Victim Assistance

By statute, you are entitled to a $10 fee each time you are required to appear for a court hearing, plus mileage reimbursement. To collect fees, present your subpoena to the criminal Department on the courthouse's third floor after each court hearing. A check will be mailed to you.

Any attempt to prevent or dissuade a witness from testifying is a violation of the law. Report any such incident immediately to the police and the prosecuting attorney.

This is strictly your decision.

A crime committed against any person is a crime against the state, and once a Complaint or Information is filed, it becomes the State’s case. If you are reluctant about testifying in a case, please discuss your concerns with the prosecutor handling your case or the Victim Assistance Unit.

Check with your insurance company. Your policy may cover personal injury or property loss due to a crime. If you were a victim of a violent crime, you might be eligible for compensation under the Kansas Crime Victims Compensation Law. We will assist you in securing the form necessary to apply for compensation. In addition, if a person is convicted and sentenced, the court may order the defendant to pay restitution, that is, to pay for the costs of injuries or damages. For that reason, you need to document all financial losses.

All property will be released as soon as possible; however, each case is different, and sometimes the property might need to be held until after the trial. Discuss the question with the prosecutor handling your case or the Victim Assistance Unit.

You will be subpoenaed at all hearings where your testimony is needed. Even if you are not subpoenaed for the preliminary hearing or trial, you will still be notified of them. In addition, you will be notified of the defendant’s sentencing. All other court proceedings are held in open court. You may attend any or all of the defendant’s hearings.

If a sexual assault occurs and a hospital does a rape kit, the bill for that service can be paid by the District Attorney’s Office under K.S.A 65-448. The hospital or ER should send this bill directly to the DA’s office, but if you, as the victim of the crime, receive the bill, please send it to the District Attorney’s Office for payment.