Victim Witness Program

The objective of the Gwinnett District Attorney's Victim Witness Unit is to provide the best possible services to all persons who fall victim to crime in Gwinnett County. This includes insuring that victims are afforded all those rights that are mandated by the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights enacted in 1995.

Our goal is to pursue justice on behalf of the victim and to provide the best possible support as their case proceeds through the criminal justice system. This support is a cumulative effort of all divisions of the District Attorney's Office.

Victims and Witnesses have the right:

• to be treated with dignity and compassion
• to protection from intimidation and harm
• to be informed about the criminal justice process
• to be notified of parole decisions

Crime Victim’s Bill of Rights
House Bill 567

Effective July 1, 2010, the following updates have been made to the Crime Victim’s Bill of Rights.  

• The right to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any scheduled court proceedings or any changes to such proceeding.
• The right to be present at all public court proceedings involving the crime.
• The right to be heard at any scheduled court proceeding involving the release, plea, or sentencing of the accused.
• The right to file a written objection in any parole proceeding involving the accused.
• The right to confer with the prosecuting attorney in any criminal prosecution related to the victim.
• The right to proceedings free of unreasonable delay.
• The right to be treated fairly and with dignity by all criminal justice agencies involved in the case.
• The right to be entitled to notification of the release of an accused from custody.
• Advisement on how to file a complaint with the Judicial Qualifications Commission.
• The right to restitution as the law provides.
• The right to attend restitution hearings.
• The names and telephone numbers of contact persons at the office of the investigating agency where the victim may make application for the return of any of the victim’s property that was taken during the course of the investigation.
• A victim shall have the right to refuse to submit to an interview by the accused, the accused’s attorney, or an agent of the accused.
• If a victim agrees to be interviewed by the accused, the accused’s attorney, or an agent of the accused; the victim has the right to set conditions for the interview.
• The accused, the accused’s attorney, and any agent of the accused shall not contact a victim in an unreasonable manner; and if the victim has clearly expressed a desire to not be contacted, no contact shall be made.
• A victim who has been subpoenaed to testify in court may be exempt from the rule of sequestration.
• The right to be notified of post conviction proceedings.
• The right to request an inmate to not contact a victim by mail post conviction.