# can the victim of an assault

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-victim-of-an-assault/680356>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 2, 2014, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-victim-of-an-assault/680356 "2014-02-02T16:14:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-victim-of-an-assault/680356/1 "2014-02-02T16:14:57Z")

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testify at a bail reduction hearing?

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**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-victim-of-an-assault/680356/2 "2014-02-02T18:41:47Z")

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In my state all victims are notified of any status conferences that deal with the case including bail reduction. They are allowed to have input. No doubt it is different from state to state.

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**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-victim-of-an-assault/680356/3 "2014-02-02T19:06:45Z")

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This is in Maryland.

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**Author:** ![llcoolbj77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eb9ed0/32.png) [@llcoolbj77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/llcoolbj77)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-victim-of-an-assault/680356/4 "2014-02-02T21:15:13Z")

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Yes. For whom do you wish to testify? In my jurisdiction, we have a very proactive victim-witness program. They would call a victim to let them know a bond hearing was scheduled, and to ask if you wanted to testify. If you want to testify on behalf of the accused, you should be able to find their attorney with a phone call or two and Google.

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**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-victim-of-an-assault/680356/5 "2014-02-02T22:19:21Z")

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She heard about the hearing but nobody has told her if she should be there or if she can testify.

Unfortunately, it’s routine for the people who deal with this everyday and sometimes they forget that the victim has no idea about the process, and no idea what is going on.