Witness Information

Instructions for Witnesses

You MUST call a Victim-Witness Staff Person at 414-297-4522 to make any necessary travel arrangements for you. Airfare and Hotel Arrangements are pre-paid by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. You will be given your flight itinerary information and hotel accommodation by the Victim-Witness Staff Person. Unless otherwise indicated, we will make every effort to get you in and out in the same day; however, we cannot guarantee this. For trials, witnesses are usually scheduled to arrive the day before they testify in order to allow time to meet with the prosecuting Assistant U.S. Attorney prior to your testimony. If you have any special travel concerns, or need special assistance, please let the Victim Witness staff person know as soon as possible so that she may make the necessary arrangements.

Airline Tickets, Hotel Accommodation, and Transportation to/from Airport:

The tickets will be under your name at the designated airline ticket counter. You will need to show identification. If there are baggage fees, you will need to pay this fee yourself and submit the charge for reimbursement. The hotel reservation will be under your name and you will need to show identification to check in. We pay for the room only. Transportation from the airport to the hotel, Courthouse and/or U.S. Attorney’s office will be arranged by you and reimbursed after your travel.   Please keep the receipts for purposes of reimbursement. Should you not be able to pay for these costs upfront, please let the Victim Witness staff person know as soon as possible as it needs to be handled prior to your travel.

Reimbursements: Witnesses will receive the following reimbursements. You MUST supply receipts for taxis, parking, toll charges, and baggage fees.

1. Witness Fee: You will be receive $40 for each day you are required to be in court or attending a pre-trial interview (this includes travel days for out of town witnesses). You will NOT be reimbursed for lost wages.

2. Transportation: For local witnesses - You will be reimbursed round trip mileage to the Courthouse and/or U.S. Attorney’s Office and parking. For out-of-town witnesses - You will be reimbursed for round trip mileage to/from the airport, parking, taxi expenses and/or tolls. You must provide parking, taxi & toll receipts in order to receive reimbursement. Rental Cars are NOT reimbursable.

3. Meal Allowance: You will receive $33.00 for each travel day and $66.00 for full days between travel days in Milwaukee, Wisconsin . If you traveling to Green Bay, WI, you will receive $27.50 for each travel day and $55.00 for full days. You do NOT have to supply food receipts.

4. Before you Leave: Before your departure from the U.S Attorney’s Office after you testify, you will be given a Witness Voucher to sign. This authorizes our office to reimburse you for your expenses. Once we have received your receipts via mail, email or phone, we process your voucher for payment. You will receive your check approximately three weeks after your departure date.