As a victim of , Maryland law provides you with specific rights. Know your rights. Know where to receive help. CRIME VICTIMS Introduction Maryland Crime Victims’ Rights The Maryland State Board of Victim Services was Victims of crime have certain rights under Under the Maryland Constitution and under State created by the Maryland General Assembly to Maryland law. This pamphlet provides general laws and guidelines, victims of crime must be: address the unique needs of crime victims and to information about rights and services available make recommendations for improving state and to assist you through the aftermath of the crime • Treated with dignity, respect, and sensitivity local crime victim services. To learn more about and through the often complex criminal justice the State Board go to www.goccp.maryland.gov. process. • Informed of their rights

In addition to personal losses suffered as a result • Notified of crisis intervention and counseling This pamphlet, published by the Maryland State of a criminal act committed against you, the services Board of Victim Services and the Governor’s experience may have created stress, fear and Office of Crime Control & Prevention, is designed confusion. Victim/ witness assistance programs • Notified of domestic violence programs and to provide an overview of crime victims’ rights AND WITNESSES: and other local victim assistance programs may support groups and services. For information specific to your provide information, support and assistance case, contact your local law enforcement agency to victims outside the formal criminal justice • Notified of criminal injuries compensation and or State’s Attorney’s Office. For information on Your Rights and Services process. other social services available services that may be available to help you as you recover from the crime, please refer to the National/ Help Throughout the Criminal Justice Process • Informed on how to apply for services Statewide Crime Victim Resources listed on the MARYLAND back of this pamphlet. Throughout the criminal justice process, and • Told of protection available to them and how even after its completion, you may experience to obtain protection Please keep this pamphlet as a reference. physical, emotional or psychological distress as Complaint/Incident # a result of your victimization. This is a normal • Informed by the police or the State’s Attorney reaction, and help is available in your community. of the arrest of a suspect and closing of the Please refer to the National/Statewide Crime case Officer Victim Resources section on the reverse side of this pamphlet. • Notified of court hearings and offender Badge # custody status General Victims’ Rights Contact Phone # • Permitted to be present and heard at criminal A crime victim is generally defined under justice proceedings 300 E. Joppa Road, Suite 1105 Maryland Annotated Code §11-1001(e) of the To obtain a written copy of the incident Criminal Procedure Article as a person who • Permitted to seek restitution from their , Maryland 21286-3016 report, please contact the Records suffers direct or threatened physical, emotional, offender(s) 410-821-2828 FAX 410-339-3467 Department of your responding law or financial harm as a result of a crime. If you are a victim of crime in Maryland, and TOLL FREE: 1-877-687-9004 enforcement agency. Costs may vary. Victims of domestic violence are entitled The definition of a victim may vary depending on need more information about your rights visit, Web Site: www.goccp.maryland.gov to a copy of the incident report without the right afforded to that person and the type of www.goccp.maryland.gov. charge. crime committed. Revised 8/1/2009 STATE CRIME VICTIM SERVICES STATE CORRECTIONS VICTIM NOTIFICATION NATIONAL /STATEWIDE CRIME VICTIM RESOURCES MD Dept. of Public Safety & Correctional Services Website...... www.dpscs.state.md.us VINE u Information u Referrals u Legal Assistance u Counseling u Support Groups Division of Correction...... (410) 585-3331 “Victim Information and Notification Everyday” (VINE) Toll Free...... 1-866-606-7789 is a free, anonymous, automated telephone service that GENERAL VICTIM SERVICES/REFERRALS DRUNK DRIVING SERVICES MD Parole Commission...... (410)-585-3213 provides victims of crime with two important services: AND NOTIFICATION Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)(410) 964-5757 Toll Free...... 1-877-241-5428 information and notification. VINE will provide you with MD Crime Victims’ Resource Center, Inc. Toll Free...... 1-800-446-6233 MD Division of Parole & Probation...... (410) 585-3517 vital court case, custody, parole and probation information (301) 952-0063 Website...... www.madd.org/md Toll Free...... 1-877-227-8031 for an offender currently involved in the criminal justice Toll Free...... 1-877-VICTIM1 MD Sex Offender Registry system in Maryland. Website...... www.mdcrimevictims.org HOMICIDE SURVIVORS SERVICES & Website...... www.socem.info Toll Free...... 1-866-634-8463 National Center for Victims of Crime LEGAL ADVOCACY SERVICES Website...... www.vinelink.com Helpline...... 1-800-FYI-CALL National Organization of Parents of Murdered Website...... www.ncvc.org Children and Other Survivors of Homicide Victims STATE’S ATTORNEYS’ OFFICES IN MARYLAND MD Criminal Injuries Compensation Board Pro Bono Counseling Project...... (410) 323-5800 Toll Free...... 1-888-818-POMC www.mdsaa.org Toll Free...... 1-877-323-5800 Website...... www.pomc.org The Maryland Criminal Injuries Compensation Board Website...... www.probonocounseling.org MD Crime Victims’ Resource Center, Inc. Allegany County...... (301) 777-5962 (MCICB) was established to provide financial assistance First Call for Help or 211 MD...... (410) 685-0525 Toll Free...... 1-877-VICTIM1 Anne Arundel County...... (410) 222-1740 to Maryland crime victims. Under certain conditions, Toll Free...... 1-800-492-0618 Website...... www.mdcrimevictims.org crime victims or surviving family members of deceased TTY...... (410) 685-2159 Baltimore City...... (410) 396-4000 victims may be eligible to be reimbursed for their medical, MD Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (MCICB) JUVENILE/SCHOOL VIOLENCE RESOURCES Baltimore County...... (410) 887-6600 mental health, and/or funeral expenses and/or lost income (410) 585-3010 Department of Juvenile Services Calvert County...... (410) 535-1600 resulting from a crime. For further information and Toll Free...... 1-888-679-9347 Toll Free...... 1-888-639-7499 assistance in filing, please call the Maryland Criminal Website...... www.dpscs.state.md.us Website...... www.djs.state.md.us Ext. 2369 Injuries Compensation Board. Department of Juvenile Services...... 1-888-639-7499 National School Safety Center Caroline County...... (410) 479-0255 Toll Free...... 1-888-679-9347 Website...... www.djs.state.md.us Toll Free...... 1-805-373-9977 Carroll County...... (410) 386-2671 Website...... www.dpscs.state.md.us Office of the Attorney General...... (410) 576-6405 Website...... www.schoolsafety.us Website...... www.oag.state.md.us Cecil County...... (410) 996-5335 Peace and Protective Orders MD Department of Human Resources LEGAL SERVICES Charles County...... (301) 932-3350 Toll Free...... 1-800-332-6347 Legal Aid Bureau, Inc...... (410) 951-7777 Peace and protective orders are civil orders issued by a Dorchester County...... (410) 228-3611 judge or court commissioner to prevent one person from Website...... www.dhr.state.md.us Toll Free...... 1-800-999-8904 committing certain acts against others. The personal MD Community Services Locator (MDCSL) Website...... www.mdlab.org Frederick County...... (301) 600-1523 relationship between the respondent and the victim Website...... www.mdcsl.org MD Volunteer Lawyers Service...... (410) 547-6537 Garrett County...... (301) 334-1974 Toll Free...... 1-800-510-0050 determines which order should be filed. Protective orders Harford County...... (410) 638-3500 generally apply to people in domestic relationships. Peace CHILD ABUSE SERVICES Website...... www.mvlslaw.org orders apply to other relationships (dating, neighbors, Childhelp MD Crime Victims’ Resource Center, Inc Howard County...... (410) 313-2108 co-workers, acquaintances, (strangers.) Toll Free...... 1-800-4-A-CHILD Toll Free...... 1-877-VICTIM1 Kent County...... (410) 778-7450 Website...... www.childhelp.org Website...... www.mdcrimevictims.org Montgomery County...... (240) 777-7300 A petition for protection from domestic violence may be filed in any District Court or Circuit Court in DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES SEXUAL SERVICES Prince George’s County...... (301) 952-3500 National Domestic Violence Hotline...... 1-800-799-SAFE MD Coalition Against Sexual Assault...... (410) 974-4507 Maryland. If the clerk’s office is open, you must file Queen Anne’s County...... (410) 758-2264 with the clerk. If the clerk’s office is closed, file with a TTY For the Hearing Impaired...... 1-800-787-3224 Toll Free...... 1-800-983-7273 District Court Commissioner. To locate a court, look at MD Network Against Domestic Violence Website...... www.mcasa.org St. Mary’s County...... (301)-475-7844 www.courts.state.md.us or the government pages of your (301) 352-4574 Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI)...... (301) 565-2277 Ext. 4500 Toll Free...... 1-800-MD-HELPS Toll Free...... 1-877-496-SALI phone book. Some courthouses have on-site programs to Somerset County...... (410) 651-3333 assist victims with safety plans and filing for protection. Website...... www.mnadv.org Website...... www.mcasa.org Find your local domestic violence program by contacting Maryland Judiciary Family Law Forms Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network Talbot County...... (410) 770-8060 the clerk’s office or www.mnadv.org. For other help, call Petitions for Protection (RAINN) Hotline...... 1-800-656-HOPE Washington County...... (240) 313-2000 911 or your local law enforcement agency. Website...... http://www.courts.state.md.us/family/ Website...... www.rainn.org forms/protectorder.html Wicomico County...... (410) 548-4880 Worcester County...... (410) 632-2166