Victims Rights OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL COMMONWEALTH

Victims’ Rights OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL • COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VICTIMS’ RIGHTS Lesson goal Subhead To make students aware of the rights of victims of crime in Virginia Subhead OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL • COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VICTIMS’ RIGHTS Subhead Students will learn: • Provisions of Virginia’s Victims Bill of Rights • Examples of rights of victims and witnesses • Assistance available to victims and witnesses of crime • What domestic and sexual assault violence are Subhead • Assistance available to victims of domestic and sexual violence OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL • COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VICTIMS’ RIGHTS Subhead Virginia’s Victims Bill of Rights Virginia law contains a Crime Victim and Witness Rights Act, usually referred to as the Victims Bill of Rights. (Code of Virginia § 19. 2 -11. 01) Subhead OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL • COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VICTIMS’ RIGHTS Subhead Who is a victim? • Virginia’s Victims Bill of Rights recognizes victims as anyone who has suffered physical, emotional, or financial harm as a direct result of a crime or certain delinquent acts. • When the victim is a minor (under 18 years of age), the Subhead definition of victim includes his or her parents or guardians. OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL • COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VICTIMS’ RIGHTS Subhead The Victims Bill of Rights Is intended to ensure that crime victims: • Have opportunity to make the courts aware of the full impact of crime • Are treated with dignity, respect, and sensitivity and have their privacy protected Subhead • Are informed of their rights • Receive authorized services • Are heard at all critical stages of the criminal justice process OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL • COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VICTIMS’ RIGHTS Which specific Subhead rights do victims have? • Being notified of court dates • Remaining in the courtroom during hearings • Giving victim impact statements at sentencing hearings. Subheadgives the victim the The victim impact statement opportunity to tell the court, in writing, the impact of the crime(s). Victims may also be given the opportunity to testify, at the sentencing hearing, regarding the impact of the crime(s). OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL • COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VICTIMS’ RIGHTS Subhead Other provisions of the bill • If the victim or witness cannot speak English or is hearing impaired, a court-approved interpreter may be appointed to assist during the criminal justice process, at no cost to the victim. Subheadabout having to wait in • If a victim or witness is worried an area near the defendant or defense witnesses, a separate waiting area for victims and witnesses may be provided. • In some cases, victims may receive financial assistance. OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL • COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VICTIMS’ RIGHTS Subhead Other provisions of the bill, continued • Crime victims may also bring civil lawsuits against perpetrators or other responsible parties to hold them accountable for harm suffered. • The specific rights victims have depend on case Subhead circumstances. In all cases specific information is available from the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and/or the victim/witness program staff in your locality. OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL • COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VICTIMS’ RIGHTS Subhead DCJS Card: Crime Victim & Witness Rights • Summarizes victims rights and lists some specific steps • Two key resources listed on the card include: o Virginia Crime Victim. Subhead Assistance INFO-LINE 1 -888 -887 -3418 o Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline 1 -800 -838 -8238 OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL • COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VICTIMS’ RIGHTS Victims of domestic Subhead violence and sexual assault • Domestic violence is a pattern of physically, sexually, and/or emotionally abusive behaviors used by one individual to assert power or maintain control over another in the context of an intimate or family relationship. Subhead • If you believe a friend is in serious danger, talk with an adult you trust immediately about your friend’s situation so that you aren’t carrying the burden by yourself. • Do not try to “rescue” your friend or try to handle the situation on your own. OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL • COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VICTIMS’ RIGHTS Subhead Victims of sexual assault • Sexual assault is sexual abuse of an individual by the use of force, threat, or intimidation. Rape, sodomy, sexual battery, and attempts to commit these crimes are some of the several types of sexual assault offenses. Sometimes sexual assault is a form of domestic violence. Subhead • If a friend has been sexually assaulted, it is important for the friend to get help. OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL • COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VICTIMS’ RIGHTS Subhead Assistance for victims Resources: • A key resource for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault is the Family Violence and Sexual Assault 24 -hour Hotline: 1 -800 -838 -8238 Subhead • Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance website: www. vsdvalliance. org • Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services website: www. dcjs. virginia. gov/victims/ OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL • COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VICTIMS’ RIGHTS Subhead Review and recap You have learned: • Specific provisions of the law • Some examples of rights of victims and witnesses • Types of assistance available to victims and witnesses Subhead of crime • What domestic and sexual violence are • Assistance available to victims of domestic and sexual violence OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL • COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA • WWW. AG. VIRGINIA. GOV For more information about Virginia laws that affect teens, visit www. virginiarules. org © Office of the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia