Peace of Mind - Resources and Information for crime victims and witnesses

Being a victim of or witness to a crime can be a very frightening experience.  The days, weeks, months, and even years that follow can be unsettling.  Involvement in the criminal justice system can also be confusing especially if you do not understand how the system works.

For this reason, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office has developed the Victim/Witness Assistance Services Program to help you have a better understanding of the criminal justice system and to help you understand your rights.  In addition, this brochure also includes the many services available throughout this area to assist victims of crimes.  It also describes the requirements and procedures in filing a claim under the Louisiana Crime Victim Compensation Act.

Sheriff Craig Webre and his staff are committed to providing services that are accessible to all. If you require accommodations due to a disability please contact the Police Social Services Section for assistance.

I hope this brochure will help you.  Thank you for “helping us to serve you.”

Sincerely,

Sheriff Craig Webre

 

Victim/Witness Assistance Program Services

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Victim/Witness has been developed to serve the citizens of Lafourche Parish who have been a victim or a witness to a crime by:

  • Giving information to the victim/witness about Sheriff’s Office services, including a Sheriff’s Office 24-hour response number, and about services offered by other organizations or agencies, e.g., counseling, medical attention, compensation programs or emergency financial assistance and victim advocacy;

  • Advising the victim/witness who may be concerned about what to do if threatened or intimidated by the suspect or the suspect’s companions or family.

  • Informing the victim/witness about the case number, if known, by the agency, and subsequent steps in processing the case; and

  • Providing a telephone number that the victim/witness may call to report additional information about the case or to receive information about the status of the case (whether the case is open, suspended or closed).

 
Victim/Witness Assistance

Program Services

Assistance Program if:

  • Your personal property is being held by the Sheriff’s Office and you need assistance in its return.

  • You don’t know where to report a crime you have witnessed.

  • You have any questions about what to expect in court or any other matter in regards to your case, no matter how unimportant you may think it is.

  • You have any questions about victim’s compensation for personal injuries.

  • You need someone to speak to your employer on your behalf to allow your appearance as a witness.

  • You move or change you telephone number.

(985) 449-4476   (985) 532-2808

1-888-6-VICTIM (toll free)

TTY callers (985) 532-4204

Louisiana Relay  711

   

The Lafourche Parish Courthouse

Divisions A, C and E
 201 Green Street, Thibodaux 70301
between 2nd & 3rd Street

     Division A - (985) 447-3780

     Division C - (985) 446-1381

     Division E - (985) 447-1554

Divisions B and D
 Courthouse Annex
309 Third Street, Thibodaux 70301
between Green & Maronge Streets.

     Division B - (985) 446-0517

     Division D - (985) 448-1291

The Sheriff’s Office

Administration Offices
 200 Canal Blvd, Thibodaux, LA 70301
The corner of Canal Blvd & West 2nd Street.

Training Center
 751 Goode Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301
In the National Armory Building.

Detention Center
 952 Highway 3185, Thibodaux, LA 70301
 The corner of Highway 3185 & Veterans Blvd.

Communications
 207 Main Street, Lockport, LA 70374

Galliano Annex
 102 West 91st Street, Galliano, LA 70354
The corner of W. 91st Street & Highway 1

Personnel / Narcotics / Motorpool
 5200 Hwy1, Mathews, LA 70374

Criminal Operations

Investigations / Patrol / Support Sevices
805 Crescent Ave, Lockport, LA 70374.
The corner of School Street & Crescent Ave.

Police Social Services
 200 West 2nd Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301.
On the second floor.

Internal Affairs / Information Technology / CALEA
 200 West 2nd Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301.
On the third floor.

Work Release Center
 1156 Highway 90 East, Raceland, LA 70394

District Attorney’s Office

406 West 3rd Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301
(985) 447-2003
Monday – Friday  8:00 am – 4:30 pm
On block west of the Lafourche Parish Court House

The Child Advocacy Center

512 West 3rd Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301
(985) 446-4808
Monday – Friday  8:30 am – 4:30 pm
On block west of the District Attorney's Office

Louisiana Relay Communication Telephon

  • Information:             1-800-333-0605
  • Voice Users:            1-800-947-5277
  • TDD Users:              1-800-846-5277
  • ASCII Users:            1-888-550-5277
  • Or you can dial:       711

Important points to remember as a witness in a courtroom

Dress well and be courteous.
The way you dress and present yourself is a direct reflection of you.  It is to your advantage to dress neatly and conduct yourself in a courteous manner.

Be attentive.
 You should remain alert at all times so that you can hear, understand and give a proper response to each question.  If the Judge or jury gets the impression that you are bored or indifferent, they may tend to disregard your story.

Think before you speak.
 Make sure you understand each question, then give an accurate answer to the best of your ability.  Hasty and thoughtless answers may be incorrect and cause problems for all concerned.  If you don’t know the answer to a question, say so.  It is the duty of the attorney to make the question understandable.

Speak clearly.
 There is nothing more annoying to a Court than a witness who refuses to speak clearly enough to be heard and understood.  An inaudible voice detracts from your testimony and may make the Court think that you are not certain of what you are saying.

If you don’t understand a question, ask that it be explained.
 This will save time and confusion.  If you try to answer a question without fully understanding it, the answer may confuse the Court, the jury and the lawyers.

Answer all questions directly.
 Too often a witness will be so anxious to tell his story that he will want to get it all out in the answer to the first question.  If you can answer the question with a simple yes of no, do so.  Never volunteer information – it may have no bearing on the case and may serve only to delay the proceedings.

Be Fair.
 Though you may be testifying in favor of a friend and would like to see him win, don’t exaggerate your testimony or try to slant it in his favor.  Justice will be served only if you make your testimony as objective as possible.

Be helpful, not funny.
 A trial is a very important matter to the parties involved.  The defendant’s money or freedom is at stake.  The Court is interested only in facts, not comedy.

Above all never lose your temper.
 When the witness loses his temper, he has placed himself at the mercy of the cross-examiner.  Courts are interested only in the facts of the case.  Hold you temper and your testimony will be much more valuable.

Persons with Disabilities
 If there are certain accommodations that you require in order to be able to testify, you must let the district attorney handling the case know ahead of time. 

Be prepared to wait.
 The Court and District Attorney’s Office has significantly reduced the amount of time a witness spends in Court.  However, occasionally a witness may be required to remain nearby for a period of time.  You may want to prepare for this by bringing a book to read or some handwork to help you pass the time.

The Criminal Justice Process


 What is the procedure?
You have had the misfortune of being a victim or witness of a crime.  Most likely your first contact was with one of our uniformed Lafourche Parish patrol deputies who made a report of the crime you have reported or witnessed.  Your case may then be investigated further by a detective in out Criminal Investigations Division.  Should an arrest(s) be made, the Detective completes a case file and refers it to the District Attorney.  The following information is provided to you in an effort to acquaint you with the Criminal Justice System and the process in which you may be participating.

Item Numbers
Each Sheriff’s Office complaint is assigned an item number.  Copies of the complaint are available at the Sheriff’s Office Administrative Office in Thibodaux at 200 Canal Blvd.

Case review by the court or grand jury
After criminal charges are filed, the case is often sent to court for a preliminary hearing.  The judge examines the case and decides whether there is enough evidence to go to trial.  Sometimes, evidence is presented to a Grand Jury.  If a majority of the citizens who sit on the Grand Jury decide there is enough evidence against the defendant, they return an indictment against the defendant.

Courts
Depending on the severity of your case you may be called to testify in the District Courts.  Courts are located in Thibodaux.

Arraignment and assignment of the case
If the court or Grand Jury decides there is enough evidence to try the defendant, the defendant appears before the court to plead either guilty or not guilty.  The hearing is called the arraignment.  If the defendant pleads guilty, a date is set for sentencing.  If the defendant pleads not guilty the Judge assigns the case to a trial court and decides the amount of bond.

Trial
In a trial, the jury, or if there is no jury the Judge, decides whether the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If the defendant is found not guilty, he or she is acquitted and allowed to go free.  If found guilty, the Judge sets a date for imposing a sentence on the defendant.  The sentence can include probation or a prison term.

How do I find out what happened to the case?
Sheriff’s Detectives are required to contact victims and update them on their case.  This can take anywhere from 2 to 4 days depending on the individual case.  If you are not contacted after 7 – 10 days you may wish to call our Criminal Investigation Division (CID) during business hours Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at (985) 532-4326 to inquire about your case and its progress.  Providing your item number is helpful when you make any inquiries regarding your case.

Intimidation
If you are threatened by the defendant, accused or anyone else in regard to your case, please call the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office and ask for Police Social Services.

  
   

 
985-449-2255  - Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office-Thibodaux, LA 70301

Emergencies call 911. To report crimes or complaints remember "CALL" (2255).
In Thibodaux 446-2255, in Central Lafourche 532-2255, in South Lafourche 798-2255,
in Bayou Blue/Houma 868-2255.

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer.