Victims -- Overview

Enacting and supporting policies that respond to crime victims are important responsibilities of state lawmakers and a priority concern of their constituents. Many state laws address rights of crime victims, such as to receive notice, to participate in the criminal justice process, receive restitution and otherwise be compensated for losses, and to ensure that their employment is unaffected by exercise of these rights. Legislatures also have put in place civil remedies and privacy measures for crime victims, and extended certain statutes of limitations on criminal prosecutions. Legislatures in 33 states have acted to support and implement constitutional amendments on crime victim rights.  State legislative interests today include improving and enforcing restitution and other polices that provide for victim rights and services as important components of the criminal justice system.

An NCSL guidebook catalogs and describes victims laws in states.