NCJ Number
178245
Date Published
1999
Length
125 pages
Annotation
This book is designed to be a desk reference for U.S. Attorneys, so as to provide them with an overview of the laws and rules applicable to crime victims and witnesses.
Abstract
It is intended to help victim-witness coordinators and advocates, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, and other U.S. Attorneys' office professionals who work with victims and witnesses. These guidelines offer direction on the many Federal laws that establish rights and protections for crime victims and witnesses. Each chapter begins with a summary of the statutes relevant to that chapter, followed by selected case summaries in which the statutes were applied, as well as the actual text of the statutes. Following a review of the definitions of "victim" in various Federal statutes, provisions of the Victim Witness Protection Act of 1982 are discussed. Issues addressed include tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant; civil action to restrain harassment of a victim or witness; and definitions for certain provisions. This is followed by a chapter on the Victims of Crime Act of 1984. Provisions pertain to the Crime Victims Fund, crime victim compensation, crime victim assistance, and special assessment on convicted persons. Another chapter addresses the Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32 and victim impact statements and allocution. Other chapters focus on the following legislation: Crime Control Act of 1990 and the Victims' Rights Clarification Act of 1997; Violence Against Women Act of 1994; and Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996. Other chapters present guidelines pertinent to child victims and witnesses as well as restitution. Subject index