Victim / Witness

Victim Assistance Program

Our system of justice is based on the belief that it is better to have a guilty individual go free than to convict an innocent person. Because of this belief, the scales of justice have been weighed in favor of the accused and only recently has attention been directed to the victims of crime. Victims of crime may experience many things:

• The crime may have been very traumatic
• Most victims are apprehensive about getting involved with the legal system

If you have any questions please call our Victim Witness Assistance Program Coordinator at 651-213-8400.

Complaint Policy

The goal of the Chisago County Victim Assistance Program is to ensure that your rights as a victim are protected throughout the criminal justice process. Although we strive to do our best at protecting your rights, sometimes mistakes are made. If we do make a mistake, we will be upfront and honest about it, and we will be willing to discuss it with you.

Your thoughts and concerns are important to us and if you feel that a formal complaint is necessary, you may direct a letter or email to Janet Reiter, Chisago County Attorney, without fear of retaliation. Your complaint should include:

• Your full name
• Date of incident
• A detailed explanation of your complaint against the Victim Assistance Program

After reviewing your complaint, the County Attorney will provide you with either a phone call, a written response, or, if requested, a face to face meeting. You also have the option of filing a complaint with the State of Minnesota's Crime Victim Justice Unit at 1-888-622-8799.

Confidentiality Policy

Victims are requested to provide certain information about themselves to the Chisago County Attorney's Office and its Victim Witness Assistance Program. Some of this information may be classified as private data under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. Information gathered through telephone contacts and written correspondence with the Victim Witness Assistance Program staff may be used by the Chisago County Attorney's office in responding to your rights and obligations as a crime victim and / or witness.

The information may also be shared with probation agencies, law enforcement, other criminal justice system agencies, and other officials authorized by court order or statute who are entitled to such information which may include defendants.

Specific Concerns

Please be advised, the Victim Witness Assistance Program cannot guarantee that information shared with the program can be kept private or confidential. If you have specific concerns about your rights, please contact the Victim Services Coordinator at 651-213-8400.