Victim Witness Services

Victim Resources

Victim Resources

State Office of Victim-Witness Advocacy

Division of Criminal Justice
P.O. Box 085
Trenton, New Jersey 08625
Main Phone: 609-376-2767
Fax: 609-292-5553

Assistance Information

Criminal Justice Orientation and Information

Victim-witness counselors of the county office of victim-witness advocacy will explain the criminal justice system so that victims will know what will happen and when. If asked, victim-witness counselors can take a victim to the courtroom before the trial or grand jury hearing to explain exactly what will happen.

Victim Information and Impact Form

You will have several chances to tell the assistant prosecutor and the judge about how the crime affected you. The county office of victim-witness advocacy will send you a Victim Information and Impact form with the initial contact letter and at other times during the prosecution. County office staff can help you fill out the form and prepare both oral and written statements.

Counseling and Support Services

The county office of victim-witness advocacy staff are trained to help you deal with the initial shock of the crime and the difficult emotional times afterward. If you feel that you would like to talk to someone on a regular basis, the staff can help you find a mental health counselor who may or may not charge you for services. Several county programs sponsor support groups for sexual assault victims, domestic violence victims and homicide survivors. Office staff can also assist victims to find a battered women’s shelter or obtain food and clothing.

Case Status Notification

The office of victim-witness advocacy will let victims know of specific events in their case and possible delays in proceedings. Sometimes this is done by telephone, but most often notification is done by mail. As a victim, you will receive some or all the following letters depending on your case:

1. An initial contact or introductory letter that informs the victim or witness that the case has been referred to the prosecutor’s office and explains and offers the services available from the county office of victim-witness advocacy.

2. Pre-grand jury remand.

3. Administrative dismissal.

4. Grand jury remand.

5. Grand jury dismissal (no bill).

6. Indictment returned (true bill).

7. Acceptance into Pre-Trial Intervention Program (PTI).

8. Termination from or completion of Pre-Trial Intervention Program.

9. Negotiated plea on all charges.

10. Release on bail/conditions of bail.

11. Fugitive status.

12. Court dismissal.

13. Sentencing date.

14. Sentence imposed on the defendant by the court.

15. Defendant’s filing of an appeal and subsequent status changes.

16. Disposition on all charges.

17. Mistrial/retrial.

18. Mistrial/dismissal.

19. Post-conviction release.

You do not have to wait for the county office of victim-witness advocacy to contact you. If you want to know what is happening with your case, call the county office of victim-witness advocacy and someone will get the information for you.

Court Accompaniment and Transportation Services

When your case comes to trial, staff can go with you to court to explain what is going on as well as give you support. If you are called to testify, you can give the county office of victim-witness advocacy receipts for bus or taxi fare and be reimbursed by the prosecutor’s office. The county office of victim-witness advocacy can also help you with expenses you may have if you are not testifying, but want to be in court.

Child Care to Attend Meetings and Court Proceedings

The county office of victim-witness advocacy can help you with caring for your children if you need to come to court. You should try to leave your children with family or friends first. This is more comfortable for your children since you may be in court all day. However, if you cannot find someone to watch your children, you should call the county office of victim-witness advocacy to let them know you will need assistance. They will help you arrange for child care.

HIV Testing of Defendants and HIV Information and Referrals for Victims

If you came in contact with any bodily fluid of your attacker, such as blood, spit or semen, or if your attacker pricked you with a drug needle, you can ask the court to order the defendant to have a test for HIV or AIDS. A victim-witness counselor can help you.

Additionally, you should also call the county office of victim-witness advocacy or the local health department to get information about HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. A victim-witness counselor can help you find a place that offers free, confidential testing for yourself.

Assistance in Obtaining Restitution

Restitution is money the defendant must pay to you because of losses incurred from the crime. The county office of victim-witness advocacy can help you complete the Victim Information and Impact form. Information on this form will be used by the assistant prosecutor, the probation department and the judge to decide how much restitution the defendant should pay to you. Restitution cannot be for an amount greater than the actual amount of losses you suffered.

Employer and Creditor Intercession

The county office of victim-witness advocacy can help you if you are having difficulty at work or school because of the crime or because you had to take time off for court. They can write letters and make phone calls explaining your situation. They can also contact creditors if you are not able to pay some bills on time because of the crime.

Assistance with Property Return

The county office of victim-witness advocacy can also help you to get personal items back which were kept for evidence. Most items cannot be returned, however, until after the sentencing.

Victim-Witness Waiting Rooms

The county office of victim-witness advocacy provides waiting rooms where you can stay while you are waiting to meet with an assistant prosecutor or investigator or waiting to go to court.

Parole Eligibility and Release Notification

The county office of victim-witness advocacy notifies you when the defendant is going to be considered for parole

Other Services

  • referrals for counseling services
  • referrals to various social agencies
  • assistance in applying for compensation for uninsured medical expenses, lost wages, emergency assistance, counseling and funeral expenses through the New Jersey Victims of Crime Compensation Board
  • information on crime prevention.
Organizations' Phone Numbers

Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO)
1- 877-658-2221

Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline
1-877-NJ-ABUSE (652-2873)
1-800-835-5510 (TTY)

Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-572-SAFE

Statewide Sexual Violence Hotline
1-800-601-7200

NJ Human Trafficking Hotline
1-855-END-NJ-HT (1-855-363-6548)

National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE

National Sexual Violence Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE

National Human Trafficking Hotline
1-888-373-7888

County Domestic Violence Programs

County Sexual Violence Programs

NJ Coalition to End Domestic Violence (NJCEDV)
1-609-584-8107

NJ Coalition Against Sexual Violence (NJCASA)
1-609-631-4450

County Offices
 
County Victim Witness Coordinator Offices  
   
Atlantic  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office
4997 Unami Boulevard
Mays Landing, New Jersey 08330
Phone: 609-909-7800
Fax: 609-909-7874
 
 
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Bergen  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office
Justice Center, Room 140
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: 201-646-2057
Fax: 201-646-2264
 
 
Burlington  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office
49 Rancocas Road, 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 6000
Mt. Holly, NJ 08060
Phone: 609-265-5048
Fax: 609-265-5007
Website: www.burlpros.org
Email: prosecutor@co.burlington.nj.us
Secret Witness Hotline: 609-267-7667
 
 
Camden  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Camden County Prosecutor’s Office
200 Federal Street
Camden, NJ 08103
Phone: 856-225-8440
Fax: 856-225-8477
Website: www.camdencountypros.org/
 
 
Cape May  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office
DN 110, 4 Moore Road
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Phone: 609-465-1135 x3443
Fax: 609-465-6766
Website: www.cmcpros.net
Email: CapeMayVW@cmcpros.net
 
 
Cumberland  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office
115 Vine Street
Bridgeton, NJ 08302
Phone: 856-453-0486 x11162
Fax: 856-453-5219
Email: Cumberlandvw@co.cumberland.nj.us
 
 
Essex  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
New Courts Building-3rd Floor
50 West Market Street
Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: 973-621-4689
Fax: 973-621-6150
Emai: EssexVW@njecpo.org
 
 
Gloucester  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office
P.O. Box 623
Woodbury, NJ 08096
Phone: 856-384-5500
Fax: 856-384-8624
 
 
Hudson  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office
Administration Building
595 Newark Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07306
Phone: 201-795-6508
Fax: 201-369-5211
Email: HudsonVW@hcpo.org
 
 
Hunterdon  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office
PO Box 756
Flemington, NJ 08822
Phone: 908-788-1403
Fax: 908-788-1404
 
 
Mercer  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office
P.O. Box 8068
Trenton, NJ 08650
Phone: 609-989-6428
Fax: 609-278-2707
Website:www.mercercountyprosecutor.com
Email: mercervw@mercercounty.org
 
 
Middlesex  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office
25 Kirkpatrick Street, 3rd Floor
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: 732-745-3394
Fax: 732-296-7962
 
 
Monmouth  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office
132 Jerseyville Avenue
Freehold, NJ 07728
Phone: 732 431-7160
Fax: 732-845-2005
 
 
Morris  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Morris County Prosecutor’s Office
P.O. Box 900
Court House
Morristown, NJ 07960
Phone:973-285-6200 x6219
Fax: 973-285-6226
 
 
Ocean  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office
119 Hooper Avenue P.O. Box 2191
Toms River, NJ 08754
Phone: 732-929-2195
Fax: 732-288-7608
Email: oceanvw@co.ocean.nj.us
 
 
Passaic  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office
401 Grand Street
Paterson, NJ 07505
Phone: 973-881-4887
Fax: 973-754-1681
Website: www.pcponj.org

 

If you are in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1.
Si usted está en peligro por favor de llamar a 911.


If you are a victim or a witness with a pending Passaic County Case and have additional questions, please call the Victim Witness Unit at 973-881-4887 or 973-881-4890 and an advocate will return your call

Si usted es una víctima o testigo con un caso pendiente en el del Condado de Passaic y tiene preguntas adicionales por favor llame a la Unidad de Víctimas y Testigos al 973-881-4887 o 973-881-4890 y una representante le devolverá su llamada.

 
 
Salem  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Salem County Prosecutor’s Office
The Fenwick Building
87 Market Street, P.O. Box 462
Salem, NJ 08079
Phone:856-935-7510 x8364
Fax: 856-935-8737
 
 
Somerset  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office
P.O. Box 3000
40 North Bridge Street
Somerville, NJ 08876
Phone: 908-575-3359
Website: www.scpo.net
Email: somersetvw@co.somerset.nj.us
 
 
Sussex  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office
19-21 High Street
Newton, NJ 07860
Phone: 973-383-1570
Fax: 973-383-4929
Website:
www.sussex.nj.us/cn/webpage.cfm?tpid=976
Email:vw@scpo.sussex.nj.us
 
 
Union  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Union County Prosecutor’s Office
32 Rahway Avenue, 1st Floor
Elizabeth, NJ 07202
Phone: 908-527-4596
Fax: 908-558-2587
Website: www.ucnj.org/ovwa
Email: unionvw@ucnj.org
 
 
Warren  
Office of Victim Witness Advocacy
Warren County Prosecutor’s Office
Court House, 413 Second St.
Belvidere, NJ 07823
Phone: 908-475-6284
Fax: 908-475-6205
 
 
SART/SANE

Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)
Forensic Nurse Examiner Program (FNE)

The SART/FNE Program provides victims of sexual assault, who are 13 years of age or older, with a prompt and coordinated response to their victimization. The SART, which consists of a specially trained law enforcement officer, an FNE, and a Confidential Sexual Violence Advocate (CSVA), provides victims with supportive and specialized services. In New Jersey, no victim is charged for the completion of a medical Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE) Kit or a Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA)/Toxicology Kit. To ensure continuity of services for sexual assault victims, the SART works with local law enforcement agencies, SART-participating hospitals, the county sexual violence programs, as well as SOVWA.

End Sexual Assault

Hotlines

NJ Coalition to End Domestic Violence Women (NJCEDV)
1-609-584-8107

NJ Coalition Against Sexual Assault  (NJ CASA)
1-609-631-4450

Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline
1-877-NJ-ABUSE (652-2873)
1-800-835-5510 (TTY)

Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-572-SAFE

Statewide Sexual Violence Hotline
1-800-601-7200

NJ Human Trafficking Hotline
1-855-END-NJ-HT (1-855-363-6548)

National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE

National Sexual Violence Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE

National Human Trafficking Hotline
1-888-373-7888

New Jersey Crime Victim’s Law Center
1-973-729-9342

Mothers Against Drunk Driving
1-877-MAD-HELP (623-4357)

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