| Q: I was the victim of a crime. Can you tell me the name of the defendant and the defendants next court date? |
| Q: I was the victim of a violent crime. Will the DAs Office pay for my hospital bill? Will the DAs Office help me collect for lost wages and for pain and suffering? |
| Q: I'd like to contact the defense attorney, who is he and what is his number? |
| Q: I'd like to contact the victim's family, do you have a number? |
| Q: I'm looking for a past press release. How do I get a copy? |
| Q: If a defendant pleads guilty, do I have any input in the case? |
| Q: If I am a victim of a violent crime, what services are available to me? |
| Q: If I am a victim of domestic violence and want to drop the charges, can I? |
| Q: If I am a victim, do I need to hire an attorney to represent me in court? |
| Q: If I get a subpoena, do I have to go to court? |
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| Q: I was the victim of a crime. Can you tell me the name of the defendant and the defendants next court date? |
| A: The DAs Office can provide you with the name of the adult defendant and the next court date if we have received the police reports and filed charges against the defendant. To obtain this information, call the DAs branch office located in the judicial district where the crime occurred. The DAs office is legally unable to disclose information on most juvenile defendants. To obtain a listing of locations, please see our Resourcs link. |
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| Q: I was the victim of a violent crime. Will the DAs Office pay for my hospital bill? Will the DAs Office help me collect for lost wages and for pain and suffering? |
| A: The District Attorneys Office cannot directly compensate you for any loss you may have suffered. The Victim/Witness Assistance Program, specifically Restitution Services, may be able to help you with reimbursement of hospital bills, lost wages, counseling services, attorneys fees, and repairs or replacement of lost or damaged property. With regard to collecting for pain and suffering and other losses, you may need to contact a private attorney. If you do not have a lawyer, you can call the Lawyer Referral Service which is operated by the Orange County Bar Association. The phone number is (949) 250-0488. |
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| Q: I'd like to contact the defense attorney, who is he and what is his number? |
| A: If the attorney is a public defender, contact the Orange County Public Defenders office at (714) 834-2144. If the defendant is represented by a private attorney contact the California Bar Association. |
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| Q: I'd like to contact the victim's family, do you have a number? |
| A: To protect the privacy of the victim, we do not give out contact information regarding a victim or their family. |
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| Q: I'm looking for a past press release. How do I get a copy? |
| A: Go to the Media Center section of the website. There you will find a list of every press release sent from the OCDA. Click here for the press releases. |
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| Q: If a defendant pleads guilty, do I have any input in the case? |
| A: Victims of crime may prepare a Victim Impact Statement. This statement will be considered by the deputy district attorney and the judge when determining the appropriate penalty. |
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| Q: If I am a victim of a violent crime, what services are available to me? |
| A: The Victim/Witness Assistance Program offers a variety of services to victims of crime. You may also contact the Victims of Crime Compensation Program (800) 777-9229. |
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| Q: If I am a victim of domestic violence and want to drop the charges, can I? |
| A: Many people incorrectly believe a victim of crime has the power to press charges and drop the charges against a defendant. The District Attorneys Office prosecutes crimes on behalf of the State of California. The decision to drop charges in any criminal prosecution can only be made by a prosecutor with the approval of a judge. The victims wishes will be considered, but the final determination of whether or not the charges will be filed or dismissed rests with the District Attorneys Office. If you would like to discuss your case, you should contact the deputy district attorney assigned to your case who may arrange a meeting between you, the prosecutor, and an investigator. |
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| Q: If I am a victim, do I need to hire an attorney to represent me in court? |
| A: You will not need to hire an attorney unless you are seeking to sue the defendant civilly or are seeking damages or other orders outside the jurisdiction of the criminal courts. The District Attorneys Office prosecutes crimes on behalf of the State of California and the public at large. |
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| Q: If I get a subpoena, do I have to go to court? |
| A: Yes. A subpoena is an order of the court. You must go to court unless the court or the party who caused the subpoena to be issued excuses you. If you fail to appear, the judge may issue a warrant for your arrest. Please bring your subpoena with you when you come to court. In some cases, the party who caused the subpoena to be issued may put you on call so you can go to work or school on the day you are subpoenaed. You will be called at a pre-arranged telephone number an hour or so before you are needed in court. If you are placed on call, you must be available to testify in court within thirty minutes to an hour. To request an on call status, call the telephone number on your subpoena immediately. |
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