Maricopa County Attorney's Office: The Importance Of Victims' Rights

Press release from Maricopa County Attorney's Office:

April 22, 2021

The Victim Bill of Rights was a landmark amendment that opened the door for many to share their story in the courtroom after experiencing a crime. While many think that a victim is just the person the crime occurred to, it is much more encompassing.

As part of this amendment, a victim is anyone against whom a criminal offense has been committed. If the person is killed or incapacitated, then it's the victim's spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent and any other person related to the victim by birth or marriage, or any other lawful representative unless any of them are in custody for an offense or are the accused.

If a victim is physically or emotionally unable to exercise their rights, they can designate a lawful representative who can exercise the same rights as the victim as long as they are not a witness. The victim can revoke this designation at any time.

Victims and their families need to be present during criminal proceedings to exercise their participatory rights and to see justice at work. When a crime is committed against a person, it is often traumatic, and being able to participate in the process can provide a measure of healing.

The following are two cases that showcase the importance and impact victims' rights have in the criminal justice process:

Case #1

Case #2

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office is committed to seeking justice, ensuring that victims' rights are honored, and educating the public on those rights. Every victim has a voice, and it is our mission to make sure it's heard. MaricopaCountyAttorney.org/Victims

This press release was produced by Maricopa County Attorney's Office. The views expressed here are the author’s own.