Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The police will investigate, prepare a report, and, where possible, arrest the perpetrator. When the police have completed their investigation, the case will be reviewed by the District Attorney;s Office, which will determine the appropriate charges. Generally, a Magisterial District Judge, in conjunction with the Northampton County Office of Pretrial Services, will set monetary bail (when necessary), as well as conditions for bail supervision. The Police Affiant (Officer filing the charges) and the District Attorney’s Office will prosecute the case before the Magisterial District Judge for purposes of the Preliminary Hearing.

For those charges bound over for Court, the case will be placed on a trial list and assigned to a specific Assistant District Attorney to prosecute and/or otherwise resolve the case.

For those cases in which a victim is injured and/or suffered financial loss a trained victim services advocate will also be assigned to provide support and/or refer the victim for specialized services.

If you have a question or concern about your case, you should email or call your assigned victim advocate or your assigned Assistant District Attorney. You may email the general mailbox of the Office of the District Attorney; however, in all communication with the office, you must provide the docket number assigned to your case, so that the office can appropriately respond to your communication.

For crimes in which law enforcement (the Police Affiant) has identified a victim, the Northampton County Victim/Witness coordinator will contact you by an introduction letter, providing you with the necessary contact information and other pertinent instructions for your case. The telephone number for the Northampton County Victim/Witness Coordinator is: (610) 829-6655.

The Victims Compensation Assistant Program (VCAP) provides financial assistance to victims of crime in Pennsylvania to help cover expenses related to the crime. This program can help with costs like medical expenses, and crime scene cleanup, among others. https://www.pa.gov/services/pcv/apply-for-victims-compensation.html 

The Assistant District Attorney for the Commonwealth represents your interests as a victim and/or witness, as it relates to the evidentiary presentation and obtaining a conviction. Victims and witnesses in criminal matters are free to consult with a private attorney with regard to any legal concern related to a criminal case. A private attorney hired by a victim or witness cannot appear in a criminal court proceeding. Further, the Office of the District Attorney is not obligated to consult with or discuss your case with a private attorney. Still, the Assistant District Attorney handling your case will respectfully communicate with private counsel where appropriate.

If you need assistance with transportation or language interpretation, please notify the Victim/Witness Services Unit at least two business days before your scheduled court appearance.

You may bring someone to court with you for support.

Dress appropriately. A court appearance is an important and serious occasion. All participants should be appropriately and respectfully dressed.

Generally, you will not be required to bring any documentation or evidence, however, please follow any instructions or requests by the Assistant District Attorney handling your case. On occasion, a victim or witness may be requested to bring supplemental evidence related documentation such as photographs, medical bills or records, receipts for stolen or damaged property, or other relevant documentation that may have evidentiary value.

When you are called to testify you will be sworn to tell the truth. The Assistant District Attorney will ask you what you know about the case. When the questioning is complete, the defendant’s attorney will then ask you questions about the case. The judge will only want to hear the facts pertaining to the particular case.

The Assistant District Attorney will provide additional guidance with regard to when and for how long you should expect to be in the courtroom.

Before your appearance in court, you may be contacted by the defendant’s attorney or an investigator working for the defendant. These people represent the defendant, not you. You have the right to choose or decline to speak to anyone about your case. We suggest that you request identification from any person who approaches you to speak about your case and that you notify the Assistant District Attorney about the nature and content of your discussion.

It is a crime to harass, threaten, or intimidate a victim or witness in a case. It is also a crime for the defendant or anyone acting for the defendant to offer you money or any other benefit to change the statement you make in court or to “drop charges.” If any of these things occur, you should immediately contact your Assistant District Attorney, as additional charges may be brought or other protective action may be taken on your behalf.

It is the policy of the Office of the District Attorney to maintain your privacy within certain limits. However, it is necessary to share relevant case information to the Defendant and/or defense counsel as part of the discovery process. Your phone number, e-mail address, and other personal information will not be provided to the defendant or his/her attorney.

If you are a crime victim who would like to be contacted if the defendant in your case has been released from prison, has escaped, or has been moved, you may register to receive notification through the Northampton County Victim/Witness Coordinator.