About Us

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office of Victim Witness Advocacy recognizes that becoming a crime victim is a devastating experience. It is very important that you, as a victim or witness of a crime, have access to essential services to help you return to your everyday activities. The Office's primary mandate is to ensure that:

The Office addresses issues related to how victims and witnesses have been impacted by crime and provides Case Status Notification Letters to apprise victims and witnesses of case updates.

Our Mission

The mission of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office is to seek justice, to serve justice, and to do justice.

In order to support an environment of safety, security and lawful behavior for the people of Essex County, the Office will use lawful and reasonable methods to successfully identify, apprehend and prosecute those who commit crimes.

When crime occurs, we will diligently pursue the arrest, indictment and conviction of those responsible, and at the same time, respect all Constitutional safeguards for the accused. This will be accomplished through cooperation with other law enforcement agencies at the local, county, state and federal levels and with the community as a whole.

Our staff of dedicated professionals is committed to ensuring that victims and witnesses are treated with compassion and dignity. We also operate and participate in various educational and public awareness programs to reduce crime throughout the County and provide an atmosphere of cooperation, confidence and mutual respect.

Each and every member of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office pledges their commitment and full support to this mission.

The Essex County Office of Victim-Witness Advocacy aids victims and witnesses in fulfilling their rights and responsibilities within the criminal justice system, providing continual communication and coordination regarding case progress and participation in legal proceedings.

Further, the Office guides victims and witnesses to resources ranging from food, clothing, shelter, and daycare for pre-school children, to professional assistance in dealing with the psychological trauma of crime. Staff members also assist victims in gaining economic compensation for their losses through insurance, restitution and the Victims of Crime Compensation Board.

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office of Victim-Witness Advocacy furnishes case information to victims through a series of letters sent through the U.S. Postal Service. Victims are provided case information from the time the case is opened through its resolution. The Unit also provides information about parole hearings and informs the victim when the defendant is released from prison. The following events generate case status notification letters, when and if they occur: