Law Enforcement & Victim Responsibilities

Law Enforcement Responsibility: Providing Information

Law enforcement agencies have the responsibility to provide the victim information about:

  • Victim’s rights as assured in the Colorado Constitution.
  • Availability of victim assistance, medical, emergency services, and community services such as legal resources, social services, crisis intervention services, and mental health services.
  • Availability of financial resources such as compensation and how to apply for those benefits.
  • Availability of protective court orders for protection from the person accused of committing the crime.
  • Availability of public records related to the case.
  • Translation services, assistance in dealing with creditors due to financial setbacks caused by the crime, transportation assistance to criminal proceedings, and child care services for criminal proceedings.

Support of Law Enforcement Agencies

Law enforcement agencies are also required to:

  • Provide the business address and telephone number of the District Attorney’s Office, file number of the case and the name, business address, and telephone number of any law enforcement officer assigned to investigate the case.
  • Inform the victim as to whether a suspect has been taken into custody or released from custody.
  • Inform the victim of the status of the case prior to the filing of charges.
  • Inform victims of final decisions not to file charges in a misdemeanor case.
  • Make all reasonable attempts to protect the victim/victim’s family from harm, harassment, intimidation, or retaliation resulting from the cooperation with the reporting, investigation, and prosecution of the crime.
  • Provide reasonable efforts to minimize contact between the victim/victim’s family and the defendant/defendant’s family before, during, and immediately after a judicial proceeding.
  • Provide victims of cold cases with information concerning any change in the status of the case.
  • Upon written request, provide victims of cold cases in which the statute of limitations is longer than three years with an annual update concerning the status of the case.

The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for victim notification of decisions not to file charges in felony cases.


Victim's Responsibilities

The victim has the responsibility to:

  • Keep appropriate criminal justice authorities informed of the name address, and telephone number of the person who should be provided information and any changes in the information.
  • Provide a written request if he/she wants to be notified of information regarding the post-sentence process.
  • Always contact the Police Department with any follow up information on his/her case.