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| Mission: Within Deschutes County, the District Attorney's Victim Assistance program offers crime victims and the community an opportunity to be involved in the restorative process that diminishes the devastating impact of crime. |
A crime is committed...You have become the victim of a crime. Regardless of the nature of the offense, if the person who committed the crime is under 18, you may want to know what happens in the juvenile justice process.
- First, the crime is investigated by law enforcement. Once a youth is arrested and delivered to the Deschutes County Juvenile Resource Center, local police consult with the Resource Center to determine if the youth will return home or is to be detained.
- The arresting police officer forwards a report to Deschutes County Juvenile Community Justice and the Deschutes County District Attorney, who determine if the case is legally sufficient for court proceedings. The decision to proceed with an initial Formal Accountability Agreement (FAA) or Juvenile Court is based on the nature of crime, victim input, and a youth's criminal history. (An FAA contract often requires restitution, counseling, community service, education, treatment, or training.)
Court Process: All youth referred to Court, must attend the following hearings:
- ARRAIGNMENT - First court appearance; charges are read; youth is advised of rights; attorneys are appointed, and pleas are entered.
- ADJUDICATION - A trial is conducted in the same manner, with the same rules as an adult hearing. However, there is no jury and a Judge/Referee determines whether a youth is within the jurisdiction of the court (guilty) or not.
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DISPOSITION - The Judge/Referee determines disposition (sentence) based on information provided by the District Attorney, Juvenile Community Justice Officer, Defense Attorney, and victim statements.
Hearings in juvenile court can happen very quickly. Therefore, it is important that any restitution information and victim impact statement be returned to juvenile community justice staff promptly. Before a dispostion is imposed, a victim has the right to express views relating to a crime to the judge/referee. A victim can personally appear in court, or a victim impact statement can be submitted to the court.
What Victim Assistance Can Do:
- Provide information about court procedures.
- Update victims on their case and advise on final disposition.
- Assist with restitution matters and return of recovered of property.
- Accompany victims in court.
- Assist crime victims in completing Crime Victims Compensation applications
(state program to help victims with medical/counseling expenses).
- Provide information on referrals to relevant service agencies.
What Victim Assistance Cannot Do:
- Provide professional counseling to crime victims.
- Offer financial assistance to crime victims.
- Give legal advice on civil or criminal cases to crime victims.
Please contact our Victim Advocate at 541.617.3349, or the District Attorney's Victim Assistance Program at 541.388.6674.
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