Victims / Witnesses

Victim-Witness Coordinator

The Lee County State’s Attorney’s Office is committed to providing victims and witnesses with information and support during their experience with the Criminal Justice System. We do this through the services of the Victim-Witness Coordinator.  

Services Provided

  • Arrange transportation to attend court proceedings and/or obtain support services
  • Assist attorneys in preparing victims and witnesses for trial.
  • Community education
  • Court advocacy - accompanying victims that would like to attend any court proceedings.
  • Employer/school intervention
  • Information - we answer victims and witnesses questions about the Criminal Justice System and their specific cases.
  • Notification - we notify victims by phone, email,or letter when a case has been filed and the status of the case as it moves through the system.
  • Post-trial information - we notify victims of a defendant’s appeal or release from prison or the county jail.
  • Protection - we provide referrals to the YWCA of the Sauk Valley to assist in obtaining orders of protection or no contact conditions.
  • Provide emotional support
  • Restitution - we assist victims in completing restitution forms to compensate for their financial loss as a result of being victimized.
  • Secure waiting areas - we provide victims and witnesses a waiting area that is separate from the defendants as they are waiting to testify in criminal proceedings.
  • Social service referrals
  • Victim compensation application - we offer victims assistance and information in completing these forms.
  • Victim Impact Panel - defendants sentenced for driving under the influence must attend this program. Panelist members consist of individuals whose lives have been altered as a result of a driving while intoxicated.
  • Victim impact statements - we inform victims of their right to make a statement at sentencing and are offered assistance in completing their statement.

Information and Resources


  • The YWCA of the Sauk Valley assists victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.  All of their services are FREE of charge.  The YWCA can be reached 24 hours a day on their hotline at (815) 288-1011 or (815) 626-7227.  
  • The Illinois Attorney General’s Office offers a Crime Victim’s Services Line that answers questions about the program and assistance available to victims.  The Illinois Attorney General’s Office Crime Victim’s Program can be reached at (800) 228-3368 (TTY: 877-398-1130) or by email at crimevictimservices@atg.state.il.us 
  • The Illinois Attorney General’s Office offers a Crime Victim’s Compensation Program to assist victims of violent crimes with expenses incurred as a result of the crime.  For more information please visit the Illinois Attorney General’s website at http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/  
  • The Illinois Automated Victim Notification (AVN) Program provides victims access to information and notification for offender custody status, court event information and sex offender information.  To register for the program, please call (866) 5-NOTIFY (866-566-8439) or visit their website to register for information online at https://www.vinelink.com/#/home/site/14004  . 
  • The Illinois Crime Victim’ Bill of Rights provides that victims of violent crime have the following rights: 
    • o The right to be treated with fairness and respect for my dignity and privacy and to be free from harassment, intimidation, and abuse throughout the criminal justice process. 
    • o The right to notice and to a hearing before a court ruling on a request for access to any of my records, information, or communications which are privileged or confidential by law. 
    • o The right to timely notification of all court proceedings. o The right to communicate with the prosecution. 
    • o The right to be heard at any post-arraignment court proceeding in which one of my rights is at issue and any court proceeding involving a post-arraignment release decision, plea, or sentencing. 
    • o The right to be notified of the conviction, the sentence, the imprisonment, and the release of the accused. 
    • o The right to timely disposition of the case following the arrest of the accused. o The right to be reasonably protected from the accused throughout the criminal justice process. 
    • o The right to have my safety and my family’s safety considered in denying or fixing the amount of bail, determining whether to release the defendant, and setting conditions of release after arrest and conviction. 
    • o The right to be present at the trial and all other court proceedings on the same basis as the accused, unless I will testify and the court determines that my testimony would be materially affected if I hear other testimony at the trial. 
    • o The right to have present at all court proceedings, subject to the rules of evidence, an advocate and other support person of my choice. 
    • o The right to restitution.