TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending April 23, 2004

S-2329-(Victims Rights)

BRIEF

S-2329 The Scott Campbell, Stephanie Roper, Wendy Preston, Louarna Gillis, and Nila Lynn Crime Victims' Rights Act.  The bill establishes the rights of victims of crimes. It received bi-partisan support in the Senate.

The victim has the right:

To be reasonably protected from their accused attacker.

To be given accurate and timely notice of public proceedings involving the crime or release or escape from custody of the accused individual or convicted criminal.

To not be excluded from any public proceeding about the crime.

To be reasonably heard at public proceedings regarding release, lea of sentencing.

To confer with the government’s attorney.

To a full and timely restitution as provided in law.

To proceedings free of unreasonable delay.

To be treated with fairness and respect of dignity and privacy.

Sponsor: Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ)

Vote: Passed the Senate 96-1 (RV 70)

Cost to the taxpayer: Approximately $85 million is authorized but must be appropriated.

MORE INFORMATION

The bill authorizes around $85 million through 2009.

   $2 million would be spent in 2005 and $5 million would be spent yearly through 2009 by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for Victim / Witness Assistance Programs.

   $2 million for 2005 and $5 million yearly through 2009 would be spent by the Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, for the Victim Notification System.

   $300,000 in fiscal year 2005 and $500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 would be spent by  the Office for Victims of Crime of the Department of Justice for staff to administer the appropriation for the National Crime Victim Law Institute or other organizations.

   $7 million in  2005 and $11,000,000 for each fiscal year through 2009, would be spent by the Office for Victims of Crime of the Department of Justice, to support the National Crime Victim Law Institute and the establishment and operation of that Institute's programs to provide counsel for victims in criminal cases, for the enforcement of crime victims' rights in Federal jurisdictions, and in States and tribal governments other organizations substantially similar to that organization as determined by the Director of the Office for Victims of Crime.

   With $2 million in 2005 and $5 million yearly through 2009 authorized in the bill, the Director may make grants to State, tribal, and local prosecutors' offices, law enforcement agencies, courts, jails, and correctional institutions, and to qualified public or private entities, to develop and implement state-of-the-art systems for notifying victims of crime of the important dates and developments relating to the criminal proceedings at issue in a timely and efficient manner.## All Rights Reserved. No reproduction in any form without written permission from TheWeekInCongress.com.