2004 Justice for All Act
This is one of the more substantive federal laws put into place to protect victims. It includes provisions to make sure victims are protected from offenders, and victims must be notified within a reasonable time about any upcoming hearings, or if the offender escaped from prison. Expanding on the 1997 Victims’ Rights Clarification Act, the Justice for All Act ensures that victims are not excluded from any court proceedings and are allowed to confer with the attorney for the government. It also allows the victim, or the attorney for the government, to assert the victim’s rights in court. It also increased, or helped create, grants for victims and victims’ compensation and enhanced the victims’ notification system to ensure victims are aware what is happening throughout the legal process (OVC, 2006).