Victim's Rights
Victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse and child abuse have special rights. Please ask your local Victim Assistance Program administrator to explain these additional rights to you. As a victim of a crime, you have the following rights:
As a victim you have the following rights guaranteed to you:
- The right to be informed about your rights.
- The right to be treated with fairness and respect for your safety, dignity and privacy.
- The right to reasonable protection from the accused or any person acting on behalf of the accused.
- The right information about the status of the case.
- The right to refuse a defense interview, deposition, or other discovery requests.
- The right to object to a defense requests for access to your confidential information, including medical, counseling, school or employment records, access to your personal devices or on-line accounts, or other personal information.
- The right to be present at all public hearings.
- The right to have a support person with you during proceedings.
- The right to confer with the prosecutor at certain points in the case, including before a pretrial diversion is granted, before the prosecutor amends or dismisses the indictment, information, or complaint, before the prosecutor agrees to a negotiated plea, and before a trial or adjudicatory hearing.
- The right to tell the court your opinion in public proceedings involving the release, plea, sentencing, disposition, parole, and any other hearing that involves victims’ rights.
- The right to object to unreasonable delays.
- The right to full and timely restitution from the offender.
- The right to have a representative (someone the victim chooses to act on your behalf, cannot be the offender).
- The right to hire an attorney (not court appointed).
- The right to use a victim advocate.
- The right to provide the court with a victim impact statement at sentencing or prior to.
Additionally you have the following rights, if you elect to assert them, otherwise these rights are considered waived:
- The right to have your name and identifying information to be redacted (removed) from law enforcement records, prosecutor records and/or court records.
- The right to notice of the arrest, escape, or release of the offender.
- The right to reasonable and timely notice of all public proceedings.
- The right to confer with the prosecutor in the case in addition to the times listed under the guaranteed rights.
- The right to be notified of subpoenas, motions, or other requests to access any of my personal information.
- The right to appoint a Victim’s Representative.
- The right to request an interpreter.
