Crime Survivors Guide
Crime Survivors Guide
 

While every effort has been made to provide accurate information, your case will have its own particulars, and some procedures may change.

This guide is intended to assist survivors of violent crime in understanding the confusing and sometimes overwhelming events that typically occur after such a crime; however, it is not intended to provide legal advice.

You should always consult with licensed professionals as well as the officials involved with your case. You can request information from higher in the chain of command (at whatever agency you are dealing with) when appropriate.

While we must use formal legal terms to describe various official processes, we try to use inclusive language wherever possible.

HOW TO USE

This Guide is for survivors of violent crime in Greater New Orleans. This may include those who have experienced: 

  • Family and friends of a homicide victim 

  • Rape / Sexual assault / Domestic violence*

  • Theft and burglary 

  • Aggravated assault / Hate crimes 

Some words are bolded for emphasis.

I've included some of my personal experiences in italics so you can decide if you want to read or skip them.

*Domestic violence and sexual assault survivors are encouraged to contact the following local organizations for immediate assistance:

  • NOFJC (New Orleans Family Justice Center), which provides wrap-around services from police through to District Attorney assistance, plus counseling and related issues.

  • STAR (Sexual Trauma Awareness & Response), which provides advocacy, counseling, and legal services.

  • See additional listings in Resources

The Guide has 3 main sections: 

 
 

01.
–

The issues and needs of the survivor: immediate practical concerns, initial crime services, civil legal issues, and mental health matters.

02.
–

How the criminal legal process works: from the police investigation through to an arrest, dealing with the District Attorney’s office, and going to Criminal Court if the case goes to trial. State and federal victim rights are listed.

There is a flowchart at the beginning of the section.

03.
–

A glossary explains legal terms.

The resources pages list information for: Law enforcement; Legal aid clinics; Community groups; Medical health clinics; Mental health services, and Grief groups.

 
 

While every effort has been made to provide accurate information, your case will have its own particulars, and some procedures may change. 

  • This guide is intended to assist survivors of violent crime in understanding the confusing and sometimes overwhelming events that typically occur after such a crime; however, it is not intended to provide legal advice. 

  • You should always consult with licensed professionals as well as the officials involved with your case. You can request information from higher in the chain of command when appropriate. 

A helpful tip to locate material you're looking for is to use the search button at the top right of the screen.

 
 

FREQUENT ABBREVIATIONS AND TERMS 

NOPD • New Orleans Police Department. 

DA • District Attorney (a plaintiff’s case is prosecuted by lawyers/attorneys at this agency). Note: A Defense Attorney may also be called a DA, so check. 

ADA • Assistant District Attorney (specific attorney assigned to case). 

PROSECUTION • In criminal cases, the District Attorney brings a case against a defendant to trial. To do so, they litigate, or prosecute, bringing charges in a lawsuit. They act as the plaintiff on behalf of the State (or “the people”). 

ATTORNEY • Lawyer – can refer to either the prosecution or defense side. 

DEFENDANT • Once the suspect is officially charged with a crime, s/he becomes a defendant, and will mount a defense against the charges. 

PUBLIC DEFENDER • Represents the suspect/defendant if they cannot afford to hire an attorney. A defense attorney is privately hired (they sometimes call themselves DA, but are the opposite of the DA, or District Attorney; so always check). 

PLAINTIFF • Person who was the alleged victim of a crime. 

PLEADINGS = BRIEFS = MOTIONS • This is how information is presented to become part of the official trial record. They are heard at hearings, held in court. 

STATE • In this guidebook this refers to Louisiana.

 

BASIC CONTACTS

 
 

NOPD VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE

(504) 658-6795

715 S. Broad St, Suite 302, New Orleans 70119

(Helps register for official notifications and other forms; gives referrals)

CRIME VICTIMS REPARATIONS

(504) 827-6754

Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office

Website: www.lcle.la.gov/programs/cvr.asp

Call to set up an appointment for possible Emergency Award and Crime Victims Reparations (NOPD and DA can also help with forms)

DISTRICT ATTORNEY VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE

(504) 822-2414

619 S. White St, New Orleans 70119

They become involved after a suspect’s arrest

LAVINE (FORMERLY LAVNS - LOUISIANA AUTOMATED VICTIM NOTIFICATION SYSTEM)

(866) 528-6748 or (866) LAVNS-4-U

Website: www.lcle.state.la.us/programs/lavns.asp

Monitors the custody status of adult inmates in all parish jails and state prisons (release from jail, transfer to another facility, etc); Call or visit website to register

DOCKET MASTER

Website: www.opso.us

Kept on Criminal Sheriff’s website; click on Docket Master link. You will need to know the accused’s name, race, and gender.

Provides a summary of all the court proceedings that have been scheduled or have occurred

 

SAFE BROWSING & PRIVACY

Exit From This Website Quickly

Source: National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). Linked from": Exit From This Website Quickly — Safety Net Project (techsafety.org)

Many websites that have information about domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking have a “quick escape” or “leave this website” button at the top of their webpages. Some websites have a pop-up message to let you know that you should leave that website if your device is being monitored. These buttons or messages are there to allow someone to quickly leave the website if she or he is concerned that it could be an issue should someone know that they are seeking this kind of information.

This button is helpful only if someone is watching over your shoulder or enters a room and you need to quickly switch to another website. It will not prevent the other person from going through your browser history or from knowing you were on that website if they are monitoring your device or internet activity remotely.

To minimize the chances of someone knowing that you are researching information about domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, follow these tips.

  1. If you think your devices or internet search activities are being monitored, access this information from a device that isn’t being monitored. That should be a device that the person do not or has not had physical or remote access. This is the safest thing to do if you don’t want someone to know that you are visiting these websites.

  2. Sign out of other accounts, such as Google or Facebook, before visiting these sites.

  3. Use your internet browser settings to increase your privacy, such as turning off browsing history or using the browser in-private mode. Read more about browser settings here.

  4. If it is safe to do so, delete the websites URLs that you don't want stored from the browser history.

  5. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to increase the security of your internet browsing and activity. 

Wondering if your devices are being monitored? Learn more about computer spyware.  

Additional Tips

Source: Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault (LAFASA)


As you surf the internet, the browser you use will automatically save information about your activities. Common browsers are Google, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari. Your browser history includes any website you visit or searches entered in your search bar. It is crucial for you to clear your browser history as soon as it is safe, if you don’t want anyone to know you have accessed this website or any other related sites.

Google Chrome:
Click on the three grey lines in the top right corner of your window, then click History.
Click the Clear browsing data button at the top of the screen.
Change the option at the top to a time you think is appropriate (the beginning of time might look suspicious).
Tick all the boxes then click the Clear browsing data button at the bottom and close the History tab.

Microsoft Edge:
Click Tools menu and select Internet Options.
In the General Options tab under the Browsing History section, tick the box that says Delete browsing history on exit.
Then click the Delete button next to the tick box, tick all the boxes and click delete at the bottom.
Click on the Content tab at the top, click the Settings button under Autocomplete and click the Delete AutoComplete history button.

Mozilla Firefox:
Click on Tools and then Options.
Click the Clear button next to Cache and Saved Form Information.

Safari:
Click on Safari in the top right corner of your screen.
Select Clear History and Website Data
You can then change the option to a time you think is appropriate (the beginning of time might look suspicious).

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