When will I need Victim/Witness Assistance?
You will need VW Assistance if you are a victim or witness in a crime that is being proseuted by the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. You can find the list of eligible crimes on our home page.
How can I leave a review for my experience with IOW Victim/Witness?
If you've used our services, please take our Client Satisfaction Survey. The survey is confidential, and no identifying information will be used if we publish your comments on our work!
Will I get to tell the judge about how the crime has affected me?
Yes! You can find information on the Virginia Impact Statement on our Forms & Publications page.
Where do I send my Impact Statement?
To submit your Victim Impact Statement, you have two options:
- Email. Email your statement to your advocate, especially if you wrote a piece that differs from the questions on the guide given to you.
- Mail. When you were given the Impact Statement by your advocate (or you received the guide in the mail), you should have also received a self-addressed & pre-stamped envelope. Put your Impact Statement and any additional documents in that envelope and mail it to our office.
When is my Impact Statement due?
Your Impact Statement is due to our office at least three weeks prior to the sentencing date.
Additionally, your advocate should give you a due date when you receive the form at trial. Contact your advocate if you are unsure of the date.
I am a victim of a crime, and I have out-of-pocket medical expenses. What can I do?
Victims who have medical injuries are encouraged to talk with an advocate about eligibility for the Virginia Victim's Fund. Your advocate will schedule an appointment for you to come to our office and fill out the application and inform you of any additional documents you should bring.
I am a victim of a crime, and I do not have out-of-pocket medical expenses. However, I have property damage. What can I do?
Victims of crimes that do not have out-of-pocket medical expenses, but have property damage should bring copies of receipts, repair estimates, and any other documentation that proves the value of the items damaged.
These expenses will be considered restitution expenses. Please view our Forms & Publications page for more information about restitution.
I am a victim who has had restitution ordered to me, but I haven't received a payment in over 3 months. What do I do?
Call our office. Give us your name, the name of the defendant(s) in the case, and let us know the last time you received a check from the Clerk's office in the mail.
If you are receiving restitution payments, it is your responsibility to keep our office updated of your address(es) and phone number(s). Otherwise, the Clerk's office will send restitution to the Victim's Fund as unclaimed.
I am a survivor of sexual assault. What services are available to me?
Besides our standard court-system services, you are also eligible for free Sexual Assault Counseling at our office on the first Friday of every month. The counseling sessions are administered by the Center for Sexual Assault Survivors.
I am a survivor of Domestic Violence. What services are available to me?
Because of the rural demographic of our county, a majority of our services are located outside of the county jurisdiction. Our domestic violence services, aside from our standard court-system services, are administered by The Genieve Shelter. Please visit our DV & Sexual Assault Services page for their contact information.
What is the purpose of the Victim/Witness Blog?
Our blog serves to educate the public on victim services and victim-based crimes. It is run, managed and administered by IOWVW Staff, volunteers and interns.
I work for a community organization. Who do I contact about community partnerships?
All organizations interested in community partnerships should contact Royall Bryan, our Community Outreach Coordinator. She is available by email or phone.