Crime Victims' Rights

Academy for Justice: A Report on Scholarship and Criminal Justice Reform, Forthcoming

University of Utah College of Law Research Paper No. 224

20 Pages Posted: 25 Aug 2017 Last revised: 16 Oct 2017

See all articles by Paul G. Cassell

Paul G. Cassell

University of Utah - S.J. Quinney College of Law

Date Written: 2017

Abstract

Over the last 40 years, advocates for crime victims have succeeded in enshrining victims’ rights in state constitutions and other enactments. These provisions show that a consensus has developed around the country on certain core victims’ rights. Included in the core are, among other things, the right to notice of court hearings, to attend court hearings, to be heard at appropriate court hearings, to proceedings free from unreasonable delay, to consideration of the victims’ safety during the process, and to restitution. The current challenge for the country is ensuring that these core rights are fully and effectively implemented and that victims have a means for enforcing these rights. Strengthened enforcement language in state constitutions and, ultimately, perhaps placing victims’ rights in the United States Constitution offer the best prospects for fully protecting crime victims’ interests in the criminal justice system.

Keywords: Victims, Crime Victims, Crime Victims' Rights, Marsy's Law, Dr. Henry Nicholas, Constitutional Amendment, Presidents Task Force on Victims of Crime

Suggested Citation

Cassell, Paul G., Crime Victims' Rights (2017). Academy for Justice: A Report on Scholarship and Criminal Justice Reform, Forthcoming, University of Utah College of Law Research Paper No. 224, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3024143 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3024143

Paul G. Cassell (Contact Author)

University of Utah - S.J. Quinney College of Law ( email )

383 S. University Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0730
United States
801-585-5202 (Phone)
801-581-6897 (Fax)

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