Victims Have Rights Too
There are core rights that are reserved for the victims of crimes:
The right of reasonable protection from the accused
This may go as far as:
■ Police escorts
■ Relocation programs
■ Protection orders
The right to be informed
Most states require that victims be notified of:
■ Arrest and arraignment of offender
■ Bail proceedings
■ Dismissal of charges
■ Plea negotiations
■ Trial
■ Sentencing
■ Appeals
■ Probation and parole hearings
■ Release or escape of the offender
Featured Schools
The right to be present at court proceedings
○ This may be limited if the court determines that hearing other testimony may alter the victim’s own testimony
The right to be reasonably heard
○ Victims may speak at any public proceeding, parole hearing, plea or sentencing
The right to reasonably confer with prosecuting attorneys
The right to full and timely restitution
○ Not all states require that judges order restitution at sentencing
The right to a speedy trial
The right to be treated with fairness and respect for dignity and privacy
Crime Victims May Be Eligible for Government Compensation
Crime victim compensation is a government program to reimburse violent crime victims and their families
If applicable, the program will generally pay for:
■ Medical and dental expenses
■ Counseling costs
■ Funeral or burial expenses
■ Lost wages or support
■ **There are limitations to the program, such as how much money can be spent on a funeral
What to Do if You are the Victim of a Crime
Sign up for victim notification services – They alert victims to changes in the custody of an offender
VINE – Victim Information and Notification Everyday
● The first victim notification program, it was implemented in 1996
● Started in Louisville, KY after the murder of Mary Byron
○ Byron’s ex-boyfriend, Donavon Harris, was released from jail after being charged with raping Byron
○ Harris waited outside of Byron’s workplace and, when she got into her car, shot her six times at point-blank range
○ Mary Byron was never informed of Harris’s release
● Today, the VINE system is being used in 47 states
○ 9 million VINE notifications were sent in 2012
VNS – Victim Notification System
● Launched in 2001
● Cooperative effort between FBI, US Postal Inspection Service, the US Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Prisons
VNP – Victim Notification Program
● Cooperative effort between US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and the US Department of Homeland Security
Consider Civil Court
Civil court allows victims of crimes to sue for compensatory or punitive damages for other impacts of the crime, such as emotional trauma, defamation of character, or a number of other issues
If the offender was found guilty in criminal proceedings, it greatly increases the chance that he will be held accountable for restitution in civil court
Seek Help:
Being the victim of a crime, violent or nonviolent, can lead to physical, financial and emotional damage
National Center for Victims of Crime: 800-394-2255
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
National Organization for Victim Assistance: 800-879-6682
Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline: 800-422-4453
National Fraud Information Hotline: 202-835-3323
National White Collar Crime Center: 800-221-4424
Parents of Murdered Children: 888-818-7662
Don’t let the crime rule your life.
Sources:
http://www.wdrb.com/story/24136647/20th-anniversary
http://www.ovc.gov/rights/notification_VNS.html
http://www.ovc.gov/publications/infores/whatyoucando_2010/WhatUCanDo_508.pdf
http://www.justice.gov/usao/eousa/vr/crime_victims.html
https://www.ncjrs.gov/ovc_archives/bulletins/legalseries/bulletin6/2.html
https://www.victimlaw.org/victimlaw/pages/victimsRight.jsp
Related:
