Victim Services

VICTIM SERVICES (MARSY’S LAW)

On November 4, 2008, the People of the State of California approved Proposition 9, the Victims’ Bill of Rights Act of 2008, also known as Marsy’s Law. This measure amended the California Constitution to provide additional rights to victims.

A ‘victim’ is defined under the California Constitution as, “a person who suffers direct or threatened physical, psychological, or financial harm as a result of the commission or attempted commission of a crime or delinquent act. The term ‘victim’ also includes the person’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, or guardian, and includes a lawful representative of a crime victim who is deceased, a minor, or physically of psychologically incapacitated. The term ‘victim’ does not include a person in custody for an offense, the accused, or a person whom the court finds would not act in the best interest of a minor victim.” (Cal. Const., art. 1, 28(e)).

Local Resources and Support Groups

Your local Victim Witness Assistance Center can provide advocacy and specific information on local resources, the Victim Compensation Program, and support groups. To obtain information on the Victim Witness Assistance Center nearest you, please contact the Victims of Violent Crime Resource Center at 1-800-VICTIMS or 1-800-842-8467.

State and National Resources

The following are some additional resources available to victims and their families:

• California Attorney General’s Victim Services Unit - 1-800-433-9069 - https://oag.ca.gov/victimservices
• California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services - 1-800-256-6877 - https://cdcr.ca.gov/victim_services/
• National Sexual Assault Hotline - 1-800-656-HOPE - https://www.rainn.org/
• California Partnership to End Domestic Violence - 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) - http://www.cpedv.org/
• Center for Missing and Exploited Children - 1-800-843-5678 - http://www.missingkids.com/
• National Center for Victims of Crime - 1-855-4-VICTIM (842846) - http://victimsofcrime.org/
• National Domestic Violence Hotline - 1-800-799-7233 - https://www.thehotline.org/

Victim Information & Notification Everyday (VINE)

Vinelink.com is a national victim notification network which helps keep victims informed about changes in the custody status of their offenders. Victims can register to receive automated notifications about changes in an offender’s custody status via phone, email, text message (SMS), or TTY device. Please note that Vinelink.com only notifies victims when an offender is released from the California Department of Corrections, and not from a County jail or County Prison. For information about the release of offenders from a San Bernardino County prison or jail, please visit the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Inmate Locator webpage.