NCJ Number
191661
Date Published
June 2000
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This brochure provides information about the rights and responsibilities of crime victims and witnesses under the “Crime Victim and Witness Rights Act” (sometimes called the Victims’ Bill of Rights) and related laws in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Abstract
The Victims’ Bill of Rights and most of other victims’ rights laws recognize the following individuals as crime “victims” when they have suffered physical, emotional or financial harm as a direct result of a felony or certain misdemeanors. The definition of a victim includes spouses and children of all victims, parents and guardians of minor victims, mentally or physically incapacitated victims, or victims of homicide. As a victim or witness of a crime, people have certain rights under the Victims’ Bill of Rights. There are specific steps that need to be taken in order to receive these rights. The five major sections of the brochure are: victim and witness protection, financial assistance, notifications, victim input, and courtroom assistance.