DOJ-OGR-00023034.pdf

CHAPTER THREE: ISSUES RELATING TO THE GOVERNMENT'S INTERACTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS WITH VICTIMS....................................................................................................................189 PART ONE: FACTUAL BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................189 I. OVERVIEW ...............................................................................................................................................................189 II. THE CVRA, 18 U.S.C. § 3771...............................................................................................................................189 A. History............................................................................................................................................................189 B. Enumerated Rights..........................................................................................................................................191 III. THE DEPARTMENT'S INTERPRETATION OF THE CVRA'S DEFINITION OF "CRIME VICTIM" AT THE TIME OF THE EPSTEIN INVESTIGATION ................192 A. April 1, 2005 Office of Legal Counsel "Preliminary Review"............................................................................192 B. 2005 Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance...............................................................193 IV. USAO AND FBI VICTIM/WITNESS NOTIFICATION PRACTICE AT THE TIME OF THE EPSTEIN INVESTIGATION ................194 A. USAO Training................................................................................................................................................194 B. The Automated Victim Notification System ....................................................................................................195 C. FBI Victim Notification Pamphlets ....................................................................................................................196 V. THE INTRODUCTORY USAO AND FBI LETTERS TO VICTIMS....................................................................................196 A. August 2006: The FBI Victim Notification Letters............................................................................................196 B. August 2006: The USAO's Letters to Victims ....................................................................................................198 C. USAO and FBI Letters Are Hand Delivered ......................................................................................................200 VI. AUGUST 2006 - SEPTEMBER 2007: FBI AND USAO CONTACTS WITH VICTIMS BEFORE THE NPA IS SIGNED............................200 A. The Case Agents and Villafaña Solicit Some Victims' Opinions about Resolving the Federal Investigation................201 B. Before the NPA Is Signed, Villafaña Expresses Concern That Victims Have Not Been Consulted............................202 1. July 2007: Villafaña's Email Exchanges with Menchel ................................................................................202 2. Villafaña Asserts That Her Supervisors Gave Instructions Not to Consult Victims about the Plea Discussions, but Her Supervisors Do Not Currently Recall Such Instructions ............................................................................................................................204 3. September 6, 2007: Villafaña Informs Sloman, Who Informs Acosta, of Oosterbaan's Opinion That Consultation with Victims Was Required............................................................................................................................................................204 VII. SEPTEMBER 24, 2007 - JUNE 30, 2008: AFTER THE NPA IS SIGNED, THE USAO MAKES VARIOUS VICTIM NOTIFICATION DECISIONS................206