NCJ Number
93032
Date Published
1983
Length
0 pages
Annotation
The presentation explains the purposes, provisions, and goals of the victim and Witness Protection Act of 1982. Potential problem areas are also discussed.
Abstract
Panel participants included Federal court judges, law school professors, officials of the U.S. Justice Department, Federal public defenders, and probation officers. The Act provides for victim impact statements, restitution orders, courteous treatment of victims and witnesses by prosecutors and criminal justice system personnel, and broadens the statutes against defendants harassing and retaliating against victims and witnesses. An overview and analysis of the Act covers the responsibilities of judges and magistrates, Federal prosecutors, Federal defenders, and probation officers. The experience of the Districts of Maryland, New Mexico, and Eastern New York in dealing with victim impact statements is discussed, and a hypothetical case study is presented. An examination of issues and problems in applying provisions of the act analyzes prosecution and defense pretrial issues, probation presentence investigation issues, and judicial determination issues. Two question-and-answer sessions occur during the teleconference.