Laramie County Sheriff's Office Victim Assistance Program

MISSION STATEMENT: 

The purpose and goal of the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office Victim/Witness Program is to enhance the treatment of victims and survivors of crime, and non-criminal crisis situations by providing victims with the assistance and services necessary to speed their recovery; to support and aid them through the criminal justice system; and make referrals to appropriate agencies.

VICTIM ASSISTANCE CONTACT INFO:

Tracy Walton
Senior Victim Advocate
307-633-4762
Email: tracy.walton@laramiecountywy.gov
Victim Services: victimassistance@laramiecountywy.gov

SERVICES PROVIDED:

• Emotional support and community service referrals
• Crisis intervention services
• Assistance in filing victim compensation claims
• Information about the status of a criminal case
• Information on court procedures
• Notification of scheduling changes
• Accompanying victims and witnesses to court
• A Facilitating the return of items taken for evidence
• Assistance with court ordered restitution
• Information and referrals on family violence and stalking protection orders
• Respond to crime scene at victims request

WYOMING VICTIM AND WITNESS BILL OF RIGHTS:

The Bill of Rights was adopted in 1991 and is found in Wyoming Statutes (hereafter, W.S.) 1-40-201 through 1-40-210.

1. The right to be treated with compassion, respect and sensitivity within the criminal justice system.
2. The right to know the whereabouts of the defendant and the current status of the case.
3. The right to receive restitution from offenders.
4. The right to know all rights under this law including information about services and victim assistance at the local level.
5. The right to be informed about Wyoming Crime Victims Compensation.
6. The right to reasonable protection and safety and the right to know of legal recourse if threatened.
7. The right to prompt return of property seized as evidence.
8. The right to preservation of employment while participating in the criminal justice process.
9. The right to be informed about the opportunity to make a victim impact statement at sentencing and parole hearing.
10. The right to be present at trial.
11. The right to discuss the case with the prosecutor, and to be informed of the official address and phone number of the deputy and prosecutor handling your case.
12. The right to be informed about availability of other remedies and the right to seek legal counsel and employ an attorney.
13. The right to be notified about the defendant’s conviction.
14. The right to have an interpreter or translator inform you of these rights.

VICTIM SERVICES SURVEY

If you have received services through the Victim Assistance Program, please share your feedback. Click here to take the survey.

VINE PROGRAM (VICTIM INFORMATION and NOTIFICATION EVERYDAY):

The Wyoming Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification Service will tell you if an offender is in jail and/or prison and will give you other important custody information. This service will also let you leave a phone number where you want to be called automatically when that offender is released, transferred or there is some other change in status. For more information visit their website: https://www.vinelink.com . To register with the system and receive and active PIN number call 1-866-994-8463.

CRIME VICTIMS' COMPENSATION:

Victims and their families must deal with the emotional, physical and financial aftermath of a crime. The compensation program helps innocent victims and their families when they have no other means of paying for the financial cost of crime. The compensation program is funded by the Division of Victim Services. The money in the Crime Victims Compensation Fund comes from people who break the law.

A victim may apply for compensation for costs related to medical expenses, mental health treatment, burial expenses, loss of support or earnings, catastrophic injury, and the loss of medically necessary devices such as eye glasses or hearing aids. Please contact the Victim Services office for more information on how to apply.

PROTECTION ORDERS:

A protection order can instruct an abuser/stalker/assaulter [respondent] to not abuse/harass a victim. It can also be enforced by law enforcement officers anywhere - under the State statute for violation of a protection order. In addition, a protection order may contain other provisions depending on the type of Protection Order sought. Some examples: ordering possession of shared residence, awarding temporary child custody or temporary support to the domestic violence victim, or ordering parties to obtain counseling. Under Wyoming law, protection orders are issued under three categories: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking.

For more information on how to obtain a protection Order, please contact:

Safehouse Services

714 W Fox Farm Rd
Cheyenne, WY 82007
Office phone: 307-634-8655
24 hr. Crisis Line: 307-637-7233

Website: https://www.wyomingsafehouse.org/

LCSO Home Page

Sponsored by the Division of Victim Services
does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin,
religion, sex, disability and age in the delivery of services