrals to address credit repair, including creditor/landlord intervention where appropriate
- Assistance in making appointments to speak with the Assistant U.S. Attorney handling the case, where necessary and
practical
- Information about court appearances (including the process for testifying, who will have an opportunity to question the
victim or witness, whether the defendant will be in the courtroom, the likelihood of numerous continuances, etc.)
- Courtroom tour, where practical
- Information about being placed "on call" for court attendance
- Court accompaniment, where practical
- Assistance in arranging travel to court for victims who live out-of-state or who, because of age or disability, require
additional transportation assistance
- Assistance, where practical, in arranging child care or respite care (of a dependent adult) to enable victims to attend
court
- Information on reimbursement for food, lodging, and travel-related expenses (if these costs are not paid directly by the
government)
- Information about submitting written victim impact statements and, where permissible, orally addressing the court at
sentencing
- Information about how to request and receive restitution, including determining eligible losses, submitting allowable
losses to the court, amending restitution ordered by the court, and enforcing restitution orders
- Information about enrolling in the Bureau of Prisons Victim Notification Program, where appropriate
Additionally, fraud victims should receive information about the federal criminal justice system and victims' rights in the
justice process, as found under 42 U.S.C. 10606. Specifically, victims of a federal crime have the right to
- Be treated with fairness and with respect for their dignity and privacy;
- Be reasonably protected from the accused;
- Be notified of court dates, unless there are material reasons why they should not be present;
- Be present at court hearings, unless their presence will materially affect proceedings;
- Speak with the government's attorney;
- Learn of the offender's conviction, sentence, imprisonment, and release; and
- Seek restitution.
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