Crime Victim's Guide to JusticeHAVE YOU BEEN A VICTIM OF CRIME? DON'T BECOME A VICTIM OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM! If you have been the victim of crime, your involvement with the justice system is just beginning. As a crime victim, you have certain rights and obligations within the criminal justice system-and opportunities to seek justice outside of the criminal process, through litigation in civil court. This book provides websites and email addresses, and explains the legal system, and your rights or duties regarding such matters as: Reporting a crime Seeking medical and emotional help Protecting your privacy rights Knowing police investigation procedures Arresting the perpetrator Filing criminal charges Crime mapping Protecting yourself and your family from harassment Proceeding before trial Testifying at trial Testifying at sentencing Filing and pursuing a civil lawsuit against the criminal Obtaining crime victim's compensation Getting information from the court and court personnel Understanding online crimes |
Contents
| 1 | |
Getting Help | 11 |
The Victim in the Criminal Justice System | 15 |
Your Privacy Rights | 25 |
Reporting the Crime | 29 |
The Police Investigation | 31 |
Arresting the Offender | 35 |
Filing the Charge | 39 |
After the Criminal Trial | 77 |
Emerging Technology and Crime Victims | 79 |
Recovering Damages | 85 |
The What and Who of a Civil Lawsuit | 89 |
The How and When of a Civil Lawsuit | 101 |
The Role of Lawyers | 107 |
Glossary | 113 |
Appendix A Victims Resources | 131 |
Pretrial Procedures | 43 |
Plea Bargaining | 53 |
The Criminal Trial | 55 |
The Verdict | 63 |
The Sentence | 67 |
Appeal | 75 |
Appendix B Legal Research | 135 |
Appendix C StatebyState Laws | 139 |
Appendix D Sample Forms | 171 |
Index | 181 |
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Common terms and phrases
age of majority Appendix area to minimize arrest assault bail charges childhood sexual abuse civil suit claim contact with defendant conviction crime mapping CRIME VICTIM COMPENSATION criminal justice system damages defendant's disposition domestic violence Entitled to information Entitled to notice escape or release evidence example family members felony file a civil guilty identity theft incarceration Injury to person Internet intimidation investigation judge judgment jurisdiction juvenile lawsuit lawyer Length minimize contact misdemeanors nolo contendere Notice of escape notify oral parole party personal injury phone number plaintiff plea bargain plea negotiations prior prison probation procedures programs prosecution prosecutor protection request restitution return of property Section secure waiting area sentencing hearing sex offenders Sexual abuse discovery state's statute or code Statutes Annotated STATUTES OF LIMITATION testify Title tort trial U.S. Constitution usually verdict Victim entitled victim impact statement victim information victim's rights witness
Popular passages
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Page 154 - In any civil action for recovery of damages suffered as a result of childhood sexual abuse, the time for commencement of the action shall be within eight years of the date the plaintiff attains the age of majority or within three years of the date the plaintiff discovers or reasonably should have discovered that psychological injury or illness occurring after the age of majority was caused by the sexual abuse, whichever occurs later. (b) "Childhood sexual abuse...
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Page 154 - Certificates of merit, (a) In any civil action for recovery of damages suffered as a result of childhood sexual abuse, the time for commencement of the action shall be within eight years of the date the plaintiff attains the age of majority or within three years of the date the plaintiff discovers or reasonably should have discovered that psychological injury or illness occurring after the age of majority was caused by the sexual abuse, whichever occurs...
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