Wisconsin Department of Justice Informal Complaint Process

Wis. Stat. Chapter 950 authorizes the Department of Justice to mediate complaints and act as a liaison between crime victims and public agencies and officials. This informal process is available through the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Victim Resource Center at 1-800-446-6564. The Victim Resource Center attempts to help individuals who are experiencing difficulties as a result of the crime.

After identifying the problem, the Victim Resource Center staff can suggest strategies and provide explanations regarding the complexities of the criminal justice system. Intervening and advocating on behalf of a crime victim is often undertaken if deemed necessary given the victims' situation. An effort to sort out the problem presented by the victim is done on a case-by-case basis. If the issue cannot be resolved, the Victim Resource Center attempts to facilitate communication between the crime victim and the individual and/or agency in order to reach an understanding of what can, or cannot occur.

The goal of internal conflict resolution by the Victim Resource Center is to improve or correct how crime victim's are treated by the justice system. The Victim Resource Center can advocate on the crime victim's behalf, as appropriate; identify problems and raise concerns, bringing them to the attention of the justice system; and, support crime victims in their effort to understand and participate in the criminal justice process.

The Victim Resource Center staff will discuss the efforts that have been made to address the problem with the crime victim. Victims will be informed when no further action can be accomplished. The victim may wish to pursue filing a formal complaint once the informal mediation effort has been completed by the Victim Resource Center.

If, after participation in the informal process, a crime victim believes that his/her rights have been violated and wishes to seek a formal review of the complaint, the Wisconsin Victim Resource Director will provide the victim with a formal complaint form upon request. The completed form will then be forwarded to the Crime Victims Rights Board for review and investigation.

The Crime Victims Rights Board will only address complaints in which a violation of a victim's right may have occurred and only after the Department has completed the informal process.

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