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 he Criminal Justice System should do more than provide justice to
criminals. It should provide justice to crime victims as well. It is a
frightening experience to be the victim or a witness to a crime. You
often feel violated by the intrusion into your life and are left with
feelings of anger and pain. Victims and witnesses look to the criminal
justice system for vindication and justice, but all too often find a
system which appears to be dedicated to the protection of the criminal.
If you are a victim of crime, or a witness to one, your assistance
and cooperation with the prosecution are vital if we are to do our job
effectively. No criminal can be punished without the help of witnesses.
We recognize that you may be unfamiliar with court procedures and
that the court system can be frustrating and confusing. We will provide
whatever assistance we can to answer your questions and provide support
during the court process.
The District Attorney's Office is required by law to provide the
defense attorney with names, addresses and phone numbers of witnesses
for the state. The defense attorney may contact you to discuss what you
know about the case. If this happens, you have the right to choose
whether or not you will talk to the defense attorney or someone
representing his office. You also have the right to have someone from
the District Attorney's Office or your personal attorney present at the
interview.
I encourage you to cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies and
with the criminal justice system. We are here to serve you.
With kindest regards,
Arthur E. Mallory
District Attorney, Churchill County
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