Opinion ID: 149086
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Effect of Colorado Victim-Rights Statute

Text: The Plaintiffs contend that the Colorado victim-rights statute supports their claim that Section 117 is inapplicable here. They argue as follows: As crime victims, [they] were entitled to protection pursuant to the provisions of C.R.S. § 24-4.1-301, et seq., relating to assurances of rights of victims and witnesses to crimes. The declaration of the act specifically sets forth that [sic] the intent to ensure that all victims of and witnesses to crimes are guaranteed certain protections under the law. Rights to justice and due process are ensured under C.R.S. § 24-4.1-302.5. Specifically § 24-4.1-303 mandates that law enforcement agencies, prosecutorial agencies, judicial agencies and correction agencies shall ensure that victims of crimes are afforded rights. C.R.S. § 24-4.1-303(5) specifies that all reasonable attempts shall be made to protect any victim or the victim's immediate family from harm, harassment, intimidation or retaliation arising from cooperating in the reporting, investigation, and prosecution of a crime. From these and other stated rights there is no question that probation and state actors were obligated to afford protections and rights guaranteed under the statute. The Plaintiffs were intended beneficiaries of protection with a right to be warned, if the criminal Wellington contemplated harm to them, or threatened harm to them. Aplt. Br. at 44. We are not persuaded. The victim-rights statute does not support any expansion of liability of mental-health providers. In the first place, the statute imposes no duties on them. Its purpose is to assure that all victims of and witnesses to crimes are honored and protected by law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and judges.  Colo.Rev.Stat. § 24-4.1-301 (emphasis added). Dr. Jonsson is not a law-enforcement agent, prosecutor, or judge. Likewise, § 24-4.1-303(1) states: Law enforcement agencies, prosecutorial agencies, judicial agencies, and correctional agencies shall ensure that victims of crimes are afforded the rights described in section 24-4.1-302.5. Again, no duty is imposed on mental-health providers. In addition, the statute does not impose liability for damages on anyone: The statute provides no damages remedy; and those on whom a duty is imposed cannot be sued for damages. Judges, for example, are immune from suits for damages. See State v. Mason, 724 P.2d 1289, 1290 (Colo.1986). And the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act protects the other officials who have duties under the statute. See Colo.Rev.Stat. § 24-10-118(2)(a). Accordingly, we see no reason to modify our interpretation of Section 117 based on the victim-rights statute.