Judicial Branch Highlights Support During Crime Victims’ Rights Week

Superior Court, Probation Departments provide restorative services to victims

PHOENIX (April 22, 2024) -- Victims of crimes can find themselves adrift in the justice system, but supportive services through the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County are designed to provide ongoing resources for victims to help them understand and engage with criminal court proceedings.

Victims services staff members are part of both the Adult Probation Department and the Juvenile Probation Department, where the focus is on building trust and empathy with victims and providing them with restorative services.

Some of these services include explaining victims’ rights post-conviction, providing resources to victims of crime, connecting victims with the assigned probation officer, and providing opt-in victims with available case information. The court will also help coordinate restitution payments to victims and will help connect victims to counseling services, depending on their needs.

“We recognize the importance of placing a priority on victims’ rights and ensuring victims have a voice,” said Jason Walker, the deputy chief adult probation officer over specialized services.

At the Juvenile Probation Department alone, nearly 8,000 victims were assisted last year, with more than 40,000 victim notifications issued at various point in the process.

“As one of the largest notification agencies in the state, we are focused on court notifications, victim rights, impact statements, restitution and other ways victims can remain engaged with the court process,” said Lizbeth Saldana Urbieta, the victims support program coordinator for Juvenile Probation. “We maintain a victim-centered focus and help victims have a voice.”

In the Superior Court of Maricopa County, a victims’ rights advisement is read at the beginning of every criminal calendar, every day, and victims are permitted to address the court at multiple hearings, including giving impact statements at sentencing. In addition, the court provides private rooms designated for victims throughout the South Court Tower, where consideration for victims was designed into the building’s traffic patterns

Additionally, the court holds hearings every day to allow victims to obtain orders of protection and in the Criminal Department, new legislation has been implemented allowing victims of specific crimes to obtain lifetime injunctions.

During the week of April 21, the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County observes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, a time designated for communities nationwide to highlight the importance of assisting victims heal and recover. The weeklong initiative promotes victims' rights and honors crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf. The 2024 theme asks all of us -- friends, family members, neighbors, colleagues, community leaders, victim service providers, criminal justice practitioners, and health professionals -- how can we help crime victims.