Within one week of receiving a police report, the Prosecuting Attorney’s office or the victim services specialist from our department will contact victims named in the report, usually via letter or phone call. Our agency acknowledges the harm done to victims. The victim services specialist strives to give all victims an opportunity to state how they have been impacted by the crime, and asks what they would like to see done to hold the juvenile offender accountable.

In the state of Idaho, a victim of misdemeanor crime has limited rights. However, Victim advocates can greatly assist victims throughout the court process by presenting opportunities for victims to be heard, notifying them about case progress, and communicating their interests to the court or diversion office.

There are many rights for victims of a felony crime. Click here for more information.

Victim advocates may not be able to share much information about juvenile offenders unless given specific permission by the juvenile or their parent/legal guardian. Information is usually limited to the juvenile’s name, dates and outcomes of related court hearings, and the results of any conditions issued by the court. Requests for additional information should be directed to the judge or police department that filed the report.

Any and all hearings

Restitution is a sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury. Victims who have suffered a financial loss due to their victimization can submit a claim.  Restitution can be arranged through diversion, mediation, or the formal court process once the juvenile has admitted guilt or been found guilty of their crime. However, it may take months for restitution to be ordered if there are competency hearings, multiple prosecutable offenses, multiple victims, or unsubstantiated claims.

Defendants ordered to pay restitution usually do so in monthly increments. Payments are made directly to Juvenile Court, where they enter the court’s trust fund for disbursement to victims. There may be cases where restitution is not ordered. In these cases, victims may choose to retain a private attorney and pursue restitution in civil court.

Victim Loss Statement

A Victim Impact Statement (VIS) is a written statement that allows a victim to express what happened, how it affected them, and what they would like done to be restored. A VIS informs our victim services specialist of other services that the victim would like to receive, such as notification of diversion agreements, mediation, or a letter of apology from the juvenile. It also tells the victim services specialist what consequences the victim would like issued for the juvenile offender. A VIS is the best way for a victim to initiate active involvement in the justice process.

Victim Impact Statement

The victim services specialist has a list of counseling services that can be obtained outside of ACJCS. This list is available upon request and includes community resources that accept fees based on a sliding pay scale.

ACJCS understands that crime does not just hurt victims directly, but also passes from the victims to others.  The purpose of this class is to help juvenile offenders develop a meaningful understanding of empathy and compassion, in order to help them not re-offend and to lead successful crime-free lives.  Community members who wish to help bridge the gap that exists between offenders and their community are invited to help challenge juveniles to address how crime hurts the community and victims.  If you are interested in being a presenter for this class, please contact our victim services specialist.