Victim's Rights

Victim's rights have come a long way since when I first became involved in the area of Family Violence some 20 years ago. I have seen many changes occur. It is important for anyone who has been the victim of a crime to understand and know their rights. Every state of course has their own way of interpreting the rights, but knowing them is half the battle.

We still do not have all the rights we should and too often criminals get away with far to much. If we want, our rights to be recognized, we still have to fight for them and report crimes when the occur. Justice comes only to those willing to fight for it.

There are inconsistencies in our justice system and many localities have flawed systems because of the lack of concern on the part of the officials who are responsible for it. Victims of crime must take an active part in the justice they seek. Never stop expecting the officials responsible to do their jobs.

Below is the 10 main core rights established in connection with the Federal Constitutional Amendment for Crime Victims. Click on this link to see the Amendment in it's complete form and other vital information about the rights of victims, N.V.C.A.P..

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10 Core Rights

There are ten core which represent a baseline in how services should be provided to victims. These core rights appear consistently in a review of state statutes, constitutional amendments, and case law. They include:

1) Protection/safety
Victims may have the right to receive information about protection orders (which order the offender to stay away from the victim), confidentiality of victim information in reports and documents, and procedures to handle threats and intimidation by the offender and Information referrals about available services.

2) Contact Information for Services
Victims may have the right to receive contact information for programs that assist victims of crime with their medical, safety, financial, legal, and psychological needs.

3) Information about compensation
Victims may have the right to receive information about crime victim compensation programs, which reimburse eligible victims of crime for certain financial losses suffered as a result of the crime.

4) Notice of rights and proceedings
Victims may have the right to be told what their rights are, and also to be notified of criminal justice events involving the offender who committed the crime against them.

5) Be present in criminal justice proceedings
Victims may have the right to attend certain hearings or events.

6) Be heard in criminal justice proceedings
Victims may have the right to present information in person or in writing at certain hearings or events.

7) Prompt disposition
Victims may have the right to have their cases resolved as quickly as possible.

8) Information about the status and location of the offender
Victims may have the right to receive information about where an offender is incarcerated and when the offender may be released or transferred.

9) Restitution
Victims may have the right to have the prosecutor ask the judge to order that the offender reimburse the victim for expenses incurred as a result of the crime, including repayment of crime victim compensation funds.

10) Standing and enforcement
Victims may have an official role in certain hearings or events, and may have the right to make a complaint if their rights are not honored.

Knowing your rights as a victim of crime is a necessary step to gaining the control the abuser has taken from you. The following web site can offer much more help knowing and helping you to understand your rights. They will also help you to understand how these rights are used in your own particular state Office of Victims of Crime. We want everyone to stay safe.

Check out the article which offers even more information on Victim's Rights Legislation.

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Important to Victims

The important thing for all victims to understand is that you have to take responsibility to see the abuser come to justice. You have to take an active part in the conviction of the person who did this to you or your loved one. Expecting that the authorities will always do their best is not a valid assumption. Get an advocate, talk to all agencies you can find who help victims of crime and their families, keep records of everything you can which pertains to the case, talk to everyone you can, and never give up the battle. Criminals do not stop fighting or pleading their cases, and you can't stop pleading your case either. You have to stay on top of things.

It is hard, after a crime has been committed, to know what to do or where to go. Check out the many links in this web site both on the Links Page, and on this page.

It continues that the best way to stop the threats of all types of abuse and attacks is for communities to get involved or more involved then they are now. We can never stop until people are safe in their homes and communities.

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