Victim & Witness Services
Victim Advocate Beth Garoutte with Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle
Since the days when the Jessie James Gang terrorized Missouri, victims and witnesses in our state have suffered not only from the crime itself, but also from cooperating with the criminal justice system. Substantial inconvenience and monetary losses from taking time out of busy schedules to attend court proceedings are unfortunately unavoidable.
The Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will do its best to minimize the problems faced by crime victims and witnesses. In 1986 the Missouri Legislature passed the Crime Victim’s and Witness’ Rights Act. In 1992, Missouri voters approved a Constitutional Amendment providing additional rights for crime victims. We are committed to following these laws to help prevent victims of crime from being further victimized by the criminal justice system.
In 1995, Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon called Cape Girardeau County’s efforts to educate crime victims about their rights "unmatched" by any other area of the state. We don’t rest on past laurels, though. Helping victims and witnesses is a constant process of treating people the way we would want to be treated were we in your shoes.
To find out more about a particular aspect or program involving Victim or Witness Rights, click on any of the following subcategories:
* CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY CRIME VICTIM & WITNESS PROGRAM
* YOUR RIGHTS AS A CRIME VICTIM
* WHAT TO EXPECT AS A WITNESS IN A CRIMINAL CASE
* RESTITUTION THROUGH THE COURT
* CRIME VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND
* FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT COURT
* POINTS TO REMEMBER WHILE TESTIFYING
* MISSOURI CRIME VICTIM’S & WITNESS’S RIGHTS STATUTE
* MISSOURI CRIME VICTIM’S CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT