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Protecting Victims Who Serve as Witnesses for the Prosecution A 19-year-old alleges he was shot in the face in a playground by a 21-year-old (a repeat offender who has a history of intimidating witnesses). The accused is jailed. A month before the trial, someone fires close to 20 bullets into the 19-year-old’s mother’s home while […]

Assisting Victims and Other Witnesses for the State The difficulties, inconveniences, and frustrations faced by people serving as witnesses for the prose- cution have been well-known for decades. As far back as 1931, the National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement commented that the administration of justice was suffering because of the economic burdens imposed

VICTIMS AND PROSECUTORS Prosecutors are the chief law enforcement officials within their jurisdictions. They represent the interests of the county, state, or federal government. But their agencies also supply the lawyers that deal directly with victims. Therefore, prosecutors’ offices can be viewed as public law firms offering free legal services to com- plainants who are

Victims Rights Gained at the Expense of Criminal Justice Agencies and Officials Subject Rights of Victims General rights To be read their rights as soon as a crime is reported, or to be provided with written information about all obligations, services, and opportunities for protection and reimbursement Case status To be kept posted on progress

Rights Gained at the Expense of Offenders, the System, or Both The boldest demands raised by advocacy groups within the victims’ rights movement concern power. Some victims want to influence the outcome of the criminal justice process at key stages from bail hearings to jury selection to sentencing. Instead of being relegated to the role

Rights Gained at the Expense of the System Some rights that victims gain should come at the expense of justice system officials and agencies that have neglected the needs and wants of their ostensi- ble clients for far too long, advocates say. Society, or more precisely the social system, is partly at fault for the

Rights Gained at the Expense of Offenders Some advocates argue that victims’ rights ought to be gained at the expense of offenders’ rights. Too much concern has been shown for the rights of criminals, they say, and not enough for the plights of the innocent people they harm. In the unend- ing battle between lawbreakers

The Achievements of the Victims Rights Movement The rights that crime victims have fought for and secured are so numerous and varied that they must be grouped for comparison and analysis. One way to categorize these newly achieved rights is to note which groups of victims directly need, want, and benefit from a specific right.

Type of Victimization Awareness Time National Slavery and Human Trafficking Month January National Stalking Awareness Month January National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week early February National Youth Violence Prevention Week late March National Child Abuse Prevention Month April National Sexual Assault Awareness Month April National Crime Victims Week late April National Peace Officer’s Memorial Day

Inspiring Examples of Victim Activism Mobilizing against drunk drivers A mother whose teenage daughter was run over by an intoxicated driver starts a group that successfully changes public attitudes about mixing drinking with driving and persuades criminal justice officials that people injured in drunk driving collisions are victims of crimes—not accidents. Assisting law enforcement agencies