The Victim-Witness program of the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office was designed to create a more trauma-informed, compassionate and inclusive response for victims and witnesses involved with the criminal justice system in Douglas County, Kansas.

This team works to ensure that victims and witnesses are not further victimized in the wake of a crime as cases move through the criminal justice system. Coordinators act as liaisons between law enforcement, prosecutors, community resources, families, criminal justice system representatives, employers and schools.

Since taking office, I have sought to publicly announce policy decisions and the reasoning behind these decisions. My hope is to help the community better understand how our criminal justice system works and the role of the District Attorney. In discussions with various groups, I’ve found that a common misconception is that the District Attorney’s Office is responsible for imposing sentences.

A victim of a crime should never be afraid to come forward. Reporting a crime is the most effective way to make our community safer by holding offenders accountable. Yet far too often, many default to a position of disbelief or distrust when survivors of sexual assault share their experiences.

When a sexual assault is in any way made public, especially because of the involvement of the criminal justice system, people typically wonder: