A Victim's Guide to the District of Columbia Legal System

What is the Victim's Guide?

A Victim’s Guide to the District of Columbia Legal System is a long-standing CCE resource designed to help crime victims navigate the complexities of the legal process in Washington, D.C. This Guide can be used by those who have experienced crime in the District or who are seeking to support a family member or a loved one who has been a victim of a crime. The goal of this Guide is to ensure that individuals understand what to expect and how to access support after experiencing a crime.

How can I use the Victim's Guide?

This Guide provides an overview of victims’ rights, the roles of key government agencies, and available services. It can help readers to familiarize themselves with legal procedures, victim assistance programs, and points of contact for advocacy and crisis intervention. Whether seeking information on reporting a crime, obtaining protective measures, or understanding court proceedings, this Guide can serve as a tool for empowerment and informed decision-making. Because some victims may not feel that the legal system aligns with their goals and needs, a section on alternatives is included in this Guide as well.

Victims of crime or those looking to support them may utilize this Guide at any stage of the legal process. While it is written in order of how a typical legal process moves, each case is unique, so the Guide may be referenced at any point during the process. There is also a glossary at the end with definitions of the important terms used in the Guide, flow-charts to describe the typical legal process, and a basic map of Judiciary Square where many of the agencies listed in this Guide are located. Any term that is defined in the glossary will have an asterisk (*) next to it the first time it is used.