Purpose
Over the past decades, the United States has made substantial strides in establishing legal rights for crime victims, with nearly every state enacting statutory laws and many adopting constitutional amendments. At the federal level, the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA) ensures these rights in federal proceedings.
VictimLaw was created as a comprehensive, user-friendly online database to address the previously cumbersome process of accessing victims’ rights information, which often required extensive law library research. This database removes barriers to accessing victims’ rights laws, court decisions, and attorney general opinions to empower a broader audience to understand and assert their rights effectively.
In Memoriam
In the new redesign of VictimLaw, we wish to remember and acknowledge the contributions of Carol Dorris and Billie Jo Matelevich-Hoang, two remarkable pioneers in the victims’ rights movement. Carol, an attorney and victim advocate, dedicated her career to analyzing victims’ rights laws and was instrumental in creating VictimLaw. Billie, who served as the Attorney/VictimLaw Team Lead at OVC TTAC, used her legal expertise to develop trainings and expand VictimLaw to include more than 30,000 laws, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to crime victims’ rights and services. Their contributions left an indelible mark on the field, and they are deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing them.
Scope of Collection
VictimLaw provides legal provisions related to crime victims’ rights. It covers—
- Attending and being present at criminal justice proceedings.
- Being heard in the legal process, including victim impact statements.
- Receiving information on proceedings, offender status, and available resources.
- Protection from intimidation and harassment.
- Privacy rights.
- Restitution from offenders.
- A speedy trial and timely proceedings.
- Enforcement of rights and access to legal remedies.
Current Status of Collection
VictimLaw is updated regularly with statutes, constitutional amendments, court rules, and administrative provisions from federal, state, and Tribal laws.
Tribal Law
Tribal laws vary in accessibility, with many available only in paper records. VictimLaw contains laws from approximately 129 federally recognized Tribes. Federal or state laws may also apply. For more details, visit the Tribes section of VictimLaw.
Case Law
VictimLaw provides summaries of appellate court decisions, including Supreme Court rulings, key appellate cases, and attorney general opinions dating back to 1995.
Disclaimer
The material provided on the VictimLaw website is informational only and may not apply to a particular case. Legal advice must be tailored to the specific facts and circumstances of each case, and laws are constantly changing. Nothing provided on this website should be used as a substitute for the advice of an independent, licensed attorney.