Crime Victim FAQs
What if someone threatens me?
Concerns about your well-being and safety after being victimized or witnessing a crime are normal. If you have any fears or receive any threats concerning your involvement in a case, you should immediately contact the law enforcement agency that investigated the case, or the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. In an emergency situation, call 9-1-1.
Do so as soon as possible so that the threats can be documented and appropriate action taken. There are laws to protect you against people who attempt to bribe, intimidate, threaten, or harass you. Create a safety plan so you know what you would do if any threat concerns you.
How can I protect myself from being stalked?
If you believe that you are being stalked, you can do a lot of things to protect yourself. There is no single response that is appropriate for all stalking victims. Here are some suggestions:
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- If you believe it is an emergency, call 9-1-1. Otherwise, contact your local law enforcement authorities.
- Get a Personal Protection Order (PPO) from the Circuit Court. If you have PPO questions, contact the Prosecuting Attorney.
- Keep detailed records of all incidents. When possible, tape-record, videotape or photograph encounters. Make sure the harassment is officially noted in police reports so you can establish a history for court proceedings. Note the date, the time and place of each incident. Take photos of destroyed property or injuries. Keep all recordings, voicemails, text messages, or social media posts for evidence, especially those that contain threats to harm or kill or that would be considered harassing by a reasonable person. To help you document PPO violations, download our Stalking Victim’s Log.
- Warn people about your situation. Tell family members, neighbors and co-workers to not give out personal information about you to anyone. At work, have visitors and phone calls screened. Tell building security about your situation.
- Secure your home. Install good deadbolt locks and adequate outside lighting. Lock your windows.
- Change you daily travel route so the stalker cannot easily follow you. Do not walk alone.
- Get a second, unlisted phone line or a cellphone so that your answering machine can record threats. You can pick up calls from family and friends on your private line. Give your private line number out to only a few trusted people.
- Contact groups that can help, such as the National Organization for Victim Assistance at www.trynova.org (click on the “LIVE CHAT” button to live chat, call, or email), SafeCenter at 989-723-9716 or www.thesafecenter.org, or a local shelter.
- Do not try to talk sense into a stalker or agree to meet your stalker to “clarify things.”
- Do not plead with the stalker to be left alone. It does no good. Call the police.
- Do not return gifts or send back letters. In many cases this, has caused the stalking to intensify. Keep items for documentation and evidence.
- Do not come to the stalker’s aid if the person fakes a crisis to make you feel guilty. If the stalker threatens suicide, call the police to assist.
- If your stalker is an ex-lover, forget about reconciliation.
- Be prepared. Have quick access to telephone numbers and locations of police departments, emergency shelters or friends’ homes. Keep money and a packed suitcase available with your important documents for a quick departure. Create a safety plan for yourself.
What if the defense attorney contacts me?
In representing his/her client, a defense attorney may contact you and want to talk to you about the case. Keep in mind that you do not have to talk to anyone about the crime, including the defense attorney or their investigator prior to testifying in court. However, if you choose to do so, always request proper identification and an explanation of the purpose of the interview. If you have any concerns about talking with a defense attorney or their investigator, you are encouraged to contact the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in charge of your case and to have him/her be present with you at the time of the interview.
Can you tell me what the defendant’s sentence will be?
Sentencing in Michigan varies with the crime and can be the most confusing part of the criminal process. A few crimes have mandatory sentences, but most often the sentences are at the judge’s discretion. Because of that, a prosecutor can only guess (or hope) what the actual sentence may be.
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- Misdemeanor offenses generally carry a maximum sentence of 90 days or 1 year in the county jail, can result in probation for up to 2 years, counseling, community service and driver’s license sanctions.
- Felony offenses range from a minimum sentence of 366 days to a maximum of life in prison. Sometimes, the statutory maximum time for an individual crime is lengthened because the defendant is a repeat offender. In addition to incarceration in jail or prison, convicted felons may be sentenced to probation.
