Victim Assistance Services

Victim Assistance services are available to Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center clients who are victims of a crime. The victim assistance program provides support, information, referrals and resources to victims and their families and to other professionals. The victim assistance program also offers orientation and assistance with the crime victim compensation (CVC) application. For more information about the CVC application please visit www. oag.state.tx.us or call 1-800-983-9933.

Victims of Crime have the right to:

• Receive adequate protection from harm and threats of harm arising from cooperation with prosecution efforts.
• Have their safety consider by the magistrate when setting bails.
• Receive information, on request, on relevant court proceeding, including appellate proceedings, of cancellations or rescheduling prior to the event, and appellate court decisions after the decisions are entered but before they are made public.
• Be informed, when requested, by a peace officer about the defendants rights to bail and criminal investigation procedures, and from the prosecutor’s office about general procedures in the criminal justice system, including plea agreements, restitution, appeals and parole.
• Provide pertinent information concerning the impact of the crime to the probation department prior to the sentencing.
• Information about the Texas Crime Victim’s Compensation funds and payments for a medical examination for a victim of a sexual assault, and, on request, referral to social services agencies that provide additional assistance.
• Information, on request, about parole procedures, notification of parole proceedings and of the inmate’s release; and the right to participate in the parole process by submitting written information to the Board of Pardons and Paroles for inclusion in the defendant’s file for consideration by the Board prior to parole.
• A separate or secure waiting area at all public court proceedings.
• Prompt return of any property that is not longer needed as evidence.
• Have the prosecutor notify, upon request, an employer that the need for the victim’s testimony may involve the victim’s absence from work.
• On request, the right to counseling and testing regarding AIDS and HIV infection and testing for victims of sexual assault.
• Request victim/offender mediation coordinated by the Victim Services Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
• Be informed of the use and purpose of a victim impact statement, to complete a victim impact statement and to have the statement considered before sentencing and acceptance of a plea bargain and before an inmate is release on parole.