Victim & Witness Services

Victim & Witness Services

The Office of Will County State's Attorney James W. Glasgow provides a Victim and Witness Program to crime victims who reside or were victimized in the County of Will.

Our Victim Advocates will assess needs, explain services, are responsible for informing victims of their rights, providing support during the criminal justice process, may accompany victims to court, and will refer victims to other services when appropriate.

To contact our Victim Advocates with general questions regarding our services, please call: (815) 740-8079

The Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses

The Constitution of the State of Illinois declares that crime victims have certain legal rights. These rights ensure that they are treated with fairness and respect throughout the criminal justice system.

Additionally, the laws which preserve the rights of crime victims also affords certain basic rights and considerations to the witnesses of violent crime--the people who are essential to successful prosecution.

As passed by the Illinois General Assembly, these rights include:

• The right to be treated with fairness and respect for their dignity and privacy throughout the criminal justice process
• The right to notification of court proceedings
• The right to communicate with the prosecution
• The right to make a statement to the court at sentencing
• The right to information about the conviction, sentence, imprisonment, and release of the accused
• The right to timely disposition of the case following the arrest of the accused
• The right to be reasonably protected from the accused throughout the criminal justice process
• The right to be present at the trial and all other court proceedings on the same basis as the accused, unless the victim is to testify and the court determines that the victim's testimony would be materially affected if the victim hears other testimony at the trial
• The right to have present at all court proceedings, subject to the rules of evidence, an advocate or other support person of the victim's choice
• The right to restitution

Illinois Crime Victim Compensation Program

The Crime Victim Compensation Act was established by the Illinois General Assembly in 1973 with the primary goal of helping to reduce the financial burden imposed on victims of violent crime and their families. The Illinois Crime Victim Compensation Program can provide innocent victims and their families with up to $27,000 in financial assistance for expenses accrued as a result of a violent crime.

What are considered violent crimes? Murder (1st and 2nd degree). Involuntary Manslaughter. Reckless Homicide. Kidnapping and Aggravated Kidnapping. Battery and Aggravated Battery. Assault and Aggravated Assault. Violation of an Order of Protection. Heinous Battery. Sexual Relations with Families. Criminal Sexual Assault. Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault. Criminal Sexual Abuse. Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse. Exploitation of a Child. Stalking. Aggravated Stalking. Domestic Battery. Aggravated Domestic Battery. Reckless Conduct. Driving Under the Influence. Arson.

Who is a crime victim? A person injured in Illinois as a result of a violent crime. A survivor of a victim who was dependent on the victim for support. A parent whose child is the victim of a violent crime. A relative of a victim who incurred funeral and/or medical expenses. A person under 18 who is the sibling or child of a person killed or injured, or a person who witnessed a violent crime (counseling expenses only).

What expenses can be covered?

• Medical and hospital expenses including prescriptions, doctor visits and dental work.
• Funeral and burial up to $5,000.
• Counseling by licensed or certified professionals.
• Loss of earnings up to $1,000 per month. This is based on your net earnings for the six months prior to the incident. You will be required to show proof of your earnings and injury (like a letter from your doctor and/or counselor). Loss of earnings includes days missed from work to attend court hearings and for doctor and counseling appointments.
• Prosthetic devices.
• Wheelchairs and some accessibility expenses (like ramps, hand rails, etc.).
• Eye glasses and hearing aids.
• Crime scene cleanup.
• Replacement costs for clothing/bedding used as evidence (save your receipts).
• Replacement costs for locks/windows damaged during the crime (save your receipts).
• Temporary lodging and relocation costs including moving van rental, moving company fees, storage fees, shipping fees and security deposits.
• Travel and transport for survivors and transport of the deceased victim.

How much compensation does the law provide?
Total compensation may not exceed $27,000 per incident/per victim. No compensation is available for lost or damaged property (except as listed) or for pain and suffering. In certain instances, applicants may be eligible for an emergency award of up to $2,000 for covered expenses.

Eligibility Information:
Applicants for Crime Victim Compensation must first exhaust other reasonable remedies including health insurance, Medicare, Workers Compensation, etc. Applications must be filed within two years from the date of the crime.

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