District Attorney Victim Witness Office

District Attorney Victim Assistance Program logo

Director: Nichole Smith
nsmith@columbusga.org

Our criminal justice system should do more than provide justice to criminals. It should also provide justice to innocent crime victims.

If you are a victim of a crime, or a witness to a crime, your cooperation is vital to the prosecution of the case. We understand that you may not be familiar with the criminal justice process. We also understand that the criminal justice system might seem quite confusing and frustrating. Therefore, to provide assistance to you, we have established a Victim-Witness Assistance Program in our office. Staff members are available to answer your questions and to help provide support during your involvement in the criminal justice process.

The District Attorney's Office is required by law to provide the defense attorney with names, addresses, and telephone numbers of witnesses for the state. The defense attorney may contact you to determine what you know about the case. Should the defense attorney contact you, you have the right to choose whether or not to speak with the defense attorney. You also have the right to have someone from the District Attorney's Office or your personal present during the interview.

Please feel free to contact our Victim Witness Assistance Program. Our staff will be happy to be of service to you.

W. Donald Kelly
District Attorney
Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit

If you are a witness...

If you receive a subpoena to appear in court, you are required by law to attend. Remember, your cooperation is very important to the person accused of the crime. Unfortunately, court hearings are often passed (that is, postponed) for any number of reasons. If you receive a subpoena for Superior Court, call Victim-Witness Assistance prior to your scheduled court appearance. The VWP will inform you of changes in scheduled hearings and could help you avoid unnecessary trips to the courthouse.

If there are special reasons you are unable to appear in court on the date you have been subpoenaed, please call the Victim-Witness Assistance Program immediately.

If you are a victim... 

No one expects to be a victim of a crime. But it happens. One American household in three is victimized by serious crime every year.

If you or someone close to you is affected by crime, you may be shocked, angered, or shamed. And you most probably will feel helpless and confused.

The criminal justice system has traditionally ignored the special needs of victims while concentrating on protecting the rights of the accused. But the tide is changing.

The Victim-Witness Assistance Program is here to offer crime victims and witnesses emotional support during the aftermath of crime and guidance through the maze of the criminal justice system.

The Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit Victim-Witness Assistance Program does not discriminate against individuals or groups on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex or disability. If you believe you have been the target of discrimination, you have the right to file a civil rights complaint. Information on how to file a civil rights complaint can be found on the Office of Justice Programs website, http://www.ojp.gov/about/ocr/complaint.htm.