Victims' Rights

Rights available to crime victims include the following (please note, this is not a complete list):

Automatic Rights
 

Open cases

• To be present at open court hearings, with or without a support person
• To have your "personal identifiers" protected from the offender.
• To have the judge consider your safety at a release hearing.
• To refuse to speak to an attorney or private investigator representing the defendant.
• To have the court take your schedule into account when setting trial dates or hearings that you are required to attend.

Closed cases 

• To know the outcome of your case.
• To receive restitution for your crime-related costs.
• To speak at a hearing on a motion to set aside, vacate, or dismiss a conviction.
• To get a copy of a transcript or recording of open court proceedings if a transcript/ recording has already been made.
   

Rights that must be requested
 

Open cases

• To be notified of certain open court proceedings.
• To get certain criminal history information about the defendant.
• To have the defendant tested for HIV or other communicable diseases if the crime involved the transmission of bodily fluids.
• To be notified in advance about release hearings.
• To speak at a sentencing hearing or submit a statement in writing.
• To be consulted about the plea in a violent felony case.

Closed cases

• If an offender is sentenced to prison, to be notified when s/he is released.
• If an offender is sentenced to probation, to be notified of hearings where probation may be revoked.
• To not be contacted by the sex offender convicted in your sexual violence case.