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954 KB
Extraction Summary
4
People
5
Organizations
1
Locations
2
Events
2
Relationships
8
Quotes
Document Information
Type:
Legal document
File Size:
954 KB
Summary
This legal document details the FBI's victim notification procedures during the 2006 investigation into Epstein. It describes how, starting in August 2006, the FBI's Victim Specialist, directed by the case agent, used the Victim Notification System (VNS) to send letters to victims informing them of their CVRA rights and the case status. The document also notes the use of pamphlets, such as "Help for Victims of Crime," to explain that the U.S. Attorney's Office would be responsible for ensuring their rights were afforded after an indictment.
People (4)
| Name | Role | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Epstein | Subject of investigation |
Mentioned as the subject of an FBI investigation that began in August 2006.
|
| Victim Specialist | FBI Victim Specialist |
Responsible for preparing Victim Notification Forms, entering victim contact information into the VNS, and generating...
|
| case agent | FBI case agent |
The lead agent in the Epstein investigation who directed the Victim Specialist, provided victim contact information, ...
|
| victim-witness coordinator | Victim-witness coordinator |
A role mentioned in the 2005 Guidelines for whom contact information should be provided to victims.
|
Organizations (5)
| Name | Type | Context |
|---|---|---|
| FBI | government agency |
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, which conducted the investigation into Epstein and was responsible for victim no...
|
| Department of Justice | government agency |
Mentioned in the title of the "Department of Justice Victim Notification System" pamphlet.
|
| United States Attorney’s Office | government agency |
Stated to be responsible for ensuring victims are afforded their rights after an indictment.
|
| OPR | government agency |
The Office of Professional Responsibility, to whom the FBI case agent provided information about victim notification ...
|
| PBPD | government agency |
Palm Beach Police Department, whose investigative file was the source for the initial 30 victims identified by the FBI.
|
Timeline (2 events)
2006-08-08
The FBI opened its investigation into Epstein. The Victim Specialist for the West Palm Beach FBI office prepared a “Victim Notification Form” naming 30 victims.
West Palm Beach
2006-08-28
Beginning on this date, the FBI Victim Specialist used the VNS to generate and send letters to victims in the Epstein investigation.
FBI Victim Specialist
Victims
Locations (1)
| Location | Context |
|---|---|
|
The location where the Victim Specialist worked and where the FBI investigation into Epstein was opened.
|
Relationships (2)
FBI case agent
→
professional
→
FBI Victim Specialist
The case agent directed the Victim Specialist to prepare notification forms and generate letters for victims, and provided the specialist with victim contact information.
The FBI provided victims with pamphlets and letters to inform them of their rights and the status of the investigation into crimes committed by Epstein.
Key Quotes (8)
"victims be given a printed brochure or card that briefly describes their rights and available services . . . and [contact information for] the victim-witness coordinator or specialist. . . ."Source
— 2005 Guidelines
(A recommendation from the 2005 Guidelines regarding victim notification.)
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Quote #1
"Most of these rights pertain to events occurring after the indictment of an individual for the crime, and it will be the responsibility of the prosecuting United States Attorney’s Office to ensure you are afforded those rights."Source
— Help for Victims of Crime pamphlet
(A statement within the pamphlet explaining when CVRA rights primarily apply and who is responsible for them.)
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Quote #2
"additional pertinent information"Source
— Victim Notification Form
(A phrase from the form indicating that more information about the 30 named victims was available in the VNS.)
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Quote #3
"always handled by the [FBI’s Victim Specialist]."Source
— FBI case agent
(A statement made to OPR explaining that the Victim Specialist was responsible for formal victim notification.)
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Quote #4
"currently under investigation"Source
— FBI letters
(The description of the case status provided in the letters sent to victims.)
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Quote #5
"[t]his can be a lengthy process and we request your continued patience while we conduct a thorough investigation."Source
— FBI letters
(A statement in the letters sent to victims regarding the expected duration of the investigation.)
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Quote #6
"We will make our best efforts to ensure you are accorded the rights described. Most of these rights pertain to events occurring after the arrest or indictment of an individual for the crime, and it will become the responsibility of the prosecuting United States Attorney’s Office to ensure you are accorded those rights."Source
— FBI letters
(A statement in the letters to victims explaining the timing and responsibility for their rights.)
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Quote #7
"[O]nce we identify a victim, then we bring [the FBI Victim Specialist] in, and as far as anything pertaining to victim rights . . . and any resources, federal resources these victims may need comes from [her], the Victim Specialist."Source
— The case agent
(A quote from a footnote where the case agent explains the Victim Specialist's role to OPR.)
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Quote #8
Full Extracted Text
Complete text extracted from the document (3,546 characters)
Case 22-1426, Document 77, 06/29/2023, 3536038, Page224 of 258
SA-222
Case 1:20-cr-00330-AJN Document 204-3 Filed 04/16/21 Page 222 of 348
SA-222
Case 1:20-cr-00330-AJN Document 204-3 Filed 04/16/21 Page 222 of 348
C. FBI Victim Notification Pamphlets
The 2005 Guidelines recommended that “victims be given a printed brochure or card that briefly describes their rights and available services . . . and [contact information for] the victim-witness coordinator or specialist. . . .” At the time of the Epstein investigation, FBI agents nationwide routinely followed a practice of providing victims with pamphlets entitled, “Help for Victims of Crime” and “The Department of Justice Victim Notification System.” The “Help for Victims of Crime” pamphlet contained a listing of the eight CVRA rights. The pamphlet stated: “Most of these rights pertain to events occurring after the indictment of an individual for the crime, and it will be the responsibility of the prosecuting United States Attorney’s Office to ensure you are afforded those rights.” The case agent in the Epstein investigation told OPR that she provided victims with the FBI pamphlet upon the conclusion of an interview. The pamphlet entitled “The Department of Justice Victim Notification System” provided an overview of the VNS and instructions on how to access the system.
V. THE INTRODUCTORY USAO AND FBI LETTERS TO VICTIMS
A. August 2006: The FBI Victim Notification Letters
On August 8, 2006, shortly after the FBI opened its investigation into Epstein, the Victim Specialist for the West Palm Beach FBI office, under the case agent’s direction, prepared a “Victim Notification Form” naming 30 victims in the Epstein investigation and stating that “additional pertinent information” about them was available in the VNS.273 Thereafter, the Victim Specialist entered individual victim contact information she received from the case agent into the VNS whenever the case agent directed the Victim Specialist to generate an initial letter to a particular victim. The FBI case agent told OPR that formal victim notification was “always handled by the [FBI’s Victim Specialist].”274
According to the VNS records, beginning on August 28, 2006, the FBI Victim Specialist used the VNS to generate FBI letters to be sent to the victims, over her signature, identifying the eight CVRA rights and inviting victims to provide updated contact information in order to receive current status information about the matter. The FBI letters described the case as “currently under investigation” and noted that “[t]his can be a lengthy process and we request your continued patience while we conduct a thorough investigation.” The letters also stated that some of the CVRA rights did not take effect until after an arrest or indictment: “We will make our best efforts to ensure you are accorded the rights described. Most of these rights pertain to events occurring after the arrest or indictment of an individual for the crime, and it will become the responsibility of the prosecuting United States Attorney’s Office to ensure you are accorded those rights.” A sample letter follows.
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273 These 30 were drawn from the PBPD investigative file and included individuals that the PBPD had not designated as victims and individuals the PBPD had identifi[e]d but not interviewed.
273 These 30 were drawn from the PBPD investigative file and included individuals that the PBPD had not designated as victims and individuals the PBPD had identifi[e]d but not interviewed.
274 The case agent told OPR, “[O]nce we identify a victim, then we bring [the FBI Victim Specialist] in, and as far as anything pertaining to victim rights . . . and any resources, federal resources these victims may need comes from [her], the Victim Specialist.”
196
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