If you are a victim of crime and want to be notified of court dates, plea bargains, and the defendant’s bond/release from custody, you have several options:
VINElink.com Kentucky is part of a nationwide service where you can “FIND AN OFFENDER COURT CASE” and register to be notified of court dates.
Per guidance from a Victim Advocate, fill out a Victim Impact Statement in the next section.
Alternatively, you may also fill out the brief form below to be updated on what’s happening with your case in Jefferson Circuit Court. An advocate or prosecutor from our office will contact you.
Victim Impact Statement
Victim Rights / Marsy’s Law
The 2020 Kentucky Constitutional Amendment referred to as Marsy’s Law provides the following rights to you as a crime victim:
You have the right to be treated with fairness, respect, dignity, and to be protected from intimidation or harm throughout the criminal and juvenile justice process
You have the right, upon request, to be informed about victims’ rights, criminal proceedings, and if the accused is arrested, released, or escapes
You have the right to have your safety, dignity, and privacy to be considered
You have the right to be heard at bond, bail release, pleas, or sentencing
You have the right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay
You have the right to be present at criminal proceedings
You have the right to consult with prosecution
You have standing to assert your rights, have an attorney assert your rights, or request the Attorney for the Commonwealth assert your rights
You have the right to full restitution paid by the convicted
VINE – Victim Information and Notification Everyday
Kentucky is the first state in the nation to provide an automated, statewide victim notification system. Through this computerized system, critical information is available about inmates housed in local jails and adult correctional facilities as well as certain juvenile offenders. This information can be accessed 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Through computer generated telephone calls and emails, all registered persons will be contacted at a predetermined telephone number or email when an inmate is scheduled for release or if an inmates escapes from custody. In addition to victims, law enforcement agencies and the general public have access to housing locations and release information through the 24-hour telephone service. VineLink.com.
FAQs
Can I drop the charges?
I didn’t want the person arrested and charged with a crime, can I drop the charges? No, once the defendant is charged with a crime by a law enforcement officer, the victim can not drop the charges. Only a prosecutor, after a careful review of the case, can make the determination to dismiss a case. We certainly understand that there are many reasons why a victim may want a case dismissed, and our prosecutors will take the victim’s desired outcome into consideration when evaluating the case.
How can I change the no contact order to allow contact?
If the judge has ordered the defendant to have “no contact with the victim” but you want contact with the defendant while the case is pending, you need to contact the victim advocate or prosecutor assigned to the case.
How long will this case take to resolve?
If the prosecutor and the defendant’s attorney are able to reach a plea bargain, the case can be resolved quickly.
If the case can not be resolved and one side requests a trial by jury, the case could last for several months or longer. The COVID-19 pandemic is causing a large backlog and all cases are moving slower than normal.
Protective Orders
Click here for more details on our website about how to obtain civil orders for those seeking protection from domestic violence and abuse, dating violence and abuse, stalking and sexual assault.
Resources
Click here for more links and downloadable victim resources.
