By order of the Arizona Constitutional Rights for Crime Victims, Article II, Section 2.1, Victims’ Bill of Rights, Subsection A.1. . . . a victim of crime has a right: To be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity, and to be free from intimidation, harassment or abuse, throughout the criminal justice process.

Vision Statement

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Victim Assistance and Notification Unit is committed to being the leader in establishing the standard and delivering professional quality support services to victims of crimes, committed in Maricopa County, and to other supporting agencies.

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Victim Assistance and Notification Unit is to be a change agent, committed to providing victim notification and additional services to victims of crimes so that they are safe and empowered to make knowledgeable decisions.

Value Statement

These are the values of the Victim Assistance and Notification Unit :  

• Establishing, evaluating and expanding current efforts to assist victims of crime,

• Making a positive difference for victims in a crisis-initiated experience by maintaining a victim-focused support environment,

• Working with outside advocacy, support and law enforcement agencies to provide accurate and competent information and resources to victims,

• Facilitating communication between the victim and judicial staff during the Initial Appearance process,

• Coordinating and completing the verbal and written victim notification information in a highly professional, thorough and consistent manner,

• Providing, by both in-person and telephone, comprehensive and time sensitive defendant case status and criminal justice information,

• Maintaining or rebuilding victims trust in the judicial and law enforcement processes,

• Referring victims to local programs and agencies for immediate and ongoing long term support, assisting them to become confident in personal growth,

• Empowering victims of crime to make educated and timely decisions affecting their future choices,

• Training staff through ongoing education, development and practical applications regarding the impact of crime on victims and mandated laws, meeting the legal mandates for crime victim notification and rights,

• Supporting victims of crime through committed staff providing standards of excellence while treating every victim with compassion, dignity, respect and sensitivity.

Victims' Bill of Rights

As a crime victim, you have specific constitutional rights. Arizona’s Victims’ Bill of Rights is one of the most comprehensive in the United States. Please take a moment to read through this important amendment to the Arizona Constitution. Arizona Constitution, Article 2, Section 2.1 

(A) To preserve and protect victims' rights to justice and due process, a victim of crime has a right:

1. To be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity, and to be free from intimidation, harassment, or abuse, throughout the criminal justice process.

2. To be informed, upon request, when the accused or convicted person is released from custody or has escaped.

3. To be present at and, upon request, to be informed of all criminal proceedings where the defendant has the right to be present.

4. To be heard at any proceeding involving a post-arrest release decision, a negotiated plea, and sentencing.

5. To refuse an interview, deposition, or other discovery request by the defendant, the defendant's attorney, or other person acting on behalf of the defendant.

6. To confer with the prosecution, after the crime against the victim has been charged, before trial or before any disposition of the case and to be informed of the disposition.

7. To read pre-sentence reports relating to the crime against the victim when they are available to the defendant.

8. To receive prompt restitution from the person or persons convicted of the criminal conduct that caused the victim's loss or injury.

9. To be heard at any proceeding when any post-conviction release from confinement is being considered.

10. To a speedy trial or disposition and prompt and final conclusion of the case after the conviction and sentence.

11. To have all rules governing criminal procedure and the admissibility of evidence in all criminal proceedings protect victims' rights and to have these rules be subject to amendment or repeal by the legislature to ensure the protection of these rights.

12. To be informed of victims' constitutional rights.
    
    (B) A victim's exercise of any right granted by this section shall not be grounds for dismissing any criminal proceeding or setting aside any conviction or sentence.
    (C) "Victim" means a person against whom the criminal offense has been committed or, if the person is killed or incapacitated, the person's spouse, parent, child or other lawful representative, except if the person is in custody for an offense or is the accused.
    (D) The legislature, or the people by initiative or referendum, have the authority to enact substantive and procedural laws to define, implement, preserve and protect the rights guaranteed to victims by this section, including the authority to extend any of these rights to juvenile proceedings.
    (E) The enumeration in the constitution of certain rights for victims shall not be construed to deny or disparage others granted by the legislature or retained by victims.

For more information on your victims' rights, click here to read the Arizona Crime Victim’s Rights Laws pamphlet.

If you have not yet received a pamphlet, please call the Law Enforcement agency that assisted you to request one. Find the phone number you need here:

• Apache Junction - (480) 982-8260

• Avondale - (623) 333-7001

• Buckeye - (623) 349-6400

• Carefree Marshal - (480) 488-3686

• Chandler - (480) 782-4130

• El Mirage - (623) 933-1341

• Fountain Hills Sheriff - (480) 837-2047

• Gilbert - (480) 503-6500

• Glendale - (623) 930-3000

• Goodyear - (623) 932-1220

• Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Victim Information Line - (602) 876-8276

• Mesa - (480) 644-2211

• Paradise Valley - (480) 948-7418

• Peoria - (623) 773-8311

• Phoenix - (602) 262-6151

• Scottsdale - (480) 312-5000

• Sun City Sheriff's Posse - (623) 972-2555

• Surprise - (623) 222-4000

• Tempe - (480) 350-8311

• Tolleson - (623) 936-7186

• Youngtown - (623) 974-3665

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