
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC10606]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
             CHAPTER 112--VICTIM COMPENSATION AND ASSISTANCE
 
Sec. 10606. Victims' rights


(a) Best efforts to accord rights

    Officers and employees of the Department of Justice and other 
departments and agencies of the United States engaged in the detection, 
investigation, or prosecution of crime shall make their best efforts to 
see that victims of crime are accorded the rights described in 
subsection (b) of this section.

(b) Rights of crime victims

    A crime victim has the following rights:
        (1) The right to be treated with fairness and with respect for 
    the victim's dignity and privacy.
        (2) The right to be reasonably protected from the accused 
    offender.
        (3) The right to be notified of court proceedings.
        (4) The right to be present at all public court proceedings 
    related to the offense, unless the court determines that testimony 
    by the victim would be materially affected if the victim heard other 
    testimony at trial.
        (5) The right to confer with \1\ attorney for the Government in 
    the case.
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    \1\ So in original. Probably should be followed by ``the''.
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        (6) The right to restitution.
        (7) The right to information about the conviction, sentencing, 
    imprisonment, and release of the offender.

(c) No cause of action or defense

    This section does not create a cause of action or defense in favor 
of any person arising out of the failure to accord to a victim the 
rights enumerated in subsection (b) of this section.

(Pub. L. 101-647, title V, Sec. 502, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4820.)

                          Codification

    Section enacted as part of the Victims' Rights and Restitution Act 
of 1990 and also as part of the Crime Control Act of 1990, and not as 
part of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 which comprises this chapter.


           Sense of Congress With Respect to Victims of Crime

    Section 506 of Pub. L. 101-647 provided that: ``It is the sense of 
Congress that the States should make every effort to adopt the following 
goals of the Victims of Crime Bill of Rights:
        ``(1) Victims of crime should be treated with compassion, 
    respect and dignity throughout the criminal justice process.
        ``(2) Victims of crime should be reasonably protected from the 
    accused throughout the criminal justice process.
        ``(3) Victims of crime should have a statutorily designated 
    advisory role in decisions involving prosecutorial discretion, such 
    as the decision to plea-bargain.
        ``(4) Victims of crime should have the right to a reasonable 
    assurance that the accused will be tried in an expeditious manner.
        ``(5) A victim of crime should have the right to be present at 
    all proceedings related to the offense against him, unless the 
    victim is to testify and the court determines that the victim's 
    testimony would be materially prejudiced by hearing other testimony 
    at the trial.
        ``(6) Victims of crime should have the right to information 
    about the conviction, sentencing and imprisonment of the person who 
    committed the crime against them.
        ``(7) Victims of crime should be compensated for the damage 
    resulting from the crime to the fullest extent possible by the 
    person convicted of the crime.
        ``(8) Victims of crime should have a statutorily designated 
    advisory role in deciding the early release status of the person 
    convicted of the crime against them.
        ``(9) A victim of crime should never be forced to endure again 
    the emotional and physical consequences of the original crime.''

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 10607 of this title.
