Victim Services

Victim Assistance

Victim Services is on-call 24/7 every day of the year. We understand crime and violence affects individuals and families in many ways. In order to meet those needs, we offer support and numerous types of services, resources/referrals, and information:

• Continuity of Care & Support
• Resources & Referrals
• Safety Planning and Danger Assessments
• Assistance Applying for Crime Victim Compensation or Address Confidentiality
• Information regarding your case, legal process, or other notifications
• Counseling for Victims of Crime
• Case Management

For information or assistance, please contact Mary Deville at mdeville@beltontexas.gov (254) 933-5852.


Victim Information

If you are in an abusive relationship, it is important to develop a safety plan for you and your children.

• • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
  • Department of Public Safety Victim Services Counselor: 254-759-7225
  • AWARE Central Texas: 254-813-0968
  • Families in Crisis (Shelter and Outreach) 24/7 Hotline (Killeen/Temple TX): 888-799-7233 or 254-634-1184
  • McLane Center of Hope Shelter (Salvation Army in Temple, TX): 254-774-9996

You cannot be charged a fee by a court in connection with filing, serving, or entering a protective order.

• • Dana Bettger, Betsy Cruz, and Ashlee Trevino: 254-933-5235 or 800-460-2355 ext 5235

Call the following local sexual assault programs or social service organizations if you need assistance or wish to speak with an advocate:

• • AWARE Central Texas: 254-813-0968
  • Families in Crisis (Shelter and Outreach) 24/7 Hotline: 888-799-7233 or 254-634-1184
  • McLane Center of Hope Shelter (Salvation Army): 254-774-9996

Texas Crime Victim Rights

• Be treated with fairness and respect.
• Be reasonably protected from harm or threats from the accused.
• Have your safety considered in setting bail.
• Receive information regarding compensation (Crime Victims’ Compensation).
• Be informed of the uses of a Victim Impact Statement and the statement’s purpose.
• Submit a Victim Impact Statement and have it considered by the prosecution, judge, and Board of Pardons and Paroles.
• Privacy - as far as is reasonably practical, the contact information of the victim may not be part of the court file.
• Have the court consider the impact of a continuance on family violence victims or victims of assault or sexual assault younger than 17.
• Be present at all public proceedings, subject to the approval of the judge.
• Have the attorney for the state notify your employer if you must be absent from work in order to attend court.
• Have a waiting area in the courthouse separate from the defendant, his/her family, and witnesses.
• Prompt return of property after it is no longer needed as evidence.
• Provide information to the probation department concerning the impact of the offense.
• Seek financial remedies.
• Receive written explanation of defense-initiated victim outreach, for capital felonies.
• Request victim-offender mediation dialogue.
  
  

Victims of crime are afforded certain rights under Texas law
These rights include, but are not limited to, the right to protection, information, notification, to be heard, to participate in the criminal justice system, and to seek financial remedies. Included is a general summary of the crime victims’ rights, and a detailed description of your rights as a crime victim can be found in the Texas Constitution Article 1, § 30, Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights and the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure (CCP). Chapter 56A, Rights of Crime Victims.

If requested, the right to:

• • Be informed about procedures in criminal investigations and the defendant’s right to bail.
  • Be informed about court proceedings.
  • Confer with a representative of the prosecutor’s office.
  • Be informed about general procedures in the criminal justice system, including plea negotiations, arrangements, restitution, appeals, and parole.
  • Be informed about the conviction, sentence, imprisonment, and release of the defendant.
  • Be informed of parole proceedings and your right to participate and provide information to be considered by the board.

If the crime was sexual in nature, the right to:

• • Have a trained advocate present during a forensic medical examination and law enforcement interview.
  • File an application for a protective order against the defendant for certain offenses.
  • Counseling and testing for AIDS and HIV-related infections.

Crime Victim Compensation

The Crime Victims’ Compensation (CVC) Program helps crime victims and their immediate families with the financial costs of crime. CVC covers crime-related costs such as counseling, medical treatment, funerals, and loss of income not paid by other sources. This program is administered by the Office of the Attorney General.

Eligibility Requirements

You may apply for compensation for all eligible crime-related costs, including payment of medical costs from a sexual assault exam. To receive compensation for these costs, you must meet the following requirements:

• The crime must occur in Texas to a U.S. resident; or the victim is a Texas resident and the crime occurred in a country that does not offer crime victim compensation.
• The crime must be reported to an appropriate law enforcement agency.
• The victim or claimant must cooperate with the law enforcement investigation.
• You must apply within three (3) years from the date of the crime unless good cause is shown e.g., age of the victim, mental or physical capacity of the victim, etc.
• You are either a victim or a claimant.

You did not:

• • Participate in the crime.
  • Commit illegal activity at the time of the crime. Does not apply to a person who seeks compensation if the illegal activity the person engaged in was the result of human trafficking.

• • Share responsibility for the crime due to your behavior.
  • Give false information to the program.
  • You were not incarcerated at the time of the crime.

Application Process:

The Belton Crime Victim Liaison can assist you with completing and submitted an application including all necessary supporting documentation. Victims can also apply online or access more information at: Crime Victims' Compensation Program | Office of the Attorney General.

Victim Rights

You have the right to contact the Belton Police Department to inquire about the status of the investigation and information about victim rights.

You have the right to be notified when the offender is released from custody. You can contact the Crime Victim Liaison for assistance with enrolling in VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday). Call 1-877-TX4-VINE, or visit www.vinelink.com to receive notifications about a change of custody for the offender.

You have the right to:

• Ask that the local prosecutor file a criminal complaint against the person who committed the family violence; and
• Apply for a court ordered protection; and if a family member assaults you AND is arrested, you may request that a magistrate’s order for emergency protection (EPO) be issued.

If you (the tenant) are a victim of family violence (as defined by law), or if an occupant who is living in your home is a victim of family violence, you may be eligible to terminate your lease without penalty. The occupant must be living in your home with the landlord’s consent in order to be protected under this law.

<a href="http://www.beltontexas.gov/departments/police_department/victim_services.php">Your Link Name</a>