Domestic Violence
The Pima County Attorney's Office has a
special Domestic Violence Unit staffed by
specially trained Victim Advocates who provide the unique services
needed by victims of domestic violence. A victim
advocate is present for all domestic violence court
hearings, including misdemeanors. Our fundamental goals
in domestic violence cases are to engage in early and
meaningful contact and communication with victims,
encourage swift and certain accountability for
offenders, aggressively prosecute repeat offenders, and
utilize investigative and prosecution techniques that
enhance victim safety and offender accountability.
Members of the domestic violence team
also actively participate in community groups and events that enhance prevention and awareness of domestic violence
issues.
Read more about the Domestic Violence Unit
Victims' Rights
ARIZONA CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS FOR CRIME VICTIMS
ARTICLE II, SECTION 2.1, VICTIMS' BILL OF RIGHTS
A. To preserve and protect victims' rights to justice and due process, a victim of
crime has a right:
1. To be treated with fairness, respect and dignity, and to be free from intimidation,
harassment or abuse, throughout the criminal justice process.
2. To be informed, upon request, when the accused or convicted person is released from custody or has escaped.
3. To be present at and, upon request, to be informed of all criminal proceedings when the defendant has the right to be present.
4. To be heard at any proceeding involving a post-arrest release decision, a negotiated plea and sentencing.
Click here for complete Crime Victims' Bill of Rights
Click here for the Spanish version of the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights
Court Advocacy
Being the victim of a crime is often very traumatic, and the
criminal justice system can be
overwhelming and confusing. Trained Victim Advocates are available to help. When a crime results in
criminal prosecution, the Victim Advocate is available to:
- Inform victims of their rights.
- Explain the criminal justice system and the roles of other parties.
- Obtain victim input before decisions are made about the case.
- Accompany victims to court and trial to provide emotional support, explain court proceedings, and answer questions.
- Work with detectives and Deputy County Attorneys to address victims' or witnesses' concerns.
- Inform victims of avenues for seeking financial restitution and property return.
- Assist with writing victim impact statements.
- Help with scheduling for court appearances.
- Make referrals to appropriate resources.
If you are the victim of a crime that is being prosecuted by the Pima County
Attorney's Office, please call 520-740-5525 if you have questions or need assistance.
Kids in Court
A child who is a victim or a witness to a crime often faces a legal system that can be
overwhelming. Adding to this complex and unfamiliar process is the possibility of
having to appear in court to testify, which can
cause fear and anxiety in
some children. Many of these feelings are based on misconceptions about the
courtroom. Kids in Court is a free program intended to empower child
victims and witnesses and to educate their caregivers in a safe and fun environment.
Kids who participate will:
- Become familiar with the courtroom environment
and procedures.
- Become familiar with various court personnel including
judges, bailiffs, and attorneys.
- Become familiar with the role of a witness.
- Have an easier time expressing needs in the courtroom.
- Develop general coping skills that will help
them learn to manage stress and anxiety.
If your child is a victim of or witness to a crime
that is being prosecuted through the Pima County
Attorney's Office and you
would like him or her to participate in Kids in Court, please call 724-5525.
Crisis Intervention Services
Immediately following a crime, victims often experience a variety of emotional and physical reactions
to the trauma. Trained Victim Advocates are available to provide crisis intervention services to help mitigate
the effects and assist victims with their most immediate needs.
-
Can respond to homes, hospitals, schools and other scenes to provide crisis intervention at
the request of law enforcement or health care staff.
- Are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
- Can assist victims of all crime types including
domestic violence, sexual assault, robbery, assault,
and homicide.
- Are also available for those affected by a
sudden or traumatic death.
- Can provide emotional support, answer questions, assess needs, offer resources and provide community referrals.
Victim Compensation
Crime Victim Compensation may be able to help with
crime-related expenses. Crime Victim Compensation
provides financial assistance to crime victims who have
incurred a financial loss as a direct result of a crime. The perpetrator does not have to
be charged or convicted for the victim to apply for assistance.
However, the victim seeking compensation must fully
cooperate with law enforcement and the Pima County
Attorney's Office. A written application is required. Applications are reviewed and decisions are made by
the Pima County Crime Victim Compensation Claims Board.
If you have been a victim of a crime and feel you may qualify for victim compensation,
click here to learn more.
Volunteer Opportunities
The Victim Services Division is in need of volunteers. There are two types of volunteer opportunities within the Victim Services
Division: crisis response and court advocacy.
Crisis Response Volunteers
Volunteers provide crisis intervention services to victims at the request of law enforcement. Volunteers respond on-scene
to a variety of calls including sexual assault, homicide, robbery, burglary, domestic violence, suicide and child abuse.
They are also sometimes asked to make death notifications with law enforcement.
Court Advocacy Volunteers
Volunteers provide daytime court advocacy to victims and witnesses involved in criminal cases. Volunteers learn about the criminal
justice system, community resources and a wide variety of court cases. Volunteer court advocates schedule themselves during regular
office hours. They work closely with staff members, other agencies and Deputy County Attorneys to provide a wide variety of victim
support services.
If you are interested in learning more about how to
become a Victim Service Volunteer, please call (520)
724-5525
Violence Prevention
The Victim Services Division offers a two-hour workshop
on Sexual and Relationship Violence Prevention. This
workshop is geared toward adults who work with or are
concerned about youth in the community. During this
presentation, participants will learn:
- The facts about sexual violence and its impact on our youth, families, and communities.
- The importance of instilling in our youth the concept of appropriate boundaries.
- The connections between bullying, sexual harassment, relationship violence, child sexual abuse, and rape.
- How to spot red flags regarding domestic and dating violence.
- Arizona laws related to sexual violence and the
legal definition of consent.
- How to respond to a disclosure of sexual violence.
- Appropriate resources and interventions.
- Mandated reporting laws.
- Easy steps everyone can take to help reduce sexual violence.
To schedule a workshop, contact the Victim Services Division at 520-724-5525.