| Victim and Witness Services |
| As a Victim of Crime, you have the legal right to: |
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• Obtain information about your case, including current status
• Participate in programs and services available in your local area:
• Financial Assistance
• Crisis intervention services
• Domestic violence programs
• Crime victim advocates
• Counseling
• Support groups
• Receive and submit a "Crime Victim Notification Request and Demand for Rights Form"
• Attend all adult and certain juvenile criminal justice proceedings
• Request restitution
• Submit a written statement and speak at sentencing/disposition
• Be informed of the release, transfer, escape, or death of an inmate
• Attend and testify at parole hearings
For more information about Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office victim and witness services, please call 410-396-1897. |
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| Crime Victim Notification Request and Demand for Rights Form |
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In 1996, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation that gives victims of violent crimes the right to be notified of all court proceedings, and if the offender is incarcerated, the right to be notified of their release. If you wish to be notified, you must fill out a Crime Victim Notification Request and Demand for Rights Form, which may be obtained from the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office. To receive a form, please call (410) 396-1897.
Click here to view Your Rights as a Victim in the Criminal Juvenile Justice Process Brochure |
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| Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) |
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In addition to completing the Crime Victim Notification Request and Demand for Rights Form, victims may also register for VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday). VINE is a free service which allows crime victims across Maryland to receive automated, timely, and reliable information about criminal cases 24 hours a day - over the telephone, through the Internet, or by e-mail. Victims can also request to be notified about the current status of an inmate and can register to be notified immediately upon a change in the inmate's status, such as a release, escape, or court appearance. For more information or to register for notification please call 1-866-634-8463 or www.vinelink.com .
Click here to view VINE Brochure (pdf format) |
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| Tips for Appearing in Court |
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Click here to view Tips for Appearing in Court (pdf format).
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| Personal Safety Tips |
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Be crime smart to protect yourself.
Click here to find personal safety tips for you and your family.
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| Criminal Identity Theft Initiative |
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Criminal identity theft occurs when an imposter gives another person's name and/or personal information such as a drivers' license, date of birth, or social security number to a law enforcement officer during an investigation or upon arrest. To help address this issue, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office has begun an initiative with other local and State law enforcement agencies to assist the victims of criminal identity theft and improve the investigation of those cases. For more information please call (410) 878-8442. Unfortunately our office does not handle economic identity theft cases, which is the illegal use of another person’s personal information for financial gain. Please go to Federal Trade Commission website www.ftc.gov for more information, or call their hotline telephone number at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338).
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| HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN MARYLAND |
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Human trafficking, also known as modern-day slavery, exists in Maryland. It is made up of 1) forced labor or services; 2) forced prostitution or commercial sex; and 3) prostitution/commercial sex involving a minor. The victims include primarily girls and women - but also men -- from poor communities in both the U.S. and several countries abroad. While most of the human trafficking prosecutions in Maryland have been federal, the Maryland legislature passed a new law in 2007 that helps state prosecutors join the fight against this crime. The State’s Attorney’s Office for Baltimore City also joined with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and the Attorney General’s Office of Maryland to form a statewide task force on human trafficking. For more information, contact Joyce Lombardi at mail@stattorney.org .
Law enforcement training, October 2007
click here to download the Power Point presentation
Maryland Task Force on Human Trafficking
Click here to view Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force (PDF version).
Maryland’s new trafficking law
Click here to view Overview of Maryland's New Human Trafficking Law (PDF version)
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