Skip to main content

Office of the Crime Victims' Rights Ombudsman

A victim of a federal crime may file a complaint against any employee of the Department of Justice who violated or failed to provide the rights established under the Crime Victims Rights Act of 2004, 18 U.S.C. § 3771. The Department of Justice has established the Office of the Victims’ Rights Ombudsman to receive and investigate complaints filed by crime victims against its employees, and has implemented Procedures to Promote Compliance with Crime Victims’ Rights Obligations, 28 C.F.R. § 45.10.

The rights provided by the Crime Victims’ Rights Act are guaranteed from the time that criminal proceedings are initiated (by complaint, information, or indictment) and cease to be available if all charges are dismissed either voluntarily or on the merits (or if the Government declines to bring formal charges after the filing of a complaint).

The complaint process is not designed for the correction of specific victims’ rights violations, but is instead used to request corrective or disciplinary action against Department of Justice employees who may have failed to provide rights to crime victims. The Department of Justice will investigate the allegations in the complaint to determine whether the employee utilized his or her "best efforts" to provide crime victims' rights.

The Office of the Victims’ Rights Ombudsman does not administer crime victim funds or provide services. If you are seeking information about available resources and services, please contact the Office for Victims of Crime.

Contact the Crime Victims' Rights Ombudsman at:

http://www.justice.gov/usao/eousa/vr/
Executive Office for United States Attorneys 
Department of Justice 
RFK Main Justice Building 
950 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Room 2261 
Washington, DC 20530-0001
E-mail

Updated February 3, 2015