About the Victims Assistance Program

The Office of the Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney offers services to crime victims through our Victims Assistance Program. This program seeks to empower crime victims by providing information to help you understand the workings of the criminal justice system and the current status of your individual case. Our staff will help explain your rights, answer your questions and keep you informed as your case progresses through the court system. We will also seek to obtain restitution for lost or damaged property, medical bills, and counseling services as provided by law. We provide referrals to helpful services and we can assist you with an application to the Indiana Violent Crime Compensation Fund.

View the Victims Assistance Program brochure:   English     Español

Victim Rights

As a crime victim you have the right:

• To be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.
• To meet with your Victim Assistant, be informed of the status of your case, and notified of court dates
• Upon request, to be informed when a person who is accused or convicted of committing a crime perpetrated directly against you is released from custody or escapes.
• To have your safety considered in determining the release from custody of a person accused of committing a crime against you.
• To request that the court issue a “No Contact Order” requiring the defendant to have no contact with you in person, by phone or letter, through friends or family, or in any other way. You may contact the Prosecutor’s Office at 812-349-2670 to make this request.
• To request restitution for lost or damaged property, medical bills and/or counseling services as provided by law.
• To confer with the deputy prosecutor assigned to your case.
• To make a Victim Impact Statement at sentencing or submit a written statement about the impact of the crime on your life.

Domestic violence victim rights:
Effective 7-1-02, IC 35-33-1-1.5 requires a law enforcement officer responding to the scene of a crime involving domestic or family violence to give the victim immediate and written notice of the following rights provided by law under IC 35-40
Click here to view the Domestic Violence Notice of Victim Rights (English and/y Español)

Victim Impact Statement

Victims of crime have the right to make a Victim Impact Statement (VIS) in which they tell the court how the crime has affected them and their families. Learn more »

Victims of Violent Crime Compensation Fund

The Victim Compensation Division of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute assists victims or their dependents with medical expenses, funeral expenses, lost wages and outpatient counseling. For victims of sexual assault, the fund also allows payment of expenses resulting from the collection of evidence (rape kit) as well as outpatient counseling services. Learn more »

More Information from the Prosecutor’s Office:

Adult Protective Services
Child Abuse
Crimes Against the Elderly
Domestic Violence
Protective Order Assistance Partnership
Latino Outreach (en Español
Sexual Assault

General Information & Resources

Overview of Indiana Criminal Procedure for the Non-Lawyer

Indiana VINE – Automated Victim Information and Notification Service for Indiana County Jails. Indiana VINE is an innovative service providing crime victims and other concerned citizens’, free, prompt and confidential notification and status information for offenders in Indiana County Jails. Information is provided 24 hours a day, over the phone, through the internet or by email. Indiana VINE also has live operators available to assist callers. You may also register to receive automated messages by telephone or email when a particular offender is released, transferred, or escapes. You may register through this website or by calling 1-866-959-VINE.
VINE is a free service offered by the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association.

Indiana SAVIN – Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification. The Indiana SAVIN program is a free, automated service that provides crime victims with vital information and notification 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This service will allow you to obtain offender information and to register for notification of a change in offender status, such as offender release. SAVIN is provided by the Indiana Department of Correction.

Language Line Interpreter Service: The Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office has access to a language line service that provides interpreter services for up to 170 different languages. If you are a victim in a case or have business with our office call (812) 349-2670 & ask for your language.
To learn more about the Language Line visit: http://www.languageline.com

La Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Monroe tiene acceso a un servicio telefónico de idiomas que provee servicios de intérpretes en 170 idiomas diferentes. Si usted es una víctima en un caso o tiene algún asunto que tratar con nuestra oficina, llame al (812) 349-2670 y solicite los servicios de un intérprete en su idioma.

Para más información sobre el servicio teléfonico de intérpretes, visite este sitio en Internet: http://www.languageline.com

Indiana Department of Corrections

Indiana Criminal Justice Institute’s Online Glossary of Legal Terms