Victim/Witness Assistance

The primary goal of the State’s Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Assistance Unit is to make your experience as a State’s witness as understandable and comfortable as possible. This unit is designed to provide assistance and services to victims and witnesses in criminal cases.

The journey through the criminal justice system can be intimidating, frightening and confusing. The terminology is unfamiliar and there can be frustrating delays. Victims also may require assistance in knowing where to seek help with problems that occur either because of the crime or due to their court appearance. Our office provides victims of crime and witnesses for the State with an advocate who is specifically trained and assigned to address their needs.

Our staff consists of a Victim Witness Director, a Victim Advocate assigned to Circuit Court cases, an Advocate assigned to child abuse and sex crimes, an Advocate assigned to Juvenile Court cases and two advocates assigned to District Court cases, one of whom is dedicated to domestic violence cases. A secretary is also assigned - in both divisions to provide support services to the director and the victim advocates.

The advocates' role is to explain the process by which a case will be presented to the court and to explain to victims what rights they have. The advocate can facilitate the scheduling of conferences with the prosecutor assigned to handle the case(s), as well as accompany the victims or witnesses to court proceedings.

An important part of the advocate's work is to serve as the contact person for victims and witnesses to provide up to date information about the status of the case and make appropriate referrals to outside agencies and services. Daily contact is maintained with the prosecutors to pursue any questions the victim or witness may have. If you are a victim or witness, you should tell the advocate of any concerns you have about the case. Upon request assistance is provided for restitution issues and property return requests.

One of the most important responsibilities of a victim advocate is to ensure that victims are informed of certain rights. Some of those rights include the:

RIGHT TO BE INFORMED: A victim who has suffered threats of physical, emotional or financial harm as a direct result of a crime or a delinquent act, will be given notification within ten (10) days of the indictment or information filed of the case. The victim will receive notification information along with a Notification Request Form. This form allows a victim to inform us whether they wish to be notified of all court proceedings before they occur. The completion of this form also ensures registration with VINE (Victim Information Notification Everyday), an automated system that notifies victims when an offender is going to be released from custody.

RIGHT TO BE PRESENT: Victims who file the Notification Request Form have the right to attend, if practicable, any proceeding in which the defendant has the right to appear. Victims will be provided a safe place to wait for the hearing and will be escorted to the courtroom when it is time for the case to be presented.

RIGHT TO BE HEARD: Victims are permitted by law to be in court when a defendant is sentenced or when a defendant’s sentence is reviewed. It is at this time victims are given the opportunity to submit a Victim Impact Statement. This statement includes a description of how the crime has affected them physically, emotionally and financially. The statement should be prepared before the hearing and will be submitted to the Court prior to the hearing. A Victim Impact Statement can be given orally or in writing.

The Victim Witness Assistance Unit is there to serve the public, and in particular to do everything possible to meet the needs of victims and witnesses in all criminal cases prosecuted by the State’s Attorney’s Office for Howard County, Maryland.

As mentioned above, there are advocates for the District Court Division, the Circuit Court Division and the Juvenile Division. Each advocate is assigned a case as it is received in the State’s Attorney’s Office. Please read on as each advocate is introduced and a description of their responsibilities are provided.

District Court Division

Chelsea Smith - Victim Advocate for Domestic Violence cases

Chelsea Smith provides information and referral on resources that assist victims of domestic violence to be safe and avoid further victimization for themselves and their dependants. Victims will be provided with information about services and organizations which are available to help them in areas of counseling, shelter, legal services, Ex-parte/Protective Orders, registration in the VINE (Victim Information & Notification Everyday) System, and other financial and social services as needed.

Ms. Smith maintains immediate and continuous communication with victims of domestic violence crimes, and facilitates communication between victim and prosecutor in an effort to ensure that the Court considers the impact of domestic violence upon each victim.

Margo Saylor - Assistant - Domestic Violence Unit

Margo Saylor is responsible for answering phone calls to the unit, answering any questions she may be able to assist with and referring calls to the appropriate advocate. Ms. Saylor builds case files by securing medical records, protective orders, EMT reports and 911 recordings. She also prepares the correspondence sent from the unit.

Erica Carpio - Victim Advocate - (Criminal)

Erica Carpio provides personal contact through correspondence and telephone contact with each victim and witness of assault, harassment, malicious destruction of property, indecent exposure, reckless endangerment, and other crimes. Victims are often referred to appropriate outside services and organizations that may be available to assist them through the criminal justice system. Ms. Carpio can provide information and referrals in the following areas:

• Court Preparation
• Case Update
• Restitution
• Criminal Justice Assistance
• Property Return Assistance
• Parole Notification

Circuit Court Division

Shirley Harbin - Director / Victim Advocate

Shirley Harbin is the Director of the Victim Witness Assistance Unit. She handles all administrative duties necessary for the unit to function efficiently. She supervisors the Circuit Court and Juvenile advocates as well as handling a caseload of her own.

Her responsibilities also include relocating victims and witnesses that have been threatened or intimidated as a result of the criminal offense. Ms. Harbin maintains immediate and continuous communication with victims of felony crimes, and facilitates communication between victim, witness and the prosecutor.

Referrals to outside agencies are made available by Ms. Harbin to victims for more specialized crisis-intervention or long-term counseling. She provides assistance to victims in preparing a Victim Impact Statement to be submitted to the Court prior to any sentencing or modification of sentencing proceeding, and in preparing paperwork for assistance from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

Jenne Valentino - Victim Advocate-Circuit Court

Jenne Valentino is assigned cases as soon as the State’s Attorney’s Office receives them. She begins and maintains continuous communication with victims of felony crimes, and facilitates communication between victim, witness and the prosecutor.

Her responsibilities also include assisting victims in preparing a Victim Impact Statement to be submitted to the Court prior to any sentencing or modification of sentence proceeding, in preparing paperwork for assistance from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and making referrals when appropriate.

Betsy Rudo - Secretary

Betsy Rudo is responsible for answering phone calls to the unit, answering any questions she may be able to assist with and referring calls to the appropriate advocate. She also maintains the after hours recording where a victim or witness can call the night before the scheduled trial date to see if the case is proceeding. Ms. Rudo prepares the correspondence sent from the unit.

Juvenile Division

Rosemary Miller - Victim Advocate

Rosemary Miller helps victims of crime committed by juvenile offenders to understand the juvenile justice system. Victims of juvenile crime are confronted with a set of needs and frustrations different from victims of adult offenders.

Juvenile offenders are shielded by privacy laws enacted to protect the offenders' rights; therefore information regarding the criminal case is not readily accessible. The focus of the juvenile justice system is treatment and rehabilitation.

Ms. Miller is also responsible for mailing notification information to victims, scheduling and participating in initial interviews with victims and the prosecutor, follow up contact, providing up to date information about the status of the case and making appropriate referrals. She also accompanies victims to court proceedings. Ms. Miller works collaboratively with the Department of Juvenile Justice in resolving restitution issues.

Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Division

Kimberly A. Vasco - Victim Support Liaison

Kim Vasco is stationed at The Listening Place, Howard County’s Child Advocacy Center, and works with victims of child abuse and all sexually based crimes investigated in Howard County. She provides continuous support and assistance to victims and their families throughout every stage of the criminal justice process.

This support is based upon the individual needs of each person and is available 24 hours a day/seven days a week, to provide immediate and timely response to urgent needs. Ms. Vasco also facilitates communication between victims, social workers, social service agencies, investigators, and prosecutors in an effort to assure that the best interest of child victims and victims of sexually based crimes are consistently served at the highest level.

Remember, if you have questions or concerns about your rights and how we can assist you throughout this process, please contact us immediately.