08/18/2026
The criminal justice process is often drawn out and confusing, and even more so when you're navigating it on your own. Harouff Law has been providing services to victims and witnesses of crime for the better part of the last decade. The complaint we hear most often from victims is that they don't understand the process, and that law enforcement and prosecutors don't hear them. As you move through a case as a victim or witness, it's important to have an advocate who can walk you through the process, keep you up to date on court filings and procedure, and stay in touch with you on a regular basis. That role can be filled by either an attorney or a victim/witness advocate through your local law enforcement agency.
Victims of crime typically aren't represented by counsel during prosecution, which feels unfair when criminal defendants are always entitled to legal counsel. That alone can leave a victim feeling helpless and discarded, like no one is listening or cares about what they went through. It's especially frustrating once an offender has been charged, and the victim feels left behind; like they no longer have a voice or a say in the direction the prosecution takes.
Victim advocacy services vary widely by region. Larger municipalities tend to have dedicated victim/witness units, while in rural areas, a victim generally relies on law enforcement or the prosecutor for updates and information. Alternatively, a private attorney can help a victim navigate the process, but that can become cost prohibitive when a case drags out for months into years.
Advocates are available through some law enforcement agencies and provide a wide variety of services to crime victims. They can connect victims with services and support to help them get back to as normal a life as possible, help them navigate the legal system, explain the process so they can stay informed and involved, and connect them with resources intended to help make them whole. Advocates can also help you stay in touch with state prosecutors, so you continue to have a voice in how the case progresses through the system.
The two resources in comments represent Buffalo and Hall County. If you were the victim of a crime and need help understanding the process, or knowing what rights you have as a case moves through the criminal justice system, they're ready to help.
