Victim-Witness Unit

Your teenage daughter is raped. Your husband is assaulted at gunpoint in a convenience store. Your boyfriend throws you against a wall and strangles you until you can’t breathe. Your five-year-old child discloses that the babysitter has been touching him in a sexual way.

If you are a victim or a witness to a crime such as homicide, sexual assault, aggravated battery, domestic violence or child abuse, you may desire some assistance in navigating the criminal court system. The Ada County Victim-Witness Unit is here to help. The “Unit” consists of seven victim-witness coordinators who work directly with crime victims to increase their participation and satisfaction with the criminal justice process. Among services provided, victim-witness coordinators provide on-site crisis intervention, referrals to counselors and social service agencies, and notification of court dates. They also attend court proceedings with victims to serve as a support and source of information.

When Ada County Prosecutor, Greg Bower, established the Victim-Witness Unit in 1985, it was the first of its kind in Idaho. Its goal was to give victims, witnesses and family members a chance to participate fully in the criminal justice process, as outlined in Idaho’s Victim “Bill of Rights” (see Idaho Code §19-5306). Since that time, the Victim-Witness Unit has expanded its efforts to include networking with other agencies, educating the community, participating in civic organizations, serving on taskforces and holding positions on various boards.

The Victim-Witness Unit can be reached by calling (208) 287-7700 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.