Victims of Violence: Video Program Guide

This video includes insights from Superior Court judges, investigators, district attorneys, prosecutors, victim-witness personnel, and the public defender.  It also includes personal stories of hard-hit crime victims from diverse backgrounds and communities.

In addition to teaching victims how to best work with law enforcement, the video discusses:

• Who’s who in the investigation and the various law-enforcement roles.
• Understanding the system, a very long process that involves arrests, arraignment, indictment, plea bargain, hearings, motions, delays, trial, testimony, conviction, sentencing, appeals, possible parole, and parole hearings.
• What information an officer needs and what could help or jeopardize the investigation.
• How a victim should properly get information to the investigator.
• How the investigator pieces the case together and then turns it over to the prosecutor.
• Understanding the importance of good note taking and the need to be accurate and consistent throughout the case.
• Understanding “discovery” and its impact on the case.
• Understanding the time restraints and investigative limits of officers and how to respect their time.
• Understanding the painful reality that family members may be suspects and may be investigated.
• Additional problems and emotional pain that may be caused by the accused/ defense, false allegations, the media, and public interest in the case.
• How to handle intimidation during testimony/during the trial and tactics that may be used by the defense.
• The “impact statement.”
   

DVD Menu

Chapter 1 - Victims' Stories (9 min.)

Chapter 2 - In the Aftermath of Crime (13 min.)

• Introduction
• Eliminating Suspects
• Who’s Who in the Investigation
• Being Open with Information
• Keeping Notes
• Putting the Case Together

Chapter 3 - The Criminal Justice System (55 min.)

• Introduction
• Arraignment
• Charging Decisions
• Pre-Trial Hearings
• The Presumption of Innocence
• Pre-Trial Motions
• Delays, Continuances & Special Considerations
• Role of the DA
• Role of the Defense
• Role of the Judge
• Victim Advocacy
• Rights of the Defendant
• Victims’ Rights
• Unsolved Cases

Chapter 4 - Trial (15 min.)

• Jury Selection and the Trial Process
• Conviction
• Victim Impact Statements
• Sentencing

Chapter 5 - Enduring (5 min.)

Chapter 6 - Glossary and Terminology (3 min.)