Victims' VOICES Act

Bill: 118-s-3706
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2024-01-31
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Crime victims
Latest action: action_date: 2024-07-30
text: Became Public Law No: 118-77.

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-01-31
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Victims' Voices Outside and Inside the Courtroom Effectiveness Act or the Victims' VOICES Act</strong></p><p>This bill makes a person who has assumed a victim's rights eligible to receive restitution for certain expenses from a convicted defendant. The bill applies to a person (i.e., legal guardian, representative of the victim's estate, another family member, or any other person appointed as suitable by the court) who has assumed the rights of a victim because such victim is under 18 years of age, incompetent, incapacitated, or deceased.</p><p>Under the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act of 1996, federal courts must order defendants who are convicted of certain crimes to pay restitution to their victims. This restitution must include the costs to reimburse the victim for lost income and necessary child care, transportation, and other expenses incurred while participating in the investigation or prosecution of the offense or attending proceedings relating to the offense, as well as medical and nonmedical care and treatment, and other associated costs.</p><p>This bill specifies that, in ordering restitution, a court must order the defendant to pay restitution to a person who has assumed the victim's rights. In particular, the defendant must pay restitution to reimburse the person's necessary and reasonable costs for (1) lost income, child care, transportation, and other expenses associated with participating in the investigation or prosecution of the offense or attending proceedings relating to the offense; and (2) lost income, transportation, and other expenses associated with transporting a victim to receive medical and nonmedical care and treatment (including physical and occupational therapy and rehabilitation).</p>

action_date: 2024-07-30
action_desc: Public Law
text: <p><strong>Victims' Voices Outside and Inside the Courtroom Effectiveness Act or the Victims' VOICES Act</strong></p><p>This act makes a person who has assumed a victim's rights eligible to receive restitution for certain expenses from a convicted defendant. The act applies to a person (i.e., legal guardian, representative of the victim's estate, another family member, or any other person appointed as suitable by the court) who has assumed the rights of a victim because such victim is under 18 years of age, incompetent, incapacitated, or deceased.</p><p>Under the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act of 1996, federal courts must order defendants who are convicted of certain crimes to pay restitution to their victims. This restitution must include the costs to reimburse the victim for lost income and necessary child care, transportation, and other expenses incurred while participating in the investigation or prosecution of the offense&nbsp;or attending proceedings relating to the offense, as well as medical and nonmedical care and treatment, and other associated costs.</p><p>This act specifies that, in ordering restitution, a court must order the defendant to pay restitution to a person who has assumed the victim's rights. In particular, the defendant must pay restitution to reimburse the person's necessary and reasonable costs for&nbsp;(1) lost income, child care, transportation, and other expenses associated with participating in the investigation or prosecution of the offense or attending proceedings relating to the offense; and (2) lost income, transportation, and other expenses associated with transporting a victim to receive medical and nonmedical care and treatment (including physical and occupational therapy and rehabilitation).</p>

tv_txt: One Hundred Eighteenth Congress of the United States of America 2d Session Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday, the third day of January, two thousand and twenty four S. 3706 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To amend section 3663A of title 18, United States Code, to clarify that restitution includes necessary and reasonable expenses incurred by a person who has assumed the victim's rights.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Victims' Voices Outside and Inside the Courtroom Effectiveness Act or the Victims' VOICES Act . 2. Restitution for expenses of persons who have assumed the victim's rights Section 3663A(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (4) Clarification In ordering restitution under this section, a court shall order the defendant to make restitution to a person who has assumed the victim’s rights under paragraph (2) to reimburse that person’s necessary and reasonable— (A) lost income, child care, transportation, and other expenses incurred during and directly related to participation in the investigation or prosecution of the offense or attendance at proceedings related to the offense; (B) lost income, transportation, and other expenses incurred that are directly related to transporting the victim for necessary medical and related professional services and devices relating to physical, psychiatric, and psychological care, including nonmedical care and treatment rendered in accordance with a method of healing recognized by the law of the place of treatment; and (C) lost income, transportation, and other expenses incurred that are directly related to transporting the victim to receive necessary physical and occupational therapy and rehabilitation. .

Speaker of the House of Representatives Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate

tv_txt: 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3706 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To amend section 3663A of title 18, United States Code, to clarify that restitution includes necessary and reasonable expenses incurred by a person who has assumed the victim's rights.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Victims' Voices Outside and Inside the Courtroom Effectiveness Act or the Victims' VOICES Act . 2. Restitution for expenses of persons who have assumed the victim's rights Section 3663A(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (4) Clarification In ordering restitution under this section, a court shall order the defendant to make restitution to a person who has assumed the victim’s rights under paragraph (2) to reimburse that person’s necessary and reasonable— (A) lost income, child care, transportation, and other expenses incurred during and directly related to participation in the investigation or prosecution of the offense or attendance at proceedings related to the offense; (B) lost income, transportation, and other expenses incurred that are directly related to transporting the victim for necessary medical and related professional services and devices relating to physical, psychiatric, and psychological care, including nonmedical care and treatment rendered in accordance with a method of healing recognized by the law of the place of treatment; and (C) lost income, transportation, and other expenses incurred that are directly related to transporting the victim to receive necessary physical and occupational therapy and rehabilitation. .

Passed the Senate February 29, 2024. Secretary

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3706 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 31, 2024 Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal , Mrs. Blackburn , and Mr. Whitehouse ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend section 3663A of title 18, United States Code, to clarify that restitution includes necessary and reasonable expenses incurred by a person who has assumed the victim's rights.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Victims' Voices Outside and Inside the Courtroom Effectiveness Act or the Victims' VOICES Act . 2. Restitution for expenses of persons who have assumed the victim's rights Section 3663A(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (4) Clarification In ordering restitution under this section, a court shall order the defendant to make restitution to a person who has assumed the victim’s rights under paragraph (2) to reimburse that person’s necessary and reasonable— (A) lost income, child care, transportation, and other expenses incurred during and directly related to participation in the investigation or prosecution of the offense or attendance at proceedings related to the offense; (B) lost income, transportation, and other expenses incurred that are directly related to transporting the victim for necessary medical and related professional services and devices relating to physical, psychiatric, and psychological care, including nonmedical care and treatment rendered in accordance with a method of healing recognized by the law of the place of treatment; and (C) lost income, transportation, and other expenses incurred that are directly related to transporting the victim to receive necessary physical and occupational therapy and rehabilitation. .