What rights do I have as a crime victim?
You have the right to receive available
information regarding:
- Protective, emergency, social and medical services;
- Obtaining assistance from a victim advocate;
- Community-based treatment programs and;
- Where applicable, restitution and crime victim compensation.
- Registration and notification of when a person has been released from a prison, jail, juvenile detention facility, psychiatric facility or under limited circumstances, a forensic psychiatric facility;
- How to be protected from intimidation, harassment, or retaliation; and
- The Victim, Witness and Family Protection Program.
- Obtaining protection from harm and threats of harm arising out of cooperation with law enforcement and prosecution efforts; and
- Upon request, assistance in informing employers that the need for victim or witness cooperation in the prosecution of the case may necessitate absences from work.
You have the right to receive
notification regarding:
- Defendant's release on bond and any special conditions of release;
- Charges filed against the Defendant;
- The Defendant's pleading to the charges;
- Trial date (including any changes);
- Trial verdict;
- A scheduled hearing for shock probation or bail pending appeal and any resulting orders;
- Changes in custody of the Defendant;
- Sentencing date, and any Parole Board hearings held for the Defendant.
- Any proceedings you are required to attend and prompt notification of any scheduled changes that affect your appearance;
- The right to submit a victim impact a written impact statement upon conviction;
- The right to have the Attorney General notify you if an appeal of the conviction is pursued by the Defendant;
- The right to prompt return of property held for evidentiary purposes unless there is a compelling reason for retaining it;
You have the right to
consultation on the case disposition including:
- Case dismissal;
- Release of the Defendant, pending judicial proceedings;
- Any conditions of release; A negotiated plea; or
- Defendant's entry into a Pre-trial Diversion Program.
Is there someone who can assist me in understanding my rights and seeking compliance?
The
Office of Victims Advocacy within the Office of the Attorney General has victim advocates on staff who can answer general questions about crime victim rights, the criminal justice process and related topics and provide referrals to victim advocates and other resources and services in your local area. Our advocates also provide notification of court proceedings, accompaniment to court proceedings and attorney interviews, assistance filing for victim compensation and restitution, referrals to community resources, guidance with victim impact statements, etc. in cases prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney General. Our crime victim information line is (800) 372-2551 or (502) 696-5312.
Parole Victim Services staff members are responsible for notifying victims of upcoming parole hearings, processing victim impact statements, scheduling hearings and assisting victims in general ways. More information is available by calling (800) 221-5991 or (502) 564-3620 or at
justice.ky.gov.