Victim Witness
Victim Notification
After the defendant is charged with a federal crime, victims are entitled to be notified of public court proceedings. In most instances victims will receive an initial letter from the U.S. Attorney's Office and subsequent letters as case events warrant. Occasionally, in cases involving large numbers of victims, alternative notification procedures may be used.
In addition to receiving notifications from the U.S. Attorney's Office, victims may:
- Call the Victim Notification System (VNS) Center at 1-866-365-4968 for recorded information about the status of a case. Victims will need the Victim Identification Number (VIN) and Personal Identification Number (PIN) provided to them in our initial notification letter.
- Visit VNS's Website to check the status of a case, using the VIN and PIN provided to them in our initial notification letter.
- Access the U.S. District Court's website at any federal court in Louisiana or through a PACER account. To set up an account call 1-800-676-6856 or register at http://pacer.psc.uscourts.gov. There is no charge to establish an account or view lists of documents. Documents themselves cost $.08 a page, but users who accumulate less than $10 a year in fees are not charged.
- Contact the Victim-Witness Coordinator or the Assistant U.S. Attorney assigned to the case.
- If a defendant is incarcerated in the federal Bureau of Prisons, further information may be obtained directly from the BOP website. Once on the BOP website, click the "Inmate Locator" button, then search the database by the defendant's name.
NOTE: In cases involving large numbers of victims, alternative methods of notification may be used.
Victim Notification System (VNS)
VNS, a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, provides federal crime victims with an opportunity to access case information during the investigation, prosecution and incarceration phases.
If you are a federal crime victim, you will receive a Victim Identification Number (VIN) and Personal Identification Number (PIN).
The VNS Call Center: You may call 1-866-DOJ-4YOU (1-866-365-4968) for current information. You will be required to enter your VIN and your PIN. By following the prompts, VNS will provide custody information and notice of upcoming court events.
(Eastern Time) Monday - Friday 6:00 a.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Saturday 6:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sunday 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
1-866-DOJ-4YOU - (1-866-365-4968)
VNS Internet Access:
You may access information about the case via the Internet at http://www.Notify.USDOJ.Gov or the VNS logo below. 
You will be required to enter your VIN and your PIN. The Web site, in some instances, may provide additional information that is not available through the Call Center.
The Department of Justice Victim Notification Brochure