Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim/Witness Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office provides services for victims and witnesses of federal crimes including notification of a victim’s rights; case status information; travel arrangements for witnesses; education regarding the federal criminal justice system; referrals to various social service and medical organizations; special services for child victims, the elderly and handicapped victims; court accompaniment; and compensation claims assistance.
Victims and witnesses serve a vital role in the prosecution of federal offenses. Without their assistance, prosecuting federal offenders would often prove difficult. It is our goal to ensure that victims and witnesses are treated fairly and with dignity, and that they are fully afforded all rights provided to them under both federal and state law.
If you consider yourself to be in immediate danger, please call 911 or contact your local law enforcement agency.
Victim Rights
As a victim of crime, you have certain rights. Learn your victim’s rights within the Federal, Circuit, and District Court Systems.
- Federal Crime Victims' Rights: Please understand that these rights apply only to victims of the counts charged in federal court, and thus you may not be able to exercise all of these rights if the crime to which you are a victim was not charged. For the victims of the counts which are charged, the rights listed above may be enforced in court and you can seek the advice of an attorney with respect to these rights. As the victim of a charged offense, if you believe that your rights have been violated by a Department of Justice employee, you may be able to file a complaint with the Department’s Office of Victims’ Rights Ombudsman.
- Department of Justice - Rights of Victims
For Non-Emergency Aid or to Report a Crime, Contact the Appropriate Toll-Free Helpline
If you think you are a victim of a scam or attempted fraud involving COVID-19, you can report it without leaving your home by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form.
If you are a victim of identity theft remember that when dealing with the authorities and financial institutions, it is very important to:
- File a police report
- Keep a log of all conversations (including dates, names, and phone numbers)
- Note time spent and any expenses incurred, in case you are able to request restitution in a later judgment or conviction.
- Confirm conversations in writing and send all correspondence by certified mail, return receipt requested
- Keep copies of all letters and documents.
- Place a fraud on your credit report
- Check your credit reports periodically
- Close accounts that you believe to have been fraudulently opened
- Report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): 1-877-4357
- The Office for Victims of Crime- Victims of Identity Theft or Fraud Resources:
The Federal Trade Commission recommends these immediate recovery steps if you are a victim of identity theft:
- Call the companies where you know fraud occurred
- Place a fraud alert and get your credit reports
- Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission (En Espanol): 1-877-438-4338
Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Publications:
- Medical Identity Theft: What to know, What to do (English)/ (En Espanol)
- Identity Theft- What to Know, What to do (English)/ (En Espanol)
- Child Identity Theft: What to Know, What to do (English)/(En Espanol)
- Identity Theft: A Recovery Plan (English)/(En Espanol)
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)- Report Identity Theft (English) (En Espanol): 1-877-4338/ The
If you suspect child abuse or neglect, please contact these local resources, and familiarize yourself with potential signs of child abuse:
- Maryland Child Protective Services (according to county)
- Parent Resources
- Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 800-4-A-CHILD 1-800-422-4453
- National Runaway Safeline www.1800runaway.org
1-800-RUNAWAY or 1-800-786-2929 - The National Child Traumatic Stress Network | (nctsn.org (English) (En Espanol) (919) 682-1552 or (310) 235-2633
- The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) Home (missingkids.org/ (English) (En Espanol)1-800-843-5678
- National Child Abuse Hotline; Toll-free: 1-800-422-4453 https://www.childhelp.org
1-800-843-5678
- Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence 1-301-429-3601
- The National Domestic Violence Hotline (thehotline.org) 1-800-799−SAFE(7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224 or 1-206-518-9361 (Video Phone Only for Deaf Callers).
- Home - Hotline en Español (thehotline.org) Consigue Ayuda 1-800-799-7233
- National Network to End Domestic Violence -Safety Net Project 1-202-543-5566
- National Dating Violence & Abuse Hotline 24/7/365 - text, call or chat now 1-866-331-9474
- Stalking Resource Center – The National Center for Victims of Crime 1-202-467-8700
- Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault | MCASA 800-983-7273
- National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline | RAINN 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)/ Online Chat: https://www.rainn.org/resources (En Espanol) https://hotline.rainn.org/es
- National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)
- Sexual Violence |Violence Prevention|Injury Center|CDC
Human trafficking may be occurring in your own community. Click here to learn possible indicators of human trafficking. To report suspected human trafficking, please contact:
- National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888/ humantraffickinghotline.org
- BeFree Textline: Text HELP to 233722 (BEFREE) (Confidential, 24/7)
- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
- Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force
- Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault: 800-983-7273/301-328-7023
- TurnAround Anti-Trafficking Program: 410-377-8111
- Polaris | We Fight to End Human Trafficking (polarisproject.org)
- National Elder Fraud Hotline: 833-FRAUD-11/ 833-372-8311
- Maryland Elder Abuse- Department of Human Services: 1-800-332-6347
- Maryland 211
- Maryland Pro Bono Counseling Project (410) 825-1001.. The Pro Bono Counseling Project’s WARMLine is a free mental health resource for Marylanders who are experiencing increased stress, anxiety, and life transition concerns. The Pro Bono Counseling WARMLine is staffed by mental health professionals, 10AM-8PM, Monday-Friday and 10AM-6PM on Saturday and Sunday. Callers can connect to the WARMLine by directly calling 410-598-0234. You can also visit WARMLine information directly from the Pro Bono Counseling Project’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/probonocounseling/photos/a.559601164070711/4232886723408785/
- Coping With Grief | NIH News in Health
- Grief and Loss Resources (maryland.gov)
- The Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center / 1-877-842-8461
- Directory of Crime Victim Services
Office for Victims of Crime
Office of Justice Programs
U.S. Department of Justice
http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/findvictimservices
- National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children
1-888-818-POMC or 1-888-818-7662
www.pomc.com
- Mothers Against Drunk Driving
1-800-GET-MADD or 1-800-438-6233
www.madd.org
The Compassionate Friends
1-877-969-0010
www.compassionatefriends.org
- Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
TTY: 1-800-799-4889
- SAMHSA’s National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
TTY: 1-800-487-4889
- NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline 1-800-950-NAMI