Defendant pleaded guilty to the aggravated assault of his wife, which resulted in a fracture of the victim's orbital wall of her right eye socket.  As part of his sentence, the trial court ordered defendant to pay over $44,000 in restitution, including over $19,000 in restitution for medical expenses arising from the victim's post-assault suicide attempt.  Defendant appealed the restitution order to the extent that it required him to pay restitution for the victim's suicide-attempt related expenses.  First, defendant argued that his wife cannot be considered a "victim" of his offense for re

NCVLI’s Crime Victim Law Conference took place in Portland, Oregon from June 14-15, 2011.  NCVLI was honored to have amazing speakers again this year, including Susan Levy, mother of Chandra Levy, and her attorney Jani Tillery; Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court Paul J.

Strategic Litigation of Victims’ Rights with Paul Cassell, J.D., Professor of Law, S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah and Meg Garvin, M.A., J.D., Executive Director, NCVLI. This webinar training will provide attendees a general overview of strategic litigation as a tool to achieve legal and social change through test cases. The presenters will provide examples of previously litigated test cases that have proven successful in advancing victims’ rights and will discuss key victims’ rights.  Register Here!

Access to justice requires competent legal advocacy, and yet too often victims of crime do not receive the legal representation that they need to protect their rights.  You can help!