Victims’ Rights Pre-Charging
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Too often victims of crime are left wondering about the status of the case against their offender, including whether charges are being pursued. The rights to confer and to be treated with dignity and respect have been codified in most jurisdictions with the intent, in part, to ensure that victims are kept informed of case status. Too often, however, law enforcement and prosecutors are unsure of whether victims’ rights attach pre-charging. In December, NCVLI partnered with a victim’s attorney to craft arguments regarding the attachment of the federal Crime Victims’ Rights Act pre-charging in order to ensure that a victim of assault had the chance to understand why a federal prosecutor was declining prosecution. We owe everyone who is a victim of crime these rights regardless of prosecution!
