Act, the Judicial Conference of the United 
States shall submit to Congress a report con-
taining recommendations for amending the 
Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to provide 
enhanced opportunities for victims and any 
other person whose safety, by reason of a rela-
tionship with a victim, may reasonably be 
threatened to be heard on the issue of whether 
or not the court should accept a plea of guilty 
or nolo contendere. 
(B) INAPPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW.—
Chapter 131 of title 28, United States Code, 
does not apply to any recommendation made by 
the Judicial Conference of the United States 
under this paragraph. 
(3) CONGRESSIONAL ACTION.—Except as other-
wise provided by law, if the Judicial Conference of 
the United States—
(A) submits a report in accordance with 
paragraph (2) containing recommendations de-
scribed in that paragraph, and those rec-
ommendations are the same as the amendments 
made by subsection (b), the amendments made 
by subsection (b) shall become effective 30 days
after the date on which the recommendations 
are submitted to Congress under paragraph (2); 
(B) submits a report in accordance with 
paragraph (2) containing recommendations de-
scribed in that paragraph, and those rec-
ommendations are different in any respect from 
the amendments made by subsection (b), the 
recommendations made pursuant to paragraph 
(2) shall become effective 180 days after the 
date on which the recommendations are sub-
mitted to Congress under paragraph (2), unless 
an Act of Congress is passed overturning the 
recommendations; and 
(C) fails to comply with paragraph (2), the 
amendments made by subsection (b) shall be-
come effective 360 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
(4) APPLICATION.—Any amendment made pur-
suant to this section (including any amendment 
made pursuant to the recommendations of the Judi-
cial Conference of the United States under para-
graph (2)) shall apply in any proceeding commenced 
on or after the effective date of the amendment.
SEC. 104. ENHANCED PARTICIPATORY RIGHTS AT TRIAL. 
(a) AMENDMENTS TO VICTIM RIGHTS CLARIFICA-
TION ACT.—Section 3510 of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (e); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) APPLICATION TO TELEVISED PROCEEDINGS.—
This section applies to any victim viewing proceedings pur-
suant to section 235 of the Antiterrorism and Effective 
Death Penalty Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 10608), or any 
rule issued pursuant to that section. 
‘‘(d) STANDING.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—At the request of any vic-
tim of an offense, the attorney for the Government 
may assert the right of the victim under this section 
to attend and observe the trial. 
‘‘(2) VICTIM
STANDING.—If the attorney for 
the Government declines to assert the right of a vic-
tim under this section, then the victim has standing 
to assert such right. 
‘‘(3) APPELLATE REVIEW.—An adverse ruling 
on a motion or request by an attorney for the Gov-
ernment or a victim under this subsection may be 
appealed or petitioned under the rules governing ap-
pellate actions, provided that no appeal or petition 
shall constitute grounds for unreasonably delaying a 
criminal proceeding.’’. 
(b) AMENDMENT TO VICTIMS’ RIGHTS AND RESTITU-
TION ACT
OF 1990.—Section 502(b) of the Victims’ 
Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 10606(b)) 
is amended—
(1) by amending paragraph (4) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(4) The right to be present at all public court 
proceedings related to the offense, unless the court 
determines that testimony by the victim at trial 
would be materially affected if the victim heard the 
testimony of other witnesses.’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘attorney’’ 
and inserting ‘‘the attorney’’. 
SEC. 105. ENHANCED PARTICIPATORY RIGHTS AT SEN-
TENCING. 
(a) VIEWS OF THE VICTIM.—Section 3553(a) of title 
18, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (7) as para-
graph (8); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(7) the impact of the crime upon any victim 
of the offense as reflected in any victim impact 
statement and the views of any victim of the offense 
concerning punishment, if such statement or views 
are presented to the court; and’’. 
(b) ENHANCED RIGHT TO BE HEARD CONCERNING 
SENTENCE.—Rule 32 of the Federal Rules of Criminal 
Procedure is amended—
(1) in subdivision (c)(3)(E)—
(A) by striking ‘‘if the sentence is to be 
imposed for a crime of violence or sexual 
abuse,’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘written or oral’’ before 
‘‘statement’’; and 
(2) by amending subdivision (f) to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(f) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this rule, the 
term ‘victim’ means any individual against whom an of-
fense has been committed for which a sentence is to be 
imposed, but the right of allocution under subdivision 
(c)(3)(E) may be exercised instead by—
‘‘(1) a parent or legal guardian, if the victim is 
incompetent or has not reached 18 years of age; or
‘‘(2) 1 or more family members or relatives or 
any other person whose safety, by reason of a rela-
tionship with the victim, may reasonably be threat-
ened designated by the court, if the victim is de-
ceased or incapacitated, 
if such person or persons are present at the sentencing 
hearing, regardless of whether the victim is present.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The amendments made by 
subsection (b) shall become effective as provided in 
paragraph (3). 
(2) ACTION BY JUDICIAL CONFERENCE.—
(A) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Judicial Conference of the United 
States shall submit to Congress a report con-
taining recommendations for amending the 
Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to provide 
enhanced opportunities for victims to partici-
pate during the presentencing and sentencing 
phase of the criminal process. 
(B) INAPPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW.—
Chapter 131 of title 28, United States Code, 
does not apply to any recommendation made by
the Judicial Conference of the United States 
under this paragraph. 
(3) CONGRESSIONAL ACTION.—Except as other-
wise provided by law, if the Judicial Conference of 
the United States—
(A) submits a report in accordance with 
paragraph (2) containing recommendations de-
scribed in that paragraph, and those rec-
ommendations are the same as the amendments 
made by subsection (b), the amendments made 
by subsection (b) shall become effective 30 days 
after the date on which the recommendations 
are submitted to Congress under paragraph (2); 
(B) submits a report in accordance with 
paragraph (2) containing recommendations de-
scribed in that paragraph, and those rec-
ommendations are different in any respect from 
the amendments made by subsection (b), the 
recommendations made pursuant to paragraph 
(2) shall become effective 180 days after the 
date on which the recommendations are sub-
mitted to Congress under paragraph (2), unless 
an Act of Congress is passed overturning the 
recommendations; and
(C) fails to comply with paragraph (2), the 
amendments made by subsection (b) shall be-
come effective 360 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
(4) APPLICATION.—Any amendment made pur-
suant to this section (including any amendment 
made pursuant to the recommendations of the Judi-
cial Conference of the United States under para-
graph (2)) shall apply in any proceeding commenced 
on or after the effective date of the amendment. 
SEC. 106. RIGHT TO NOTICE CONCERNING SENTENCE AD-
JUSTMENT, DISCHARGE FROM PSYCHIATRIC 
FACILITY, AND EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (6) of section 503(c) 
of the Victims’ Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 (42 
U.S.C. 10607(c)), as redesignated by section 103 of this 
Act, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(6) After trial, a responsible official shall pro-
vide a victim and any other person whose safety, by 
reason of a relationship with the victim, may reason-
ably be threatened the earliest possible notice of—
‘‘(A) the scheduling of a parole hearing or 
a hearing on modification of probation or super-
vised release for the offender;
‘‘(B) the escape, work release, furlough, 
discharge or conditional discharge, or any other 
form of release from custody of the offender, in-
cluding an offender who was found not guilty 
by reason of insanity; 
‘‘(C) the grant of executive clemency, in-
cluding any pardon, reprieve, commutation of 
sentence, or remission of fine, to the offender; 
and 
‘‘(D) the death of the offender, if the of-
fender dies while in custody.’’. 
(b) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—The Attorney Gen-
eral shall submit biannually to the Committees on the Ju-
diciary of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
a report on executive clemency matters or cases delegated 
for review or investigation to the Attorney General by the 
President, including for each year—
(1) the number of petitions so delegated; 
(2) the number of reports submitted to the 
President; 
(3) the number of petitions for executive clem-
ency granted and the number denied; 
(4) the name of each person whose petition for 
executive clemency was granted or denied and the
offenses of conviction of that person for which execu-
tive clemency was granted or denied; and 
(5) with respect to any person granted execu-
tive clemency, the date that any victim of an offense 
that was the subject of that grant of executive clem-
ency was notified, pursuant to Department of Jus-
tice regulations, of a petition for executive clemency, 
and whether such victim submitted a statement con-
cerning the petition. 
SEC. 107. PROCEDURES TO PROMOTE COMPLIANCE. 
(a) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General of 
the United States shall promulgate regulations to enforce 
the rights of victims of crime described in section 502 of 
the Victims’ Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 (42 
U.S.C. 10606) and to ensure compliance by responsible 
officials with the obligations described in section 503 of 
that Act (42 U.S.C. 10607). 
(b) CONTENTS.—The regulations promulgated under 
subsection (a) shall—
(1) establish an administrative authority within 
the Department of Justice to receive and investigate 
complaints relating to the provision or violation of 
the rights of a crime victim;
(2) require a course of training for employees 
and offices of the Department of Justice that fail to 
comply with provisions of Federal law pertaining to 
the treatment of victims of crime, and otherwise as-
sist such employees and offices in responding more 
effectively to the needs of victims; 
(3) contain disciplinary sanctions, including 
suspension or termination from employment, for em-
ployees of the Department of Justice who willfully or 
wantonly fail to comply with provisions of Federal 
law pertaining to the treatment of victims of crime; 
and 
(4) provide that the Attorney General, or the 
designee of the Attorney General, shall be the final 
arbiter of the complaint, and that there shall be no 
judicial review of the final decision of the Attorney 
General by a complainant. 
TITLE II—VICTIM ASSISTANCE 
INITIATIVES 
SEC. 201. PILOT PROGRAMS TO ENFORCE COMPLIANCE 
WITH STATE CRIME VICTIM’S RIGHTS LAWS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions shall apply: 
(1) COMPLIANCE AUTHORITY.—The term ‘‘com-
pliance authority’’ means 1 of the compliance au-
thorities established and operated under a program 
under subsection (b) to enforce the rights of victims 
of crime. 
(2) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the Office for Victims of Crime. 
(3) OFFICE.—The term ‘‘Office’’ means the Of-
fice for Victims of Crime. 
(b) PILOT PROGRAMS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 12 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney 
General, acting through the Director, shall establish 
and carry out a program to provide for pilot pro-
grams in 5 States to establish and operate compli-
ance authorities to enforce the rights of victims of 
crime. 
(2) AGREEMENTS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General, 
acting through the Director, shall enter into an 
agreement with a State to conduct a pilot pro-
gram referred to in paragraph (1), which agree-
ment shall provide for a grant to assist the 
State in carrying out the pilot program. 
(B) CONTENTS
OF
AGREEMENT.—The 
agreement referred to in subparagraph (A) 
shall specify that—
(i) the compliance authority shall be 
established and operated in accordance 
with this section; and 
(ii) except with respect to meeting ap-
plicable requirements of this section con-
cerning carrying out the duties of a com-
pliance authority under this section (in-
cluding the applicable reporting duties 
under subsection (f) and the terms of the 
agreement), a compliance authority shall 
operate independently of the Office. 
(C) NO
AUTHORITY
OVER
DAILY
OPER-
ATIONS.—The Office shall have no supervisory 
or decisionmaking authority over the day-to-day 
operations of a compliance authority. 
(c) OBJECTIVES.—
(1) MISSION.—The mission of a compliance au-
thority established and operated under a pilot pro-
gram under this section shall be to promote compli-
ance and effective enforcement of State laws regard-
ing the rights of victims of crime. 
(2) DUTIES.—A compliance authority estab-
lished and operated under a pilot program under 
this section shall—
(A) receive and investigate complaints re-
lating to the provision or violation of the rights 
of a crime victim; and 
(B) issue findings following such investiga-
tions. 
(3) OTHER
DUTIES.—A compliance authority 
established and operated under a pilot program 
under this section may—
(A) pursue legal actions to define or en-
force the rights of victims; 
(B) review procedures established by public 
agencies and private organizations that provide 
services to victims, and evaluate the delivery of 
services to victims by such agencies and organi-
zations; 
(C) coordinate and cooperate with other 
public agencies and private organizations con-
cerned with the implementation, monitoring, 
and enforcement of the rights of victims and 
enter into cooperative agreements with such 
agencies and organizations for the furtherance 
of the rights of victims; 
(D) ensure a centralized location for victim 
services information;
(E) recommend changes in State policies 
concerning victims, including changes in the 
system for providing victim services; 
(F) provide public education, legislative ad-
vocacy, and development of proposals for sys-
temic reform; and 
(G) advertise to advise the public of its 
services, purposes, and procedures. 
(d) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, a State shall submit an application to 
the Director which includes assurances that—
(1) the State has provided legal rights to vic-
tims of crime at the adult and juvenile levels; 
(2) a compliance authority that receives funds 
under this section will include a role for—
(A) representatives of criminal justice 
agencies, crime victim service organizations, 
and the educational community; 
(B) a medical professional whose work in-
cludes work in a hospital emergency room; and 
(C) a therapist whose work includes treat-
ment of crime victims; and
(3) Federal funds received under this section 
will be used to supplement, and not to supplant,
non-Federal funds that would otherwise be available 
to enforce the rights of victims of crime. 
(e) PREFERENCE.—In awarding grants under this 
section, the Attorney General shall give preference to a 
State that provides legal standing to prosecutors and vic-
tims of crime to assert the rights of victims of crime. 
(f) OVERSIGHT.—
(1) TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE.—The Director 
may provide technical assistance and training to a 
State that receives a grant under this section to 
achieve the purposes of this section. 
(2) ANNUAL
REPORT.—Each State that re-
ceives a grant under this section shall submit to the 
Director, for each year in which funds from a grant 
received under this section are expended, a report 
that contains—
(A) a summary of the activities carried out 
under the grant; 
(B) an assessment of the effectiveness of 
such activities in promoting compliance and ef-
fective implementation of the laws of that State 
regarding the rights of victims of crime; 
(C) a strategic plan for the year following 
the year covered under subparagraph (A); and
(D) such other information as the Director 
may require. 
(g) REVIEW OF PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National 
Institute for Justice shall conduct an evaluation of 
the pilot programs carried out under this section to 
determine the effectiveness of the compliance au-
thorities that are the subject of the pilot programs 
in carrying out the mission and duties described in 
subsection (c). 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 5 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the 
National Institute of Justice shall submit to the 
Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on the Judiciary of 
the Senate a written report on the results of the 
evaluation required by paragraph (1). 
(h) DURATION.—A grant under this section shall be 
made for a period not longer than 4 years, but may be 
renewed for a period not to exceed 2 years on such terms 
as the Director may require. 
(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, to remain 
available until expended—