Victims Bill of Rights

Crime victims, as defined by law, have the following rights: 

• The right to be treated with fairness and respect for my dignity and privacy and to be free from harassment, intimidation, and abuse throughout the criminal justice process. 
• The right to notice and to a hearing before a court ruling on a request for access to any of my records, information, or communications which are privileged or confidential by law. 
• The right to timely notification of all court proceedings. 
• The right to communicate with the prosecution. 
• The right to be heard at any post-arraignment court proceeding in which one of my rights is at issue and any court proceeding involving a post-arraignment release decision, plea, or sentencing. 
• The right to be notified of the conviction, the sentence, the imprisonment, and the release of the accused. 
• The right to timely disposition of the case following the arrest of the accused. 
• The right to be reasonably protected from the accused throughout the criminal justice process. 
• The right to have my safety and my family's safety considered in denying or fixing the amount of bail, determining whether to release the defendant, and setting conditions of release after arrest and conviction. 
• The right to be present at the trial and all other court proceedings on the same basis as the accused, unless I will to testify and the court determines that my testimony would be materially affected if I hear other testimony at the trial. 
• The right to have present at all court proceedings, subject to the rules of evidence, an advocate and other support person of the victim's choice. 
• The right to restitution. 

The victim has standing to assert the rights enumerated in subsection (a) in any court exercising jurisdiction over the case. The court shall promptly rule on a victim's request. The victim does not have party status. The accused does not have standing to assert the rights of a victim. The court shall not appoint an attorney for the victim under this Section. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to alter the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the prosecuting attorney. (c) The General Assembly may provide for an assessment against convicted defendants to pay for crime victims' rights. (d) Nothing in this Section or any law enacted under this Section creates a cause of action in equity or at law for compensation, attorney's fees, or damages against the State, a political subdivision of the State, an officer, employee, or agent of the State or of any political subdivision of the State, or an officer or employee of the court.

Download a printable PDF of the Victims Bill of Rights in English
Descargue un PDF imprimible de la Declaración de derechos de las víctimas en español