Welcome to the Oklahoma County Victim Witness Center. You are here because you were
either a witness or a victim of a crime. The Witness Center was created as a courtesy
with the intent of giving victims and witnesses a comfortable area to wait for court.
We understand appearing as a witness can be stressful and an inconvenience, we will
attempt to make your time spent here as comfortable as possible. Please conduct
yourself in a respectful manner. Hostile, abusive or profane language and/or actions
will not be tolerated. If you are a defendant with pending charges you must check
in, but will need to wait elsewhere.
CASE STATUS
Your subpoena time has you arriving thirty minutes before the court case is scheduled.
The Judge starts calling the docket at 9:00 a.m. There are several cases set on
the same docket as yours.
It is up to the Judge to decide the order of hearings;
the District Attorney’s Office has no say in the order in which the Judge calls
his/her docket. The Victim Witness Center will notify the Assistant District
Attorney assigned to your case that you are here upon your arrival. The Assistant
District Attorney will discuss your testimony with you before you testify. The Victim
Witness Center Advocate will keep you advised of your case status and escort you
to the courtroom. Your case can take anywhere from twenty minutes, to two hours,
to most of the day. Each case is dependent upon:
- Whether or not all witnesses are in attendance.
- The number of cases on the Judge’s docket.
- The length of time it takes to put on the hearing prior to yours.
- If the defendant chooses to plead guilty, the time necessary to complete the paperwork.
If your case is not heard before noon, you will be excused for lunch at approximately
12:00 p.m. and asked to return the Victim Witness Center by 1:30 p.m. There are
several restaurants located within walking distance of the courthouse. If you move
your vehicle from a parking lot or garage, you will have to pay again upon re-entering.
WITNESS FEE INFORMATION
You are entitled to a witness fee for appearing in court. A witness fee is a small
check the District Attorney’s Office will mail to you within 3-4 weeks to help cover
your parking and mileage expenses. The amount is dictated by legislation. You should
be given a witness fee form to sign when you check in, if not, please do so before
leaving.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- It is important that if you are parked at a parking meter that you keep your meeting
plugged at all times or move to a garage or lot. Parking enforcement can ticket
your vehicle if it is parked at a meter all day, even if it’s being plugged. We
cannot take care of any parking tickets.
- There are vending machines located in the Witness Center along with coffee and water.
A snack bar is located on the ground floor of the building and at the courthouse.
- The restrooms are located out the door to the right and the left. Please notify
a staff member if you need to leave the Witness Center for any reason, in the event
we call your name for court.
- It is important that you understand that children cannot be left unattended. Please
remember that parents and/or guardians are responsible for their children. We are
sorry, but we cannot provide any type of child care.
- If there are other witnesses waiting to testify on the same case, please do not
discuss your testimony with the other witnesses.
VICTIM SERVICES
- VICTIM WITNESS CENTER: The center provides a waiting area for crime victims
and witnesses waiting to testify. Defendants are NOT allowed
in the center. Please alert staff immediately if the alleged perpetrator is in or
around the center.
- VERIFICATION LETTERS: If you need a letter to take back to your employer
or school to verify your appearance on the day of your court case, please notify
the staff before you leave.
- CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION: The center assists violent crime victims with
applying for medical expenses, work loss, counseling, and funeral expenses. If you
would like an application, please request one from the staff, or you can call 713-1634
or 713-1641 for questions and assistance if filing.
- RESTITUTUION: Victims who have monetary loss or property damage due to the
crime, need to document their losses so that there is a possibility of receiving
reimbursement from the alleged defendant. Please keep copies of all estimates, bills,
statements, etc. and contact the District Attorney’s Restitution Division at 713-2245
to request a form.
- PROPERTY RELEASE: Victims who need assistance in recovering their personal
property from law enforcement agencies when it is no longer needed as evidence can
contact the Property Return Clerk at 713-1753.
- REFERRALS: The Victim Witness Center staff will be happy to provide you with
referrals for services, counseling, shelters and the Homicide Survivors Support
Group. There are several pamphlets and brochures regarding referrals in the center.
Please feel free to take any that are of interest to you.
- ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY PROGRAM: The Address Confidentiality Program allows
the state to contribute to the safety of victims by denying abusers the opportunity
to use public records as a means to violate the rights of others.
Once again, thank you for your assistance. The participation of each witness is
vital to the successful prosecution of each and every case.