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The National Conference of State Legislatures continues to work with the federal Office for Victims of Crime on the State Legislators' Victim Education project. The project provides information and training to members and staff of state legislatures as they review and revise laws responding to the needs of victims of crimes. Products and events inform legislators on the impact of crime upon victims and their families, and provides the necessary information to help in their review and development of policies affecting victims.
Recent State Enactments
 Victims: Legislation Passed in 2007
Victims' Rights Laws in the States NOW ON-LINE
The National Conference of State Legislatures announces the launch of a new searchable web-based version of the published guidebook, "Victims Rights Laws in the States." Searchable tables, charts and 50-state summaries describe crime victims' rights and services in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa.
For more information on the guidebook and the NEW on-line statutory resource guide, click here.
 Victims' Rights Laws in the States
As the result of state legislative actions, crime victims now have more rights than ever before. The information contained in the tables, charts and individual state summaries describes laws related to crime victims' rights in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa through 2004.
 Victims' Rights and Services: An Overview for New Legislators Audio CD
Victims’ rights and services are a perennial issue before state lawmakers and often are a priority concern of their constituents. Veteran legislators, as well as those new to a state legislature, benefit from being familiar with and up-to-date on policies that affect crime victims. This audio program highlights key areas of victims' rights and services law and how actions of state legislatures continue to improve, expand and enforce these laws. It provides members new to criminal justice or judiciary committees- and others- with the basic tenets of victims' law. It draws from the discussions of legislators, agency heads and other criminal justice system officials at various NCSL forums, as well as from NCSL research, to describe basic victims' measures in the states. For more information on this audio CD or to listen, click here.
LegisBrief
Enforcing and Evaluating Victims' Rights Laws: State legislatures have enacted numerous laws advancing the rights of crime victims. Read more on victims' rights in the March 2005 LegisBrief.
Click here for funder credit information.
State Enactments
2006 Victims' Rights State Legislation Summary - State lawmakers continued to strengthen and enforce victims' rights in 2006 by enacting innovative measures to assist, protect and compensate victims of crime
2006 Victims' Rights Enactments - State legislatures continued to address victims' rights in 2006.
2005 Victims' Rights Enactments - Lawmakers continued to enact policies creating and expanding victims’ rights and services in 2005. (February, 2005)
Victims' Rights State Legislation in 2004 / (pdf version) - State legislatures in 2004 expanded and strengthened rights and services for victims of crime. (February, 2005)
2003 Summary of Victims' Rights Legislation - State legislatures continue to illustrate an unwavering commitment toward helping victims of crime. Strengthening existing victims' rights laws remained a top priority for legislators in 2003. (January, 2004)
2003 Victims' Rights Enactments - State legislatures continued to address victims' rights and services in 2003. (January, 2004)
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Other Reports
Remembering Victims When Defense Is Insanity: When people with mental illness commit crimes, their victims are often left frustrated with the criminal justice system. (State Legislatures Magazine - April 2007)
Victims' Rights legislation in the 21st Century: This report highlights state laws passed between 1999-2002 and illustrates the significant trends in the states as the role of the victim in the criminal justice process continues to expand. (November 13, 2003)
Links
National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC)
Office for Victims of Crime
Contacts
For For more information on this topic, please contact Donna Lyons, Sarah Hammond or Vicky McPheron at 303-364-7700 or mailto:cj-info@ncsl.org?subject=[Victims' Rights].
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