Because of the influence of victims’ rights advocates, every state now has a set of legal rights for crime victims in its code of laws, often called a Victims’ Bill of Rights. These generally include the right:
• To be notified of proceedings and the status of the defendant
• To be present at criminal justice proceedings
• To make a statement at sentencing and to receive restitution from a convicted offender
• To be consulted before a case is dismissed or a plea agreement entered
• To a speedy trial
• To keep the victim’s contact information confidential
A controversial element of the victims’ rights movement is the development of offender registration laws that require law enforcement agencies to post the name, and sometimes the address, of known sex offenders.
In a 2-3 page paper in APA format, research and discuss the following:
1. Your state’s Victim’s Bill of Rights (Make sure you name your state and what is said in your state’s Victim’s Bill of Rights)
2. Why the offender registration laws that require law enforcement agencies to post the name and sometimes address of known sex offenders is controversial. Make sure to examine multiple perspectives in your explanation.
