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Victim & Witness Assistance

Contact the Eastern District of Oklahoma Victim-Witness Assistance Unit at:

From within the local (Muskogee) area: (918) 684-5100 Extension 5169

From outside the local area - call Toll Free: (800) 659-7913 Extension 5169

The Victim and Witness Assistance Program for the Eastern District of Oklahoma seeks to assist citizens of the district that are victims of and/or witnesses to federal crimes, and to encourage their participation in the criminal justice system in accordance with federal law.

Federal crimes where assistance can be provided include bank and postal robberies, child pornography, financial crimes (such as telemarketing and investment fraud), identity theft, hate crimes, or other crimes (such as homicide, sexual assaults, or child abuse) that occur on federal or Native American lands.

Where appropriate, the Victim and Witness Assistance Unit of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma will provide assistance to citizens of the district by:

  • Helping with crisis intervention and support services
  • Providing information regarding sources of assistance for grief counseling, loss or victim support groups, community outreach programs or similar support agencies
  • Making referrals to appropriate community agencies and programs
  • Explaining the criminal justice process, its ramifications, and its requirements
  • Providing information regarding a victim's rights and their role in the federal criminal justice process
  • Acting as the victim's liaison with investigative agencies, the U.S. Probation Department, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, and the assigned federal prosecutor
  • Assisting the victim to complete a comprehensive Victim Impact Statement for the Court
  • Accompanying victims to trials and sentencings (upon request)
  • Providing information about the status of a victim's case within the criminal justice process
  • Providing information on application requirements to request victim compensation
  • Arranging for the victim's right to speak before the court at sentencing hearings (where permitted)
  • Providing information about the financial restitution process once restitution has been ordered by the Court
  • Acting as the victim's advocate regarding the return of property used as evidence
  • Helping victims register with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to obtain notice regarding an inmate's transfer, release, or parole hearings
  • Providing crime prevention tips

Many laws have been established to ensure that innocent victims of crimes have their rights upheld, their dignity and privacy respected, and are treated with fairness. Just a few of the legislative efforts toward this end include:

  • The Victim and Witness Protection Act of 1982
  • The Crime Control Act of 1990
  • The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
  • The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, and
  • The Victim Rights Clarification Act of 1997
Updated March 12, 2015