Restitution: A Fundamental Right for Victims

Victims of crime often suffer immeasurable harm as a result of the criminal conduct inflicted on them.  The economic impact of such harm is rightly borne by the perpetrator, not the victim.   Restitution is one mechanism by which the justice system can ensure that the perpetrator, not the victim, bears the burden.  Restitution is ordered in criminal sentences and is money paid from the offender to the victim for losses that the victim suffered as a result of the offender’s crime.  Ordering and securing collection of restitution is an important part of ensuring that

Hot Off the Press: Crime Victim Law Update - 2012 Year in Review

The most recent edition of the Crime Victim Law Update - the 2012 Year in Review - provides a collection of notable cases from 2012 related to victims’ rights decided in state and federal courts nationwide. Learn about these important developments in victim law by reading the attached PDF or visiting NCVLI’s Victim Law Library.

Making Victims’ Rights a Reality

ENVISION JUSTICE

Too often victims of crime are treated merely as a piece of evidence in a case. Yet, the law affords victims rights. Among  these are the rights to be notified, present, and heard at criminal justice proceedings; and the rights to privacy, protection, and restitution.
 
Together we can ensure that these rights are not mere words on paper.  2013 is our year to make victims’ rights a reality.  We must envision justice and implement practical steps to move us forward.

Fighting for Victims’ Rights When a Defendant’s Death Vacates Conviction

On April 19, 2000, defendant went to his homeowners association to “get even” with them after the HOA had compelled him to do yard maintenance.  At the meeting he murdered two people and injured others.  Among those killed was Nila Lynn, who died in the arms of her husband of nearly 50 years - Duane Lynn.  Defendant was indicted and ultimately convicted.  Defendant appealed and his convictions were upheld in 2005.  Throughout all of this, Duane Lynn had to fight to be able to give a victim impact statement and to secure the restitution owed to him and his children.&

National Symposium on Child Abuse

Date: 
March 18, 2013 - March 21, 2013
Time: 
(All day)

NCVLI Executive Director Meg Garvin will be presenting Our Online Lives: Protecting Privacy in the Digital Age at the National Children’s Advocacy Center’s 29th National Symposium on Child Abuse, March 18 – 21, 2013 at Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama.  The Symposium is a multidisciplinary conference for professionals working in the child maltreatment arena.  More than 150 workshops will be offered by nationally renowned experts. 

12th Annual Crime Victim Law Conference

Date: 
June 7, 2013 - June 8, 2013
Time: 
8:00am - 4:30pm
Time Zone: 
PST

NCVLI’s annual Crime Victim Law Conference, now in its 12th year, continues to be the only conference in the country focusing on rights enforcement in criminal cases, which is a critical but often overlooked component of holistic victim services.  The Conference provides participants with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to provide effective legal services to victims of crime.

New Resource for Working with Child-Victims

To better assist victims’ rights attorneys and advocates working with child-victims of crime, NCVLI publishes Bulletins that are intended to provide critical analysis on important topics relating to the rights of child-victims.  Read the newest Bulletin, What Practitioners Need to Know About Traumatic Stress, on the Safeguarding Child-Victims’ Rights Initiative page.

Fighting for Military Sexual Assault Victims’ Rights

Sexual assault is perpetrated in the United States at epidemic rates and the military is not exempt from this reality.  In fact, recent media attention has spotlighted the unique challenges faced by military victims.  NCVLI is at the forefront of efforts to assist the military in reforming systems to improve justice for victims.

Securing Restitution for a Victim of Human Trafficking

NCVLI is working with a South Carolina attorney who represents a victim of trafficking.  The victim was severely burned at the work site where he was forced to work, and was then kidnapped from the hospital and held against his will in the home of the trafficker.  While the victim has recovered some monies through worker’s compensation, he is seeking restitution from the defendant for additional loss suffered as a result of the kidnapping.  Defendant argues that the loss is not compensable because he was only charged with harboring an illegal alien and not trafficking or kidn

Victim Voice Before the Supreme Court

In our ongoing effort to ensure victims have a voice before the United States Supreme Court and to fight for full restitution for children who have been sexually exploited and filmed, NCVLI teamed up with the University of Pennsylvania Law School Supreme Court Clinic in late December to file an amicus curiae brief in support of a petition for review before the Supreme

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This project was supported in part by Grant No. 2008-DD-BX-K001, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Justice.