“Our office is committed to prosecuting those that prey on vulnerable victims. We will focus on domestic violence victims, homicide and sex crime victims; protecting domestic partners, children, the elderly and individuals with disabilities.”
~Glenn Funk
District Attorney General
The Davidson County District Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting the rights of victims and ensuring their voices are heard. Our Victim Witness Services Division is comprised of caring professionals who are dedicated to assisting victims and witnesses as they navigate the court system.
As a victim of crime, you may find yourself thrust into the court system at the same time you are dealing with emotional consequences of being a victim. This system can be very unfamiliar, difficult and intimidating. Our Victim Witness Coordinators are here to walk with you through this process. They will explain the stages of the court system; provide you with information about the status of your case; and make referrals to other services that may be available to you as a victim of crime.
Our goal is to treat all violent crime victims with compassion, dignity and understanding. Our staff is here to support you and to answer your questions as you make your way through the criminal justice system.
History of the Victim Witness Services Division:
The Victim Witness Services Division began in the District Attorney’s Office in 1979 as a pilot project and was the first such program in Tennessee. Funded initially by a federal grant, it provided a director and a part-time employee primarily for the purpose of notifying victims of their upcoming court dates. The office quickly realized that victims, particularly of violent crimes, had many unmet needs, and the division has been in the forefront of the growing victim’s rights movement. It was not until 1998 that Tennessee adopted its Victims’ Rights Amendment that mandated the rights for victims. Today, with funding from grants as well as from the state and city budgets, the division has 20 full-time Victim Witness Coordinators who are trained to meet the needs of victims of violent crime including such specialized areas as child sexual abuse, domestic violence and juvenile crime.