Victim & Witness Services

Overview

You are not alone. Victims and witnesses are encouraged to speak with a Victim Witness Advocate. An advocate will listen to your concerns and be available throughout the court process. The advocate may also provide necessary referrals, answer questions, communicate your concerns with the prosecutor and accompany a victim or a witness to court.

Overview

If you have been the victim of a misdemeanor crime in the city of Las Vegas, the case will be submitted by the investigating law enforcement agency to the Criminal Division of the Las Vegas City Attorney's Office. The case will be reviewed by a prosecutor. If the case is approved for prosecution, there may be several court dates before the case goes to trial.

FAQs

Misdemeanor or felony, what’s the difference?

Generally, if the crime committed against you did not involve a weapon (such as a knife or gun) or your injuries did not result in serious bodily harm, then it is classified as a misdemeanor. Misdemeanors that occur within the city of Las Vegas are prosecuted by the Las Vegas City Attorney’s Office.

When is the next court hearing?

Visit the Municipal Court webpage and scroll down to the court case lookup section and enter your case number to check the case status. NOTE: You will receive a letter in the mail with the case number. Please contact your victim advocate if you have not received this letter to confirm that your correct address is on file.

Instructions are available in English and Spanish for the case lookup system. 

What is restitution?

Restitution is the act of restoring or making good for some injury or damage. This may include out-of-pocket expenses for medical bills or payment for property damage caused by the defendant. In order to make the prosecutor aware of the costs incurred, a victim must contact a victim witness advocate.

The advocate will need to be given a copy of the replacement/repair receipt(s) or estimates for the repair. If possible, you should forward photos of the damaged items to the advocate.

If you are seeking restitution for medical expenses, you must forward the medical bills and records to your victim witness advocate. Crime victims, who are physically injured and seek medical attention, may be eligible for assistance through the State of Nevada’s Victims of Crime Compensation Program.

If the Judge orders restitution as part of a sentence, the defendant will send the payment to the City Attorney's Office. The advocate will contact the victim when payments are received.

What if I have additional evidence?

Additional evidence can be reviewed by the City Attorney's Office, and in specific circumstances, be used in criminal proceedings. If you have additional evidence please contact a victim witness advocate to find out how to submit the evidence.

What is a Victim Impact Statement?

As a victim of a crime, you have the right to make a statement to the judge before sentencing. The statement can include your views on the crime, the impact the crime has on you and if you have a need for restitution. The statement can be given orally or in writing. If you want to make a Victim Impact Statement in person, you must contact a victim witness advocate prior to the court date. In order to learn the next court date, please call the Victim Witness Program at 702-229-2525.

If you would like to write a Victim Impact Statement, you may email it to the Victim Witness Program (LVCAVW@lasvegasnevada.gov) or mail it to P.O. Box 3930, Las Vegas, NV 89127.

Victim Impact Statement Form 
Victim Impact Statement Form - Spanish

What are my rights as a victim? 

Victims' Bill of Rights 
Victims' Bill of Rights - Spanish

Domestic Violence/Stalking/Abuse

SafeNest - 702.646.4981

SafeNest maintains a confidential domestic violence shelter in Las Vegas; operates a 24-hour crisis hotline (which is the sole access point of emergency protection orders in Clark County) and a text-to-chat line; provides individual and group counseling; maintains victim advocates in the justice and law enforcement systems; and provides domestic violence education, prevention and training programs within the Clark County community.

S.A.F.E House - 702.451.4203

S.A.F.E. House is a community based non-profit organization committed to stop abuse in the family environment by providing a comprehensive approach to end domestic violence that includes crisis intervention, safe shelter, counseling, advocacy and community education.

Child Abuse Hotline - 702.399.0081

The Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline takes reports of physical abuse, sexual abuse, mental Injury and neglect. When you report child abuse or neglect, your name is confidential and can never be disclosed. Reports can also be made anonymously. 

The Shade Tree -  702.385.0072

The Shade Tree Organization provides safe shelter to homeless and abused women and children in crisis. 

Rape Crisis Center - 702.385.2153

Offers crisis advocacy support for victims of sexual assault and/or abuse. In addition, it offers long-term advocacy, court accompaniment and a counseling center that serves all victims of sexual assault and abuse. Currently, the center serves all of Clark County.

National Domestic Violence Hotline -  800.799.7233 

The hotline provides lifesaving tools and support to empower victims and survivors to find safety and live free of abuse. The hotline also provides support to friends and family members who are concerned about a loved one. 

Domestic Violence

What is Battery Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is a violent or aggressive confrontation that occurs between spouses, family members or between people in a dating relationship. Battery is defined as any willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon another person.

Domestic violence can occur between a father and daughter/son, mother and daughter/son, an adult child and an elderly parent, but it most often occurs between partners in an intimate relationship (married or not).

Other types of domestic violence crimes include threats to life, violations of protective orders, harassment, stalking, coercion and destruction to private property. Sometimes weapons are used, sometimes property is damaged, and in many relationships, the physical violence increases in frequency and level over time.

Why were charges filed?

If you are the victim in a case being prosecuted by the Las Vegas City Attorney's Office, the person who harmed you had a criminal complaint filed against him/her by the City Attorney for the following reasons:

• The responding police officers believed that a crime was committed and prepared a police report. Nevada Revised Statute requires an arrest of the perpetrator within 24 hours of a battery constituting domestic violence incident. That person must spend a minimum of 12 hours in jail before he/she can be released.
• If the officers were not able to arrest the person who allegedly battered you, the police report is sent to the law enforcement detectives. A detective will review the report and evidence. If appropriate, the detective will then submit the report and evidence to the City Attorney's Office for possible prosecution.
• The arrest packet or submitted paperwork is then reviewed by a Deputy City Attorney for charging consideration. If a complaint is filed, the Deputy City Attorney believes that sufficient evidence exists to charge the alleged perpetrator.

What can I do to drop charges?

While your wishes as the victim of domestic violence are important, you do not have the ability to “drop charges.”

You are not the person who files charges. The decision to file charges rests with the City Attorney’s Office. The City Attorney's Office is prohibited by policy and Nevada Revised Statutes from dismissal of charges unless the prosecutor is unable to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Contact

Victim Witness Program

100 E. Clark Ave,
Las Vegas, NV 89101

We are located in the Las Vegas Municipal Courthouse. For driving/walking directions, click "directions" on the map below.

Hours: Monday – Thursday: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday - Sunday: Closed

Phone: 702-229-2525

Email: LVCAVW@lasvegasnevada.gov

Arraignment

Legal/Protection Orders

Clark County Family Law Self-Help Center - 702.455.1500

The center's mission is to increase informed access to the legal system by providing education, information, legal forms, community referrals, and other support services to self-represented parties with family law matters in Clark County, regardless of income, assets or citizenship.

Family Violence Intervention Program (Protection Orders) - 702.455.3400

The Eighth Judicial District Court in Nevada provides information on protection orders. A protection order is a court order that requires someone to stay away from you because of domestic violence or other kinds of behaviors. There are different protection orders available through different courts in Clark County.

Harassment/Stalking Orders - 702.671.3376

These orders are issued by Justice Court. If you want to apply for a stalking/harassment order against a neighbor, co-worker, or someone you don't have a domestic relationship with, you must go to the Justice Court, Stalking/Harassment Section, in the township where you reside. The office for Las Vegas is located at the Regional Justice Center, 200 E. Lewis Ave., 2nd Floor. Once the order has been granted, it is forwarded for service by the court, provided that there is an address with which to serve the person in Clark County.

Civil Law Self-Help Center – 702.671.3976 

The Civil Law Self-Help Center's mission is to increase informed access to the legal system by providing education, information, legal forms, community referrals, and other support services to self-represented parties with civil matters in Clark County regardless of income, assets or citizenship.  

Legal Aid of Southern Nevada - 702.386.1070

Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to providing free community legal services to those in need.

Pretrial Conference

The defendant may appear with his/her attorney. At the pretrial conference, the prosecutor may extend a negotiated plea offer in exchange for a guilty or no-contest plea from the defendant. The offer and recommendations will be based upon the seriousness of the crime, the defendant’s prior history, and input received from the witnesses including the victim. Any plea offer is determined by the prosecutor.

The defense attorney will inform the defendant of the plea-agreement offer from the prosecutor. The defendant may accept the plea- agreement offer at the pretrial conference and change his/her plea to guilty or no-contest. If the defendant rejects the prosecutor’s offer at the pretrial conference, the case will be set for a trial.

It is important for you to know that, while you have a right to attend the arraignment and pretrial conference, you are not required to attend either of the hearings.

General Resources

V.I.N.E (VineLink) - 888.268.8463

VINE (Victims Information and Notification Everyday) is a free, secure, and confidential means to access in-custody/jail status and criminal case information. You must register for notifications to stay informed.

Victims of Crime Program - 702.486.2740

The Nevada Victims of Crime Program is dedicated to providing financial assistance to victims of violent crimes that occur in Nevada. 

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department - Victim Services - 702.828.2955

It is the mission of the Victim Services Detail to help victims of crime by providing crisis intervention, support, referrals, and encouraging safety practices to reduce the likelihood of future victimization.

HELP of Southern Nevada - 702.369.4357

HELP of Southern Nevada offers a variety of programs and services to help individuals and families increase their self-sufficiency and become less dependent on government assistance.

Salvation Army – 702.870.4430
The Salvation Army provides services to those in need. It operates 16 facilities and more than 20 programs and services throughout southern Nevada.

Westcare Nevada Inc  - 702.385.3330

WestCare offers a variety of services, including substance abuse, mental health, homelessness and domestic violence/sexual assault services.

Trial

Once the trial date is set, the victim and other witnesses will receive subpoena to testify in court. A defendant is presumed innocent until the prosecution proves guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This is the highest burden of proof in the legal system.

The prosecutor will present evidence to prove that the defendant committed the alleged crime. This evidence may include the testimony of the victim and independent witnesses including law-enforcement officers as well as photographs, medical records and 911 recordings.

The defendant may present testimony and evidence also. The defendant, however, is not required to present evidence to prove that they are innocent. The judge or jury will hear the evidence and determine if the defendant is guilty or not guilty.

Sentencing

Mental Health/Counseling

Support Services