Victim Witness Assistance Program

Capt. Chelsea Lucas, USMC, is the Victim and Witness Liaison Officer (VWLO) for MCB Hawaii and acts as the Commander, MCB Hawaii, manager for the VWAP Program aboard the installation. In that capacity, Capt. Lucas chairs the VWAP Council, manages and maintains a list of all unit Victim Witness Assistance Coordinators and other base Victim Witness Representatives, provides liaison with local civilian services for victims of crime, tracks all services provided and is the central point of contact for the base program.

Pursuant to Marine Corps Directives, each office or agency which provides services to victims and witnesses appoints a Victim Witness Assistance Representative and each unit (Battalion and Squadron level and above) appoints a Victim Witness Assistance Coordinator (VWAC). The VWAC and other representatives are responsible for that unit or office's obligations under the VWAP.

Capt. Lucas can be contacted at DSN: 315-457-5742 or at chelsea.lucas@usmc.mil

Victim Rights

To be treated with fairness and respect for the victim's dignity and privacy.
To be reasonably protected from the accused.
To be notified of any decision to dispose of an alleged offense at court-martial, Non-Judicial Punishment (NJP), or Administrative Separation (ADSEP) proceedings.
To be present at all public court-martial, NJP, and ADSEP proceedings, unless the court or legal advisor, after receiving clear and convincing evidence, determines that testimony by the victim would be materially altered if the victim heard other testimony at that proceeding. This right does not obligate the government to pay for expenses incurred by the victim to be present.
To be reasonably heard at any public proceeding involving release, plea, sentencing, or parole of the accused. This right does not obligate the government to pay for expenses incurred by the victim to be present.
To confer with the attorney for the government in the case.
To receive information about the conviction, sentence, confinement, and release of the accused.
To be notified of the apprehension of an accused, the initial appearance of an accused before a military judge, the release of the accused pending court-martial, any escape of the accused, and the time and location of any trial, NJP, or ADSEP proceedings (including entry of guilty pleas and sentencing).
To proceedings free from unreasonable delay.
To receive available restitution.

Witness Rights

To be treated with fairness and respect for the witness’s dignity and privacy.
To be reasonably protected from the accused.
To be notified of any decision to dispose of an alleged offense at court-martial, NJP or ADSEP proceedings.
To be provided information about the resolution of the case to include ADSEP decisions, any punishment awarded to the offender, sentencing, imprisonment, and release of the offender, if confined.
To be notified of the apprehension of an accused, the initial appearance of an accused before a military judge, the release of the accused pending court-martial, any escape of the accused, and the time and location of any trial, NJP, or ADSEP proceedings (including entry of guilty pleas and sentencing).

VWAP Links