Policy Text
Page 1 of 7 General Order 7-23 (08 /30/23)
SERVICES FOR WITNESSES AND VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES
RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: SERVICES FOR WITNESSES AND VICTIMS OF
VIOLENT CRIMES
Chapter
7 Number
23 # Pages
7
References:
CALEA : 55.1.1a -e, 55.2.1 , 55.2.2, 55.2.3, 55.2.4,
55.2.5 , 81.2.7
VA Code: §16.1 -253.2, 18.2 -51.4, 18.2-57, 18.2 -57.2,
18.2-60.3, 18.2 -67.4, 18.2 -67.5, 18.2 -266,
19.2-11.01 Related Orders: 7-22 Effective Dat e: 08/30/2023
Revised By: Review
Prv. Rev. Date: 04/07/2020
Chief of Police :
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this directive is to provide the proper information to Richmond Police
Department members when advising citizens of services for witnesses and victims of
violent crimes.
II. SUMMARY OF CHANGE
This document is due for triannual review. The Victim and Witness Assistance
brochure can now be found on the under RPD forms. The contact information
for the Department of Rehabilitative Services has been updated. All new changes will
be bold and italicized throughout the document.
III. POLICY
It is the policy of the Richmond Police Department to provide clear guidelines to its
members regarding the availability of services to witnesses and victims of violent crime.
In recognition of the Richmond Police Department’ s concern for the victims and
witnesses of crime, it is the purpose of this general order to ensure that the full impact of
crime is brought to the attention of the Department and its employees. Crime victims and
witnesses shall be treated with dignity, respect and sensitivity; and their privacy shall be
protected to the greatest extent permissible under law. It is the further purpose of this
general order to ensure that victims and witnesses are informed of the rights provided to
them under the laws of the Commonwealth; that they receive authorized services as
appropriate; and that they have the opportunity to be heard by members of the
Department, the Commonwealth’s Attorneys, corrections agencies and the judiciary at all
critical stages of the criminal justice process to the extent permissible under law. The
Department relies on witnesses and victims to help solve violent crimes and places the
utmost importance on their well-being, ongoing communication with them, and their
receipt of services. [CALEA 55.1.1a, 55.1.1b, 55.1.1d]
Page 2 of 7 General Order 7 -23 (08/30/23)
SERVICES FOR WITNESSES AND VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES IV. ACCOUNTABILITY STATEMENT
All employees are expect ed to fully comply with the guidelines and timelines set forth in
this general order. Failure to comply will result in appropriate corrective action.
Responsibility rests with the Division Commander to ensure that any violations of policy
are investigated and appropriate training, counseling and/or disciplinary action i s
initiated.
This directive is for internal use only, and does not enlarge an employee’s civil liability
in any way. It should not be constru ed as the creation of a higher standard of safety or
care in an evidentiary sense, with respect to third party claims. Violation of this
directive, if proven, can only form the basis of a complaint by this department, and then
only in a non -judicial administrative setting
V. DEFINITIONS
A. VICTIM : “Any perso n who has suffered physical, psychological, or economic
harm as a direct result of the commission of a felony, assault and battery in
violation of § § 18.2-57 or 18.2-57.2, stalking in violation of § 18.2-60.3, a violation
of a protective order in violation of § § 16.1-253.2 or 18.2-60.4, sexual battery in
violation of § 18.2-67.4, attempted sexual battery in violation of § 18.2-67.5, or
maiming or driving while intoxicated in violation of § § 18.2-51.4 or 18.2-266, or a
delinquent act that would be a felony or a misdemeanor violation of any offense
enumerated in claus e if committed by an adult; a spouse or child of such a person; a
parent or legal guardian of such a person who is a minor; for the purposes of
providing a victim the opportunity to prepare a written victim impact statement
prior to sentencing , a current o r former foster parent or other person who has or has
had physical custody of such a person who is a minor, for six months or more o r for
the majority of the minor’ s life; or a spouse, parent, sibling, or legal guardian of
such a person who is physically o r mentally incapacitated or was the victim of a
homicide; however, “victim” does not mean a parent, child, spouse, sibling, or legal
guardian who commits