Dedicated to crime victims’ rights

Ask For Rights Campaign

Rights are just words on paper – until they are asked for; asked for in trial courts, in appellate courts, and in legislative halls. Knowing how to ask for rights to ensure their full legal power is critical. That’s why we have launched the Ask for Rights Campaign to build national momentum so that every person knows their rights and knows how to ask for them.

Ask For Rights: Turning Knowledge Into Action

Victims have rights federally and in every state. We need to start by knowing victims’ rights, but we can’t stop there. 
 
It’s our collective responsibility to ensure that victims’ rights are afforded because meaningful victim participation ensures better systems and empowers communities. Whether you are an attorney, prosecutor, judge, lawmaker, advocate, ally, or survivor… Are YOU asking for victims’ rights? 
 

Sign up for our newsletter, follow us on social media, and look for the hashtag #AskForRights for updates on the effort.

 
Join us as we encourage others to identify gaps in policies, programs, and the justice system. Let’s work together to turn knowledge into action. 

We can help guide you through the process of asking for rights. NCVLI has information and resources to help protect victims’ rights, including:

Legal Advocacy: Technical Assistance, Amicus Curiae Participation, Pro Bono Portal

Education & Training: In-Person Trainings, Conferences, Webinars, Publications

Public Policy: Strategic Policy Advice, Model Legislation, Expert Testimony

While the rights of crime victims vary from place to place there are rights that are common to most jurisdictions. Those rights are:

  • The right to reasonable protection from the accused and those acting on behalf of the accused.
  • The right to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of court proceedings.
  • The right to be present at court proceedings
  • The right to be heard at proceedings, including those involving release, plea, sentencing and parole.
  • The right to confer with the prosecution.
  • The right to full and timely restitution.
  • The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay.
  • The right to privacy, including the right to refuse discovery requests.
  • The right to be informed of these rights

Victims have standing to ask for these rights in court; remedies should be afforded when rights are violated.

Let’s start asking for rights.