Victim and Witness Assistance and Domestic Violence Information

You have witnessed or been victimized by crime, and it is at this time that our agency becomes the first contact you will have with the Maryland Criminal Justice System. Until an arrest is made in the case, we will continue to be that contact for you. After an arrest is made, the Washington County States's Attorney's Office becomes your main contact.

Regardless of whether an arrest has been made in your incident there are still areas in which you may need assistance. The Hagerstown Department of Police provides you with this brochure to inform you of the forms of assistance available to you.

Victim and Witness Services and Information

Sevices provided by the Hagerstown Police Department

As the victim or witness of a crime, you can expect to be treated with dignity, respect, courtesy, and sensitivity by the Hagerstown Department of Police. Departmental guidelines have been set forth to ensure this. These guidelines conform with Maryland Annotated Code Article 27 Section 761.

In accordance with these guidelines,every crime victim or witness will:

• Receive emergency help as needed.
• Be kept informed of the status of his/her case upon request.
• Be advised of law enforcement protection available from harm arising out of prosecution and law enforcement efforts.
• Receive assistance with the prompt return of property where permitted by law or rules of evidence.

Your case will be followed-up by our Department until all leads are exhausted or it is cleared by arrest. A criminal investigator will contact you if your case can be followed-up.

If an arrest is made in your case, you may be needed to testify in court. You will receive notification as to when and where to appear.

Services provided by the Washington County State's Attorney

The Washington County State's Attorney's Office Victim/Witness Coordinator is also available to provide you with assistance, information, and referrals. This person may be contacted by visiting the State's Attorney's Office at 33 W. Washington St. in Hagerstown, or by calling 301-791-3120 and requesting the Victim/Witness Coordinator.

Some of the services available to you from the State's Attorney's Victim/Witness Coordinator are:

• Notification of court dates or cancellation of those dates.
• Providing a waiting area apart from theaccused during trial.
• Helping identify and obtain available financial assistance, or social services and aid in obtaining such assistance.
• Assisting with prompt return of stolen property.
• Providing for participation through a written statement and/or oral address in the sentencing phase of the trial.
• Providing information and assistance on obtaining restitution.
• Assisting in ensuring speedy handling of the case in which you are involved.
• Providing information on the status of yourcase, when requested.

Additionally, you may request in writing through the State's Attorney's Office the following:

• The reading of victim impact statements at any hearing that considers release.
• To know when the convicted offender is scheduled to be released from prison or jail.
• To know when the offender escapes or receives a Mandatory Release from prison.

Harassment

As the victim or witness of a crime, you have the right to be free from harassment because of your involvement. If you are threatened, harassed, or otherwise intimidated by a suspect or the suspects companions or family, you should contact the Hagerstown Police Department's Victim/Witness Assistance Unit (739-8577, ext. 275)or, in an emergency, call 911.

HIV Exposure

A victim of an offense which may have resulted in an exposure to HIV (AIDS) may request in writing to the State's Attorney's Office, a hearing to determine if probable cause exists for the court to order a person charged, within one year from the day of the offense, to submit to a blood sample to test the presence of HIV If the person is convicted or granted probation before judgement, the court may order a blood sample be taken for the purposes of testing for HIV or any other indicator(s) of AIDS, upon written request to the State's Attorney's Office. A Victim who is notified of the test results may only disclose the results to protect the health and safety of the victim, victim's family or victim's sexual partner. Any other disclosure is punishable by 90 days in jail, and/or a fine of $5000.

Counseling Services

You may find the need to acquire counseling for yourself or others who have been affected by the impact of a crime. Listed below are a few of the agencies which can be contacted for counseling services. Information on other services can be obtained by contacting the Victim/Witness Coordinator from either the Police Department or State's Attorney's Office, or by calling the United Way's First Call for Help line at 1-800-750-3234.

Rape Crisis and Domestic Violence
CASA Inc.
116 W. Baltimore St., 739-4990
Hotline: 739-8975

Child Abuse
Parent/Child Center for Prevention of Child Abuse of Washington Co.
138 E. Antietam St., Suite 4., 791-2224

Substance Abuse and Addictions
Washington County Health Department
1302 Pennsylvania Ave., 791-3232

Bereavement
Hospice of Washington County, Inc.
20 S. Prospect St., 791-6360

Family and Personal Counseling
Family Services of Washington Co., MD, Inc.
229 N. Potomac St., 733-5858