What support do the departments of the county courts provide?

Victims and witnesses can seek help at departments established in seven county courts: Osijek, Rijeka, Sisak, Split, Vukovar, Zadar and Zagreb. Support is available to all victims and witnesses of criminal offences (e.g. of murder, threat, rape, robbery, war crime, domestic violence) and misdemeanours in the area of domestic violence, as well as their family members and/or persons accompanying the victim or witness.

These departments provide emotional support to victims, witnesses, and, where appopriate, to family members and accompanying persons. They inform victims and witnesses about their rights and inform them about the course of pre-trial, criminal and misdemeanour proceedings. In addition, victims, witnesses and accompanying persons are informed about available forms of assistance and provided with technical and practical information.

The support is provided throughout the proceedings, from the filing of a criminal or misdemeanour complaint to the end of the proceedings. The departments can be contacted by phone, email or in person by prior appointment. The departments do not provide legal or psychological assistance, and do not engage in discussions with victims and witnesses about the content of their statements.