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Victim Rights & Resources

The Victim Rights Act in Colorado ensures that crime victims are treated with fairness, respect, dignity, and that they are free from intimidation, harassment, and abuse. The VRA also helps ensure that victims are informed of critical stages of the criminal justice process and may be present for and heard at certain stages.

If you are the victim of any one of the crimes listed below, your right to be informed and to participate in all critical stages of the criminal justice process related to that crime is guaranteed by the Colorado Constitution.

The information presented here is a summary of your rights and is designed to help you exercise those rights. Your local advocate or law enforcement agency can answer your questions. For complete information on your rights as a crime victim, CLICK HERE.

As a victim of crime in Douglas County, Colorado, you are receiving this key information that may be helpful during your time of need.

Our Victim’s Assistance Unit is here to help. It is served by victim advocates and community volunteers who give their time serving crime victims. The unit provides on-call service for crime victims 24 hours a day, seven days a week for crisis intervention needs. In addition, the program offers referrals to support services and assistance through the court process.

We can be reached at (303) 660-7535.

To get ahold of an Advocate after hours, please call our Non-Emergency Dispatch number at (303) 660-7500.

The Constitution of the State of Colorado and the laws of the state C.R.S. § 24-4.1-302 (1) guarantee certain rights to the victims of the following criminal acts:

  • Murder – 1st and 2nd Degree;
  • Manslaughter;
  • Criminally negligent homicide and vehicular homicide;
  • Arson 1st degree;
  • Assault, vehicular assault;
  • Menacing;
  • Kidnapping;
  • Sexual Assault on an adult or child;
  • Robbery;
  • Burglary – 1st and 2nd Degree (dwelling);
  • Incest and aggravated incest;
  • Child abuse;
  • Sexual exploitation of children;
  • Crimes against at-risk adults or at-risk juveniles;
  • Indecent exposure or invasion of privacy for sexual gratification;
  • Criminal invasion of privacy;
  • Violation of criminal protection order issued against a person charged with sexual assault or stalking;
  • Crimes identified by law enforcement as domestic violence;
  • Careless driving resulting in serious bodily injury or the death of another person.
  • Failure to stop at the scene of an accident that results in SBI or death of another person;
  • Stalking;
  • Bias motivated crimes: harassment – ethnic intimidation; false reporting of an emergency that is bias-motivated
  • Human Trafficking in adults or children;
  • Retaliation against a judge, juror; prosecutor or elected official;
  • Retaliation against a victim, witness
  • Tampering with a victim or witness;
  • Intimidating and aggravated intimidation of a witness or victim;
  • Unlawful sexual contact;
  • Child prostitution;
  • Posting a private image for harassment or pecuniary gain;
  • Any criminal attempt, conspiracy, criminal solicitation, or accessory involving any of the crimes specified


Victims of the crimes listed have the right to:

  • Be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity
  • Be informed of and present for all “critical stages” of the criminal justice process
  • Be informed about what steps can be taken and protections can be afforded if he/she is subjected to any intimidation or harassment
  • Notification of any change in the status of the accused including release or discharge from the county jail
  • Information on charges filed
  • Information on charges not filed in misdemeanor cases
  • Have SSN redacted from criminal justice documents if released to the
  • Assurance of swift and fair resolution of the proceedings
  • Consult with the District Attorney prior to any disposition of the case or before a case goes to trial and be informed of the final disposition of the case
  • Be informed of the status of the case and any scheduling changes or cancellations
  • Prepare a Victim Impact Statement and to be present and/or heard at sentencing
  • Restitution and to be informed of the right to pursue a civil judgment
  • Prompt return of the victim’s property when no longer needed as evidence
  • Information on the of the availability of financial assistance and community services
  • Appropriate employer intercession services regarding court appearances and meetings with criminal justice officials
  • Whenever practicable, to have a safe, secure waiting area
  • Be informed of the results of any court-ordered HIV testing
  • Be informed of any post-conviction proceedings related to DNA issues
  • Inform victims of certain cold cases of any change in status of the case
  • Upon request, provide victims of cold cases for which the crime has a statute of limitations of longer than 3 years, an annual update concerning the status of the case
  • To be informed of any rights which the victim has pursuant to the Constitution of the United States or the State of Colorado
  • Request a copy of the law enforcement report and other documents related to the case, including the right to receive a free copy of the initial incident report. The release of any such documents associated with the investigation is at the discretion of the law enforcement agency, based on the status of the case.
  • If a victim or a victim’s designee is unavailable to be present for the critical stages described in paragraph (d) of this subsection (I) and the victim or the victim’s designee wishes to address the court, the right to request that the court, within the court’s resources, arrange and provide the means for the victim or the victim’s designee to provide input to the court beyond a written victim impact statement.
  • Be informed of the existence of a criminal protection order under section 18-1-1001, C.R.S. or section 19-2-707, C.R.S., and upon request of the victim, information about provisions that may be added or modified, and the process for requesting such an addition or modification.
  • Disclosure by the agent of defense-initiated victim outreach.
  • Be heard if there is a hearing for the sealing of records or the expungement of juvenile records.
  • For further information regarding your rights, go to: www.dcj.state.co.us/ovp


If the victim is deceased or incapacitated, these rights may be exercised by the victim’s spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, significant other, or other lawful representative.

After conviction of a crime against a victim, your state or local correctional authorities will provide you with the following information:

  • The institution where the person is incarcerated or otherwise being held
  • The projected release date of the person
  • Any release of the person, including furlough, work release, or community corrections, in advance of release
  • Escape of the person
  • Any release or discharge from confinement of the person and the conditions of that release
  • The death of the person while in a correctional facility or program.

If the suspect in your case has been arrested, you will be registered for VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) an automated notification system that will notify you of the offender’s custody status by telephone, text or e-mail.

To modify or opt out of offender status notifications, please call 1-866-877-7477 or visit www.vinelink.com.

Follow instructions or speak with a VINE representative to disable notifications.

To modify or opt out of your registration online:

Go to www.vinelink.com

  1. Select state – Colorado
  2. Look Up Registrations
  3. I’m searching for “My Registrations”
  4. Select Notification Method
  5. Enter the Phone Number or Email
  6. Select the Preferred Language
  7. “Send Code”
  8. Once you receive the code and enter it, you will be able to access the registrations associated with the phone number or email you entered.
  9. If you do not want to receive any further notifications, you can select the “DELETE” prompt to have the offender removed from your notifications.


Please note if you disable your registration, you will not receive notification if the offender bonds out or changes facilities.

If you have questions about a person in custody, please visit www.dcsheriff.net/inmates/

For additional questions about Victim Notification, call the appropriate Sheriff’s Office or Victim Services Program.

As a victim of the crimes listed, you may be entitled to the following services:

  • Immediate crisis intervention and follow-up support
  • Special services for juveniles, the elderly, or victims with disabilities
  • Referral to public and private individuals and organizations providing:
  • Medical and other emergency services
  • Mental health and social services
  • Financial assistance
  • Translation or interpretation services
  • Intervention with creditors, landlords, and employers
  • Legal resources
  • Transportation and childcare services
  • Information about victim/offender dialogue
  • Victim Compensation Services
  • Other support services


The U-Visa program provides undocumented immigrants who were/are victims of a crime with a temporary immigration status. U-Visa recipients must demonstrate that they are helping, or have helped, with a criminal investigation. For more information about this program, please contact your law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where your victimization occurred.

Upon the victim’s request, correctional officials will keep confidential the victim’s or the victim’s family’s addresses, phone numbers, places of employment, or other personal information.

Victim Assistance Programs do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and age in the delivery of services.

If you have questions or need more information, please contact the law enforcement agency that is handling your case.

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
303-660-7500
Victim Assistance
303-660-7535

Castle Rock Police
303-663-6100
Victim Assistance
303-663-6110

Elbert County Sheriff’s Office
303-621-2027

Simla Police
719-541-3900

Kiowa Police
303-621-2100
Victim Assistance
303-805-6126

Elizabeth Police
303-646-4664

Parker Police
303-841-9800
Victim Assistance
303-805-6601

Lone Tree Police
303-799-0533
Victim Assistance
720-509-1140

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office
719-743-2426

Limon Police
719-775-9211

Hugo Marshall’s Office
719-743-2485
Victim Assistance
719-743-2889

You may qualify for financial assistance from the Colorado Victim Compensation Fund. For eligibility information, please contact the Victim Compensation office for the 23rd Judicial District at 720-733-4580.

If you have questions concerning the prosecution or court status of your case, contact the Victim/Witness Unit in the District Attorney’s Office.

Douglas County Office
4000 Justice Way
Castle Rock, CO 80109
720-733-4500

Victim Witness Unit
720-733-4531

Elbert County Office
751 Ute Street
P.O. Box 493
Kiowa, CO 80117
303-621-2875

Lincoln County Office
103 3rd Street
P.O. Box 307
Hugo, CO 80821
719-743-2223

If all local efforts to obtain your rights have failed, you may request assistance from the Crime Victim Services Advisory Board.

Please contact:
Division of Criminal Justice Office for Victims’ Programs
700 Kipling Street
Suite 1000
Denver, CO 80215
Phone: 303-239-5719
Fax: 303-239-5743
Outside the metro area, call
1-888-282-1080

Victim Assistance Programs do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or age in the delivery of services.

For information on filing a civil rights complaint, see the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Civil Rights.

Crime Victim Compensation Fund
23rd Judicial District
4000 Justice Way
Suite 2525A
Castle Rock, CO 80109
Phone: 720-733-4580
Fax: 720-733-4672
Email: DAVICTIMCOMP@CODA23.GOV

https://dcj.colorado.gov/dcj-offices/victims-programs/crime-victim-compensation

Crime Victim Compensation (CVC) is a victim services program governed by Colorado law. Not all crime victims or crime related losses are eligible for reimbursement or payment. The CVC statute, C.R.S. 24-4.1-101 et seq., limits the types of crimes and losses that are eligible for financial assistance.

If you are a Mental Health Provider, please click HERE for more information.

The Victim Compensation program is fully funded by fines collected from adults and juveniles convicted of crimes, including traffic offenses.  Awards to victims are made by the District’s Crime Victim Compensation Board, whose three members are volunteer citizens appointed by the District Attorney.  Each judicial district has a separate CVC program. Each program is different and helps individuals who were victimized within their jurisdiction. This CVC program serves the Eighteenth Judicial District, Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln Counties.

If you or a loved one has been victimized by a violent crime, the Victim Compensation Program may be able to help. While no amount of money can ease the trauma of a violent crime, Victim Compensation can help relieve the resulting financial burden on victims and their families.

Who Qualifies

  • Victims of violent crimes
  • Relatives and family members of primary victims
  • Relatives and family members of deceased victims
  • Persons who are authorized to act on behalf of the victims
  • Losses that may be compensable
  • Reasonable medical and hospital expenses
  • Mental health expenses
  • Replacement or repair of dentures, hearing aids, eyeglasses, and other medically necessary devices
  • Exterior Residential doors, locks, or windows that were damaged during the commission of a crime
  • Re-keying of vehicles
  • Loss of earnings not covered by sick time, vacation time, or PTO
  • Loss of household support (eligibility restrictions apply) – NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR CRIMES THAT OCCURRED ON OR AFTER 1/1/18.
  • Crime Scene Clean Up
  • Funeral expenses
  • Travel expenses for secondary victims to attend the funeral – AVAILABLE FOR CRIMES THAT OCCURRED ON OR AFTER 1/1/22.
  • Loss of support to dependents (due to the victim’s death only)


Losses that are not compensable

  • Repair of motor vehicles
  • Personal property loss and damage
  • Rent and other personal bills
  • Moving expenses
  • Loss of money
  • Pain and suffering


ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

* The Crime Victim Compensation Board may waive some of the requirements for good cause or in the interest of justice.*

  1. The victim sustained mental injury, physical injury, death or damage to exterior residential doors, locks or windows as the result of a compensable crime.
  2. The victim fully cooperated with law enforcement officials (law enforcement, district attorney, etc.).
  3. The crime was reported to a law enforcement agency within 72 hours.
  4. The injury or death of the victim was not the result of the victim’s own wrongdoing or substantial provocation.
  5. The victimization occurred on, or after July 1, 1982.
  6. The application was submitted within one year from the date of the crime, or, within six months for residential property damage to exterior doors, locks, or windows.
  7. The crime occurred in Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert or Lincoln County, or, the victim is a resident of the 18th Judicial District but the crime occurred in a state or country that does not have a CVC program.


GENERAL INFORMATION:

  1. There does not need to be an arrest or charges filed for a victim to be eligible for compensation.
  2. Compensation may be requested for medical expenses, mental health therapy, medically necessary devices (dentures, eye-glasses, hearing aids, prostheses), loss of income due to injury, home health services, funeral expenses, exterior residential doors/locks/windows, loss of support to dependents in the event of death and loss of household support (eligibility restrictions do apply). Requests must be directly related to the crime reported to law enforcement.
  3. Compensation for property damage may be awarded for the cost of replacement or repair to exterior residential doors/locks/windows that are damaged during the commission of a crime. Compensation may also be awarded for the rekeying of vehicles.
  4. By law, you must utilize all other sources of financial assistance or reimbursement, including private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare.
  5. Please attach bills, receipts and estimates directly related to the crime. You may submit your application if you have not received an invoice or bill yet, but please forward bills as you receive them.
  6. Your claim will be verified and presented to the CVC Board. This process can take 30-60 days after we have received and verified your losses.
  7. Compensation may not exceed the statutory limit of $30,000. Compensation for individual categories is limited by Board policy. Please call 720-874-8787 for specific category limits.
  8. Should your request be denied, you have the right to request reconsideration of the Board’s decision. You will be notified by mail of the reason for the denial and we will inform you of your right to submit new and/or additional information. This information must address the reason(s) for the Board’s denial. You may request reconsideration by contacting the CVC program within 90 days from the date that you received the denial letter. If the Board denies reconsideration, you may have the Board’s decision reviewed in accordance with the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure.
  9. Please note: Victim Compensation cannot compensate for property loss or damage, rent or other personal bills, loss of cash, pain and suffering, and repair to vehicles.