Your Rights as a Crime Victim in Orangeburg County and How to Access Services
If you're a crime victim in Orangeburg County, you have specific rights during the criminal and juvenile justice process, and practical help is available to you. Here's what the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office Victims' Services Unit does, what your core rights include, and the most direct ways to reach help.
The Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office Victims' Services Unit exists to protect victims' rights and provide advocacy and support to crime victims in Orangeburg County. This matters because the justice process can move fast, especially early on. It's easy to feel left out of the loop. Victim Services is one place you can turn to for guidance while your case works its way through the system.
A big part of what Victim Services does is act as a liaison between you and the people working the case: police officers, investigators, and community-based agencies. In practical terms, this cuts down on the runaround. Instead of trying to figure out who to call next, start with Victim Services. They can connect you to the right place for updates and support.
- ✓ Get help preparing for court
- ✓ Ask for court advocacy
- ✓ Request court accompaniment
- ✓ Ask Victim Services to arrange professional counseling
- ✓ Ask Victim Services about support groups
Urgent help: Victim Services provides on-scene crisis intervention, which can be critical right after a crime when you need immediate support.
As a crime victim, you have the right to be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity throughout the criminal and juvenile justice process. This right applies across the entire life of a case, from early court dates through later proceedings. If you feel dismissed, pressured, or spoken to disrespectfully, you have every reason to speak up and ask for support.
You also have the right to be reasonably informed about criminal proceedings. This is the right that keeps you oriented in the process. It means you should be kept in the loop about what's happening with your case, so you're not left piecing things together secondhand.
You have the right to be informed if the accused is arrested, released, or escapes. If you're waiting on updates about a person's custody status, this is one of the key rights to ask about when you contact Victim Services or a Victim Assistance Coordinator.
- Call a Victim Assistance Coordinator at 803-534-1511 if you have questions about a bond hearing or preliminary hearing for someone incarcerated at the Orangeburg County Detention Center.
- Explain what you need help with such as understanding the bond hearing or preliminary hearing process, or getting support connected to the hearing.
- Ask about support at the hearing including assistance related to victims appearing at Bond Court Hearings or Preliminary Hearings.
If you prefer in-person help, head to the Victim's Services Building (Chestnut Square) at 1032 Chestnut Street, Orangeburg, SC 29115. This is the same location where Victim Assistance Coordinators work, making it a practical starting point if you need support connected to a hearing or the court process.
Concrete Next Steps
- ✓ Call a Victim Assistance Coordinator at 803-534-1511 if you have questions about a bond hearing or preliminary hearing for someone incarcerated at the Orangeburg County Detention Center
- ✓ Ask for help preparing for court, and request court advocacy and accompaniment
- ✓ Ask Victim Services to arrange professional counseling and support groups
To visit in person, go to the Victim's Services Building (Chestnut Square) at 1032 Chestnut Street, Orangeburg, SC 29115. Once there, ask to speak with Victim Services. They can help with court preparation and accompaniment, or connect you with counseling and support groups.
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