Under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act, a crime victim in the District of Columbia has the following rights:
- The right to be reasonably protected from the accused.
- The right to accurate and timely notice of any public court proceeding involving the crime committed against them and be notified if the accused person has been released or escaped.
- The right to attend any public court proceeding involving the crime committed against them.
- The right to be heard at any public proceeding in the district court involving release, plea, sentencing or parole.
- The right to discuss the case with the prosecuting attorney representing the Government
- The right to full and timely restitution and to be notified of the right to restitution
- The right to have court actions take place within a reasonable time frame
- The right to be treated with fairness and respect for their dignity and right to privacy
- The right to be notified of any plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement in the case
- The right to be informed of the rights under this section and the services described in section 503(c) of the Victims’ Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 10607(c)) and provided contact information for the Office of the Victims’ Rights Ombudsman of the Department of Justice.
Additional Resources
A useful information source is VictimLaw, a comprehensive online database on state laws affecting victims.
For a directory of state crime victim compensation Programs, visit the National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards.
Visit VINELink for additional victims’ rights information and to register to be notified of your offenders’ custody status changes.
