Scott Campbell, Stephanie Roper, Wendy Preston, Louarna Gillis, and Nila Lynn Crime Victims' Rights Act

Bill: 108-hr-4342
Sponsor: Rep. Chabot, Steve [R-OH-1]
Introduced: 2004-05-12 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Appellate procedure
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Compensation for victims of crime
Conflict of interests
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Court records
Criminal investigation
Criminal justice information
Criminal procedure
Department of Justice
Disciplining of employees
Dismissal of employees
Economics and Public Finance
Employee training
Executive reorganization
Federal employees
Fugitives from justice
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Governmental investigations
Grants-in-aid
Injunctions
Labor and Employment
Law
Legal aid
Legal services
Parole
Parties to actions
Probation
Prosecution
Public prosecutors
Right of privacy
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Speedy trial
Victims of crimes

Summary:
action_date: 2004-05-12
text: 
Scott Campbell, Stephanie Roper, Wendy Preston, Louarna Gillis, and Nila Lynn Crime Victims' Rights Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide that a crime victim has the following rights: (1) to be reasonably protected from the accused; (2) to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any public proceeding involving the crime or of any release or escape of the accused and to not be excluded from any such proceeding; (3) to be reasonably heard at any public proceeding involving release, plea, or sentencing; (4) to confer with the attorney for the Government in the case; (5) to full and timely restitution as provided in law; (6) to proceedings free from unreasonable delay; and (7) to be treated with fairness and with respect for the victim's dignity and privacy. Directs: (1) the court to ensure that a victim is afforded these rights; (2) officers and employees of Federal agencies engaged in the detection, investigation, or prosecution of crime to make their best efforts to see that victims are notified of, and accorded, these rights; and (3) the Attorney General to promulgate regulations to enforce victims' rights and to ensure compliance by responsible officials with the obligations respecting crime victims.
 
Amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to authorize the Director of the Office for Victims of Crime to make grants to: (1) develop, establish, and maintain programs for the enforcement of victims' rights; and (2) develop and implement state-of-the-art systems for notifying victims of important dates and developments relating to criminal proceedings.
 
Requires: (1) the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to report annually on the number of times such victims' rights are asserted and the relief requested is denied; and (2) the Comptroller General to evaluate the effect of this Act on the treatment of victims.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-06-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2004-05-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2004-05-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-05-12
text: Introduced in House