This month the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI) and its bar association, the National Alliance of Victims’ Rights Attorneys (NAVRA), are launching the NCVLI/NAVRA 2012 Training Series which is designed to bring access to justice to crime victims nationwide by helping attorneys, advocates, allied professionals, and law students learn the skills necessary to represent and advocate for crime victims.

A new amicus brief filed by NCVLI has been added to the searchable Amicus Briefs database. State v. Peterson was filed in Orange County Superior Court and discusses a victim's right to have meaningful participation in the criminal justice process in having access to certain information. The brief supports this right which keeps victims appropriately informed and thus able to meaningfully confer with prosecution and fully exercise their right to be heard. The brief also addresses victims' related privacy concerns.

Two new briefs filed by NCVLI have been added to the searchable Amicus Briefs database. In Re: Oleson was filed in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and addresses a victim’s right to appellate review under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act. The brief contains a detailed analysis of CVRA legislative history regarding Congress’s intent to afford crime victims regular appellate review. State v.

NCVLI’s Annual Report, published each fall, is an opportunity to learn more about our work to help individual crime victims move toward becoming survivors, and to establish legal precedent so that tomorrow’s victims benefit from today’s efforts.  We thank our amazing community of survivors, attorneys, advocates, volunteers, and donors who stand behind our vision of a balanced and fair justice system. Click here to read the Annual Report.

Save the date for NCVLI’s 11th Annual Crime Victim Law Conference, Enhancing Justice: Empowerment Through Victims’ Rights, to be held in Portland, Oregon June 8-9, 2012.  This two day Conference will also include an intensive Pre-Conference Institute on June 7.  Visit the Conference homepage to nominate people and teams for the Outstanding Achievement Awards and to learn about the Law Student Writing Competition.

Two new briefs filed by NCVLI have been added to the searchable Amicus Briefs database! Oahu Publications v. City and County of Honolulu filed in Hawai’i state court argues for crime victims’ constitutional and statutory rights to prevent the release of 911 recordings. State v. Lawson, filed with the Oregon Court of Appeals, discusses how a defendant’s right to due process is not violated when a victim exercises her right to be present at a pre-trial hearing.

This week, current NAVRA members received the latest NCVLI Crime Victim Law Update in electronic form. This informative publication is a quarterly release which features up-to-date court opinions from various jurisdictions which directly affect victims’ rights across the country. The current issue covers opinions issued from April through June 2011 with topics ranging from specific victims’ rights and related constitutional issues to standing and enforcement.